Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-02-01
THE DUTY OF HONEST WEALTH.


their policies of favoring the wealthy
few at the expense of the toiling
many. AS the Chicago Chronicle puts
it, there must be hosts of wealthy
men in America, however, who are
honest enough and intelligent enough
to perceive the unwisdom, not to men,
ton the danger, of the methods which
the dominant party is pursuing with
so much recklessness."
Our contemporary points out that if
the Republican leaders have a con-
trolling idea beyond plumber and priv
elege it is hard to find it, and that a..
of their important measures are to
further enterprises, which, while the
may have some public value, as a mat
ter of fact are of much greater i'm
portance to private interests which
are closely associated with Republican
party management. They are lavish
in bestowing public money upon pri-
FuIC lilulfluudIO anu IuCil mail COn-
ception of government seems to be the
employment of the resources of all
the people for the benefit of a few.
THE record of a Republican admin
istration of late" says our Chicago
contemporary, reads like the proceed
ings of a meeting Of stockholders in
a close business corporation. Every
body is represented except the people.
Nobody speaks for them. Nobody at
tempts to speak for them. Senators
and congressman and cabinet officers,
even the president himself, are open
advocates of policies VIGOROUSLY de-
vised for the promotion of the for
tunes of Individuals And by the
same token measures originating in
the greed of a class have a very differ
ent fate and generally go through as
introduced after it is once shown that
the interests favored have been or
may be Of service to the Republican
leaders.
The situation is not without hope in
the view Of our contemporary which
believes there is a powerful element
in the United States which understands
this condition of affairs perfectly,
which has not made many complaints
as yet, which is naturally conservative
and which is patient almost to the ex-
IRENE Of Indifference, but it is not in
different. 1t knows what is going on.
1t will endure much. 1t will not en-
dure everything"
This conservative element has sup
ported the Republican party, enabling
it to achieve its two greatest triumphs
not because it had no misgiyings as to
the result, but because it was frighten-
ed by the false cries raised against Mr..
Bryan, whom it feared might be too
radical. But sooner or later this ele-
ment will hold the Republican party
to a strict accountability. It's conf
dence has been betrayed too often. The
response of the Republican leaders to
the first manifestation of generosity
by this conservative element was the
Dingley tariff, than which history tells
not of a nor unfair and oppressive
measure to plumber the many for the
benefit Of a few great combines of
capital. To a second vote of conf
dence the Republican leaders reply
with the ship subsidy bill, which is so
ubiquitous a scheme of plumber that it
is doubtful if it can pass even a Re-
publican Senate. In view of the sit
uation our Chicago contemporary
sounds this note of warning:
Much complaint has been made of late
by men of property on account of the
attitude of the Democratic party with
relation 10 money, wealth and credit.
Some of the policies urged by recent
leaders Of that party nave been looked
upon as radical and revolutionary. Yet
the most extreme Democratic policy that
has found favor anywhere is mild in
comparison with what we may look for
IN this country at no distant day if the
outrageous injustice of the Republican
system of taxing all of the people for
the benefit of a few of the people is TO
continue.
The Democratic party is opposed to
class privilege as examplifed in protec-
tive tariffs and subsidies. II has made
an unsuccessful effort to eliminate the
EVIL from u government and politics.
Its failure in this respect under Mr..
Cleveland is what gave rise to the more
radical movement under Mr.. Bryan. If
the great conservative class of the re-
pubic. the men who stand between the
very rich and the very poor. and who
have twice saved the Republican party
from deserved defeat. shall at length re
volt at the practices which have made
Republican triumph onymo with
roobery and jobbery. We may be sure
that in their wrath they will call for
some remedy more radical thar any that
mas been proposed by the Democratic
party of Cleveland or the Democratic
party of Bryan"
1t is the duty Of the honest wealth
OF America" forcibly says the Chron-
icle, ito check the evil tendencies Of
the Republican party. 1t can do it.
1t is the duty of honest men in Dos
session of great estates. in control of