The Irish standard., 1905-08-19
A few years ago, While I was prose-


IN the same locality, which show the
peculiar temperament Of some of our
people. The one had stolen a coat
while under the influence of intoxi-
cants and sold it for a trifing sum,
which he spent in the saloons close by.
he other, the son of wealthy parents,
had broken up the home, the peace,
the happiness and comfort of a poor
family by first alternating the affec-
tions, then eloping with, then de-
b"uching and afterwards aban-
doning the poor mans wife. What
contrast! l was there to do my duty
in each case. In the first instance,
if may be pardoned for using Scrip
tural language, the better element
so called-cried out, Cruelty him,
cruelty him." In other words, they
clamored that he should be prosecuted
to the full extent of the law. True,
they themselves had voted to grant
saloon licenses and put money in their
taxes and thus placed temptation in
the path of the poor, weak, unfortu-
nate stranger and then they cried out
for state prison sentence. But how
about the other case? you may ask.
In advance of the trial was met at
the depot by a representation of purse
ot.ic lo1 -
let him go. 1t was argued that he
full grown man of 80 years or more
! belonged to one of the rich families
OF certain community and that mas.
much as he had not broken up or into
another rich family he ought to be let
go, that the woman in the case was
only the wife of a poor man and $50
ciety circles" had not been invaded,
ETC., etc. Well, did not let him co.
He paid the penalty, but 1 might add
that from that time on the purse proud
aristocratic representative had no time
for me but sought by various devices
and methods to thwart my efforts in
UeLdll VI IuC pcOple.
Is it not time to take an inventory
of stock, as merchant would say af-
ter he had been engaged in merchan-
dising for some time? Is it not time
that we, as people, take an account
of stock that we are carrying on our
ship Of state? Or in the language of a
constitutional provision, if we are to
enjoy the blessings of a free govern
ment, is it not time that we recur to
fundamental principles?
What do we behold in America to-
day? What have we witnessed for
several years or more? Franchises and
other privileges bought and sold un-
der the peoples eyes, their children
bound by laws and ordinances for
years to come under the pretext of
vested rights, the brightest and keen
est minds in the business and legal
worlds employed to invent cunning
ways of circunlventing.t the law against
unjust discrimination In freight rates
and powerful syndicates constantly
striving to obtain valuable franchises
for nothing or for mere pittance, to
rob the people in variety of ways in
defiance of both law and equity. Wit
ness the deportation of miners and
others from their homes without any
trial by court or jury. Witness the
sensational developments and astound-
ing revelations of graft and corruption
in Philadelphia. Turn your gaze to
the city of Milwaukee and see how
they are striving in the face of fierce
opposition to purge their municipality
of graft and crookedness in high
places; see how the one time idolized
Sentinel labors to give aid and COM
fort to the boodiers by trying teAini-
mize the efforts of the district attor-
ney, whose hands they as good citi-
zens should uphold and aid him in his
laudable efforts. See the gigantic
strike in Chicago, where the laboring
element, driven to the verge of frenzy
by the example of the capitalists in
violation of all natural and Divine
laws, have sought a redress of real
or supposed grievances. Is it any
wonder that the strikers may Ut
times overstep the lines of legal agl-
tation and substitute for law and order
mob violence and anarchy?
1t is truly deplorable that such
things should exist. But here it is. 1t
is no longer theory. 1t is an actual
reality. And it is up to the American
people to solve the problem and apply
the remedy. 1t will not do any good
to hold up to the gaze of the nations
of the earth and denounce the trans
portation of political offenders from
Russia to Siberia while the deporta-
tion of our Colorado citizens is pro.
crossing unmolested at home. It will
not do any good to denounce in glar-
ing headlines the strikes in Poland or
the mutiny in Odessa while our Chi
cagO citizens are clamoring for
just laws and enactments to relieve
them from cruel and oppressive an
archy of combined capitalists. We de-
nounce the bureaucracy of Russia and
yet, here at home, we have the giants
of the universe Trusts, Combinations,
COrDOratiOns and allied interests. man.