Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1902-03-14
LETTER FROM SALT LAKE CITY.
SALT LAKE Cry, UTAH, March I, 100.


EDITOR AcIrAToR: We have received the
last three NUMBER of your paper, which wife
and like very much especially the articles
from the able pen of 10 McDil1, Many thanks
to our highly-esteemed friend Capt. Geo. A.
Smith, of Colony, for having the paper sent to
our address. The AG1TAToR should reeeiI e
the hearty support of all true reformers, not
only in Anderson county, but throughout east
ern Kansas. May it continue to advocate and
defend the cause of the industrial classes for ii
there ever was a time when true reformers
were needed, it is now.
The people are restless; dissatisfaction reigns
supreme; confidence nearly gone, and crisis
the greatest in the worlds history confronts
the people of all lands and climes.
Washington spoke the truth when he SAID:
external vigilance is the price of liberty"
In all countries and in all ages where human
ity has attained high degree of industrial
liberty it has been by overcoming great oppos-
ton. Human liberty cannot long survive with
out conflicts with the forces that seek to destroy
it. Tyranny and oppression are the oldest
children of hun an sel6shness, and sel6shness
is as old as the race.
But few realize the many disintegrating forces
at work undermining this republic, and TO close
our eyes to them and cry "peace and safety" is
the greatest folly, and if liberty survives, It will
be the wonder of the age. The prosperity Of
a nation depends upon just and equitable laws
in which every human being has right to
"lfe, liberty and the persuit of happiness.
In other words, every man aud woman should
have the right to vote Eyes" or emo" upon
every law by which they are governed. Sur
render this right to class of men, and you sur
render to them the power to destroy prosperity
and endanger your liberties. A house divided
against itself cannot stand.
When we realize that the worker can buy
back only IS per cent of what he creates, the
time has certainly come when the political, So
cial and industrial rights of the producers of
the wealth of the nation must be recognized,
and if the people sit in silence and see their
constitutional rights bought by the blood of
heroic sires thus surrendered, and allow the few
to rule the many, they are but towards and
the name of freemen.
Loyal men who oppose these nefarious
schemes have been, and will be, called anarch-
lists, revoutionists and dishonest regulators.
But that is no matter. This is to be expected.
1t is not simply question of politics. but
question of human liberty.
Every reform has met with the most bitter
opposition.
When the agitation in behalf of American
independence began in the colonies, the official
classes, the clergy, the moneyed classes and
what was then callen called Questionable socie-
ty," as rule, were Tories, and adhered to
English interests. The men who were clearing
the forests and building up the state were ready
to die for liberty and independence, put the in
auential classes were opposed to it.
When Patrick Henry uttered the famous
words, "Give me liberty or give me DEATH" in
the Assembly of Virginia, nearly half the
members tainted him with treason
When the Declaration of independence was
read in the court house yard in Philadelphia,
July 4, 1875, writer who adhered to the iuAu-
entail classes was present, and, in giving an
account of it, he stated that there were very
few people of any "respectabilty" in the
crowd that listened to the reading of the docu-
meut.
All through busy life, | have been taught,
and for years believed, that competition is
the life of trade" but now see it is the Claw
of DEATH" while cooperation in all things is
the law of life" Our present insane social