The representative., 1901-05-23
Pertinent Facts.

Editor Representative:
The mortgaged debt Of the farms Of
this country, according to the census OF
1890, had increased 156 per cent, the
tenant farmers 4Oh per cent. The gen.
eral condition of the country during that
period was opulent in comparison to the
outlook for the next 10 years, because
there has been formed lately three of the
most gigantic trusts known in the his
tory of the world. First, the gold trust,
that before which kings. emperOrs, pres
idents, as we'll as the laboring class must
bend the knee Gin humble suppliance;"
second, the shipping trust, and combined
with it the railroad trust; third, the
coal trust; and it is now proposed to
raise the price Of rails 81, with . II raise
in COAL These trusts are q legitimate
offspring of our present business sys-
tenn, though oppressive beyond the
dreams of poets," yet in the end they
will prove a blessing to the American
people, though the remedy proposed by
our modern solons Is as impotent as
were the darts Of the Mexicans in fight
ing the mounted cavalry of Cortez.
Trusts are formed for their saving
proclivities, and for this no one should
blame them, for the instinct to grab is
inherent in man, and will there remain
until the end of time Laws should be
made and condition of society brought
about that will prevent these oppressive
opportunities presenting themselves to
the thieves. If trusts are good for a few,
why are they not good for the masses
and why could not the government oper-
ate them in the interests of the people
as we'll as few for themselves? For
what is a nation but individuals collect
lively? 1t has been stated by men who
know that under government control a
man could ride on first-class train from
Chicago to San Francisco for 81, and
still leave small profit for the rail-
road. Think, Mr.. Farmer. what you
would save in shipping your produce un-
der government control Had this coun-
try, prior to the civil war, paid the
Southern planters for their slaves, what
an immense amount of treasure would
have been saved to the people, not count
ing the pangs of the heart that can never
be repaid. Stop, Mr.. Farmer, and figure
out how long will 1t be before the farms
will all be owned by few, and tenant
farmers occupy the land, for in 10 years
the mortgaged debt had increased 1856
per cent and the tenant farmers 4OA
per cent. Yet in the face of this you
will hear men shouting prosperity" with
as loud bray as the lass of the Bible :"
Lincoln once said: CAS- a result of the
war corporations have been formed. and
an era of corruption will come in high
places and our liberties be DESTROYED. +"
Were not his words prophetic? Had he
been alive today, he would go to the
White House, take Mark Hanna by the
back of the neck and Mckinley by the
seat of the pants, and throw them both
into the Potomac, to be devoured by
sewer fish, for I believe they would be
repugnant to the sharks. The only sal
vation for this country, outside of war,
is to let the old-line Democratic party
die natural death, and DER it's remains
let the people rule by direct legislation.
Place the Democratic party in power un-
der Bryan or any other leader, and in
four years it would be as corrupt as the
Cleveland administration. What can
you expect of party that will indorse
Tammany in New York, Goebelism in
Kentucky, while shouting for reform,
plead for the consent of the governed, /"
and disfranchise the Southern negro !?
The element of corruption will surely
prevail If 1T succeeds to power, which we
believe it cannot.
The human race has always cherished
some form Of superstition, and oceans Of
blood have been split before they could