Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1900-06-22
THE DANGERS THAT BESET US

THE DANGERS THAT BESET US
1t is a subject worthy of note by OIL r
business men and farmers that our
national expenses have been pushed
from about $3.50, OOO, 900 in Cleveland d
term to about $3.50, 100000 in McKin
ley's, independent of the cost Of the
war. Such thing could not have oc-
Cured under a Democratic admins
tration, if it had even been approached
the very country would have been
upheaved with denunciatiOn and
abuse of the dominant party. Why
then should it occur under Republican
rule, and we remain silent? The
ans is because the Republican party
is above the people, it is independent
of the popular vote. In the first place
it has as its boldest robber and one OF
its chief juggernants, the pensioners
who form the 6. A. R. organization.
These draw annually $4,000, 900 for
their alleged past services, and an or
ganizatiOn with such vast capital is
a dangerous element. This organiza-
tion Is not satiated and cannot be. Ii
it had it's way five hundred millions
would not appease it. All this money
goes without any return to the gov
eminent save to help perpetuate the
Republican party. For other expen
ditures we frequently get something,
in this case nothing, not even thanks
The new financial policy, known as
the gold standard, has combined every
national bank in one solid organiZa-
tion, and made it a Republican sup
porter. 1t is ready with its money
and its influence to do anything that
party may demand, because that party
has invested those institutions with
the entire control of the paper curren'
cy of the country, and the vastness OF
this power Is beyond human magma
ton, or the breadth of a finite mind.
To say that this great National Trust
just created by Republican enactment
will be conducted in the interest OF
humanity, and for public good, is to
declare result not in accordance with
experience or human nature. One
might as well put wolves and lambs
in the same enclosure and expect the
wolves to nurture and protect the
lambs. This combination of capital
is the vastest yet made possible, it has
its hold on the throat of every man,
woman and child in the nation, and
can control and use them, as no other
king ever did his subjects.
In addition to these two powerful
elements in the Republican organiza-
ton comes one solid phalanx of Trusts
which have sprung up within the last
four years under Republican fostering.
These without exception form part of
the Republican machine, because they
know their salvation lies in that quar-
ter. These organizations are known
and acknowledged robbers. They
would die if Republican protection
were withdrawn from them, and as
their very existence depends on plum
der as much SO as that of pirate
crew. they hover close under the shell
tering wing of their creator and friend.
In these is one of the peoples greatest
danger, because they have sought out
every possible device to plumber them.
No article of general consumption but
has been taken charge of and the price
advanced save as to what the farmer
makes and sells as in the case of meat,
that the trust lowers in price. 1t is
the farmer the trusts pay their princi-
pal respects to, he is the subject of
their peculiar attention, because he is
the great consumer. For this reason
the trust works him both ways. 1t
lowers the price of the raw material
which is in his hands, and raises the
price of the manufactured material
which is in theirs. This, "the people
be damned policy the Republican
party fosters and protects, hence all
the trusts have become a factor of
that party and are ready with money
and influence to perpetuate it's power.
These giant organizations not only
control material of all kinds, but they
control the press, and pour out their
literature in volumes, made to order,
to convince the unwary and illadvised
that all of this is right, that the person
who objects is an anarchist, and des-
troyer of business and government
With these vast organizations of
plumber 60 along vast crowds of hang
ers on, and servants. Their bread and
butter means a good deal, and as was
said to them in the last presidential
campaign and as will be said to them
in this ION your vote depends your
employment, " we may well ask can
such an organization be overcome !?
We are also asked if it is not better to
let them alone and take our chances
of living with them rather than with
out them? To the first question We
reply that such organizations can be
overcome. The people have not yet
surrendered their liberties and they
can overcome and control them, and
make possible a government where
every man will have an equal chance
with every other man to earn an hon.
est living. Now this is denied him.
To the second question we reply that,
if we wish to be serfs and make even
more abjeat serfs of our children then
we should let these destroyers of life
and liberty alone. We, ourselves, if