Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1900-02-10
THINGS ARE NOT WHAT THEY
SEEN.

The present industrial status in the United
States lie striking illustration Of the aphor.
ism that "things are not what they SEEM"
for, as matter of fact, the mAgnates OF the
trusts are taking advantage Of the prosperity
that followed in the wake OF the higher
prices Of grain in the Letter year 10 rivet the
letters of producer and consumer alike. In
truth, the entire organization OF our eco.
nomic and political life is undergoing a
metamorphosis which will not be apparent
TO the general eye, until the cycle of events
shall have once more made the masses Of
a critical temper The average man has
neither inclination nor leisure for philo.
sophical investigation. From emptiness Of
stomach, as a rule, comes the fullness OF
heart, out of which the mouth speaketh.
In every direction, one sees certain ten
denotes at work. In the first place the con.
troll of capital Is passing into fewer and
establish monopoles in various lines OF
trade. With each sunset, the Individual Is
of lighter weight In the balances of life, the
will of the multi millionaire being thrown
into the opposite scale, after the historic
fashion of the sword OF Brennus. Doc.
trlnes OF absolutism are boldly preached
which would not have been endured dec.
AIDE ago 1t is commended, indeed, "that the
average American stands 10 direst want OF
guardian, and that the trusts respond To
the need, as the scabbard protects the blade
from rust"
The fallacy OF the argument will be ex-
posed only when 1t shall come to be tried
by the stern tests Of experience. An ounce
of TACT is worth ton OF theory. A system
Of morals or finance Is u be intellgenty
judged only when the logical results have
been wrought out la the sequence OF the
years. 1t is truism that depression fol.
lows in the wake of prosperity as the ebb
succeeds the flow OF the tide. AS q rule, def
cient harvests are the prologue 10 the tragedy,
then comes exports Of gold and falling
prices A lessened demand for manufac-
tured goods is the next development, 30
labor awaits the employment which does
not come.
There Is little reason TO suppose that the
reality of things will be disclosed, until the
Presidetial election shall have come and
gone. In the interim the fears Of labor will
be lulled to sleep with higher wages, lest
the verdict Of the ballot-box brings the
plans of the monopolists TO naught; but
greed will throw of all disguises when once
the over. weaving corporations shall have
been assured of four years more OF license.
Il will then be too clear for argument that
the sons OF soil have sold their birthright
for mess OF pottage. With the inevitable
disillusion will come a searching, and even
pi,iless, determination OF the questions at
issue. The result cannot be doubtful, un
less democratic government Is TO be the
monumental failure Of TIE ages. In the
meanwhile the duty Of the champions OF
freedom is as pls.eSls the MONDAY sun, they |
nust present the facts, in season and out Of
seahon, with supreme confidence 10 the truth |
of Lincoln's dictum "You can fool some oil |
the people all the time, all the people some
of the time, but you cannot fool ell the PEG.
pie all the time" 10 the end exact justice
will be done, at whatever cost; for mans In
genuity will never suffice to construct an
efficient shield against the darts of the d.
vine justice.
although the mills of God grind slowly,
Yet they grind exceedingly small;
Though with patience He stands waiting,
With eXActneaa grinda He all y