The independent., 1905-08-17
Some Ills of the Nation

CreSSoQ at the COnulIlOnS Thai ldulIeStiy
the body polite of our country. We have the
most intelligent, the most valorous constituency
in the world. Yet we are SO silly as to permit
a mere handful of self interested rich men to
govern rob and to dictate the policies OF our en-
tire country.
History tells us of the decline and fall of
many republics that had attained greatness and
much prosperity Let us not supinely await the
downfall of this grand republic that our fore
fathers so yaliantly fought for and founded.
Those who love this nation must unite to save 1t
from perdition. The wealth of this nation is
rapidly passing into the hands of the few. Our
estimated wealth is about $SOO0O,OO 10000. One
twentieth of one per cent of our population today
own over so per cent of this immense wealth.
In round numbers, as explanation 10000 per-
sons in the United States own over $4S 200
of our country's wealth. 7916O,0O0 persons own
less than $32, 900, 100000. There are several in
dividuals in the United States by of spe
cial legislation who annually netting $780,
100000 There are twenty-five men in the United
States whose estimated wealth is $2,O0oo00,00O
The people of the United States, regardless
of party, almost unit demand parcels post
system. Every civilized nation in the world
has this system in successful operation Yet Tom
Collier Platt, a senator OF the United States, pres
four others, all of which are interested in not
having the postal parcel system, thwarts the de-
mands and wishes of 80,Oo0,0OO of our people
BY special privileges granted by a corrupted
congress- Havemeyer, Rockefeller, Carnegie and
a few others of our fabulously wealthy citizens
are now permitted to tax the American citizen
millions and millions of dollars to further enrich
themselves. Hundreds of rich citizens, combined
under the of trusts, are grossly and With
impunity violating the laws of our land and rapid
w obc q
ing classes.
Having succnctly referred to a few of our
national grieyous conditions we are naturally re-
quested to know what are going to do about it?
What is the remedy? Where are you going to COM
mence? Our conditions have assumed the ex-
igency state. Some drastic treatment must be
resolved
The republicanlparty is conceded to be moth
ing more than spoliation party. The magnitude
OF it's extravaganza, graft and favoritism is prac
tically incalculable. 1t has been in absolute con-
troll for the last forty-fiye years. during which
period Notwithstanding it's proud boasts it can
not point truthfully to single act OF its admin
istration that has benefited it's countrys strly-
ing energetic masses.
Under the regime of the republican party the
burden of national taxation has been taken from
the shoulders of the rich and placed upon the
backs of the toiling classes When it possessed
itself of full control of national affairs, the farm
ers miners and mechanics of the United States
owned eighty per cent OF the wealth OF thls coun-
try-now they own only about ten per cent. I'm
der it's regime republican form OF govern
ment has been totally destroyed, and in its stead
there has been built up a spurious moneyed
arstocracy whose absolutism is more despotc
than that of the of Russia. Under it's regime
ten millions of population are in dire distress,
onehalf of whom paupers. Under its regime
American character has deteriorated and equitable
principles have all paled in conflict with mer-
camille interests In the last ten years OF its
rule. crime of every description has more than
doubled AS an example of it's favoritism graft
injustice, extravaganza, and perhdy, under It's
rule the railroads of the United States are paid
s5O,0OOO 900 of the peoples money for carrying the
mails while the same lines carry the same
amount of freight for the express companies for
$4,O00,0O0
It was under the regime of the republican
marty that the national banks were resurrected
sThose national tigers that Jackson fought sey
enty-three years ago. System" that Jefer