New Iberia enterprise. (New Iberia, La.) 1885-1902, 1900-02-17


Russia, it is, indeed, problematca
how long he will not rule.
Everything pertaining to the fu
ture. is matter of speculation, We
that speculation, founded upon 81
perience of the past and of tn
present, can be marveIously correct
What has been our experience
Take our attitude towards the the
atrical trust for an illustration
and, on its record, this trust is f
be accredited the most shrewdl,
managed of trusts. We have to
day the people of nation paying
for the enrichment of few-tol
Grating it-seeing, indeed, in il
their own personal advantage.
allude to the scheme of protection
The rich manufacturer by it levies
his toll on the people of the entir,
country. His benefit from it is
undeniable. He has been enabled
to grow immensely rich His in.
creased riches comes directly from
the extra price protection enables
him to extort from his poorer fel-
low citizens. Why do they, the
poorer, support itg Because il en-
ables them to labor! It gives them
the privilege of work. For every
dollar increase that it gives the
men who support this aristocracy,
by their sturdy toll, the increase of
the fraction of cent possibly,
while very nearly everything they
have to buy goes up. They, these
sturdy producers, are permitted to
work continuously; that is an ap-
parent advantage in their behalf
There is real, gigantic benefit in
favor Of the men on top.
Since trusts have come into
vogue we have the masses display
ing the same quality. Every Amer
lean is willing that it should be as
long as he is not directly hurt. He
SHES from possible danger of an
tagonism to trusts. He is afraid
it might hurt him. The very ad-
ministration is found q poltroon,
conscious that it is the creation of
wealth, remembering the past favor
of it's existence due TO it, and ex-
pecting continuance of the same
favor from the source. 1t has not
lifted its finger against the last step
of money-power to acquire still
greater power. 1t stands hand in
hand with it. Who doubts that if
that power could offer the admin
istration a crown and a scepter IN
pe,petuo' in this free country, the
administration would accept itG
Who doubts that the power would
be hindered by sentimental fealty
to the dear legends of the country
if it felt the time was ripe for itY
Is this an exaggerated viewg
Who has been surprised at our
arms conqnering distant free peo-
ple--who has been surprised at the
power ,waging war On freedomY 7
Who has protesteda How much
has any aud all protest availed
We lack rude valor. We lack
virility. We are no longer Amer
icans,- Were this not so, long since
would we have traced directly home
the responsibility for the war on
freedom in the Philippines. Long
since would we have hanged the
as traitors to our coun-
try. Long since would our ships
of war and our valorous soldier
boys, who went to whip a tyrant,
have returned home under the glory
Of banner which, to the magne-
tized eyes Of the world, would then
be floating amidst the stars.
For all we have lost in moral
stature shall we have to suffer.
This nation is to-day on the eve Of
a new career wherein heartless,
material power shall rule.
1t shall not be regenerated except |
through that torture and suffering
which will first make man beast |
and then restore him to his former
height whereon he recognised once
that in the world is such thing as
justice, such thing as truth, such
q thing as right; that they take
precedence over personal comfort
Or advantage or gain; that there is
small differentiation between the
criminal and the man who aban-
1ons principle for expediency.
Craftsmanship is not going to
solve this question. Blood will.
Essential man. Unspeakable suf-
fering and dire retribution. Nor
prayer nor protest will avert it.
It is writ in the times.
It is always writ in such times
rs fail to realize that there is moth
ng SO actual in the world as right
aud wrong; nothing that can SO
little be juggled with; nothing so
,ternal, so invincible, so remorsc
ess, SO steel-hearted as truth. -
Harlequin, N. o., La.