Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1900-10-22

purse-proud looters boast that the sub
mergence and pauperiZation of the
masses for the benefit of the classes
f, is prosperity, and when the mouth
piece and conscience of the Republican
party lifts its brazen, brutal front to
heaven and asks God to forbid any
| change?
A million of white men died to free
four million of slaves. A few hun
dreds of plutocrats are holding to-day
| 100000 of white men in slavery
worse than that of the negro chat
tel; for the latter was always sure
of enough to eat, of medical attend
ance when sick, of clothing enough to
hide his nakedness, and of fuel
enough to keep him warm. The negro
had no vote; the industrial slave of
trusts and commercialism has, but if
he exercises it honestly, the threat of
starvation accompanies his ballot The
reign of terror in France was an open
and noisy one; that of our plutocratic
spoilers and industrial barons is Sc
cret and silent one. The ballot box
can always create a revolution in this
land. VIII the people use it to release
from their throats the Shiny tentacles
Of the trust devil fish?
1t takes shock of some kind to
awake the average man to helpful ac-
ton. Most people, in their mental lazi-
ness, are disposed to think that "what-
ever is, is right" The pitiful condi-
tions of industrial slavery exposed in
the mines Of Pennsylvania may arouse
them. "a nation cannot exist half
free and half slave" said Lincoln.
Nne-tenths of the American people
will not always submit to be exploited
by one-tenth. These barons of greed
ought to realize that fact before the
day of reckoning dawns. New
thoughts and impulses are abroad and
change will come despite Of Hanna's
hosannahs and prayers. There are to-
day fewer white men of intelligence
fawning at the feet of wealth and
power than there was yesterday, and
there will be still fewer tomorrow.
The common people, that is, the best
of American manhood, are beginning
to see that the invasion of the rights of
one is the invasion and ultimate de-
struction of the rights of all The fac
tory hand cringed and the drummer
shouted and spouted throughout the
land in 1896; they are not doing so
to-day. The prosperity they We're
promised has come only to magnates.
The money safes of the rich are fuller
than ever greedy anticipation hoped,
while the pocketbooks and cupboards
of the masses are emptier than ever.
The dinner pail is becoming rare, for
the idle do not need one and the COM
paratively few at work have little to
put in it.
AS Il pertinent addition to the fore
going and timely comment on the
struggle now beginning in the Pennsyl-
vania coal regions the following, from
Father Ducey, the gentle and sympa-
thetic, but morally courageous, priest,
Of New York. may be quoted:
1T is the greatest crime of modern
society which compels children of
| eight years of age to work for thirty
cents a day in those dark mines. All
this in order that their taskmasters
may live lives of luxury and refined
| ease.
ANY man who raises his voice
against these wrongs will be pro-
| claimed demagogue. Jesus Christ
in His day was called a demagogue
and an imposter because He was the
friend of sinners and consorted with
the common people
But the anarchists are not the men
VINO protest. The real anarchist in
this case are the mine owners, who
constitute the greatest danger to mod
crn society,"