The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1905-02-16

ago and with all our work and all the
hard earned money that we have spent
to advance our demands. are we one
inch nearer our destination? Surely
the task is a great one, the mountain
is high one to climb.
The difficulties are money and OPP
pOnents are on every side. Rev. Her
bert Bigelow draws a very discouraging
comparison between the condition and
downfall of the Roman empire and our
own beloved country.
The question that we ask now is;
Twill there be any salvation for our
country2o There Is no doubt but that
corruption is in every branch OF ma
tional, state and city government, and
this corruption is spoken OF and lightly
passed by.
The wealthy men who dictate the
policy of legislation are nothing more
than band OF pirates. The boards of
trade and stock markets are run by
men who have no conscience of right
and Justice.
1t is utterly impossible to get any
laws brought before legislative bodies
LICl udbc q oHauON vi iSCoChiiS tAtS
grip that organized greed has upon the
existence of the common people.
1t is useless to name these as every
reader OF The Independent knows them
all. The greenbacl1 party was an Or
ganized protest against some OF them
twenty-five years ago and some little
good was accomplished. Then the union
I'M Thor,
the peoples party was organized and
has made heroic contest for reform
with but little, very little success
Many good, honest and sensible men
have come forward and labored with
all their heart and soul. Some have
died and passed away, others have
| been discouraged and fell back. Some
have sold out and joined the greedy
enemy, while others are yet in the line
ready and wiling to put forth their best
Ieffort to right the many wrongs that
burden the toiling millions OF our
country and to prepare better condi-
| ton for unborn generations.
Truly Bro. A. A. Perry has spoken
when he says that instead OF the wal
freeing the black slave that it fastened
the chains OF bond slavery upon all
both white and black, who toll for Their
existence and delivered them into the
hands of the money power OF the world
While our president is making some
effort of controlling some OF the trusts
he becomes the willing tool of the orig
inal of all trusts, tie Wall street money
trust and dictates the most infamous
iScheme against the common people,
Surely the demands of the idle greedy
wealthy individuals and corporations
will never have ar end
| The old world is filled with hunger
Estaryation, misery and wretchedness
because of these greedy demands and
Twill not our own beloved children pass
tgradually into that same condition il
our laws are dictated by the same
greedy class?
Yes every <rcformcr in the lant
knows this is too true and millions Of
voters in the two old parties will &C
knowledge the truth of this statement
But now comes the hard proposition
How can we get them to join us fol
better conditions, through DetteT laws
How can we get these millions of vot
lers to act in their own interest instead
Iof against their interest?
Will persuasion do it? Will goof
speakers do it? Will argument do it
Will candid review Of the history o.
past legislation do it? Or will the on
ward march of oppression, the heav,
hand of greed, bringing in it's wake
want and starvation, d. it?
Something must do It il it. is eve
done. The great mass Of the peopl
know what is right and demand /
every day in the year except on cleo
ton day. We who are striving to liv
. the life of Christ THAT the world ma
be better because we have lived in it,
:. look back to the trend of human actio
L and therein try to outline the future.
We look at theSpast OF a mans III
Ito decide what action he may do in tn
future.
That the great mass Of humanit
t must have leaders, yet the masses mus
n he willing to follow.
: We must make personal sacrifice
) nf oil