The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1912-04-24

The fruit of labor and concentrates
Il in the hands of the privileged
few. naturally rendering the con-
ditions of the masses almost intol-
cradle. Already the struggle for
existence is tragic. While there is
more money, more wealth, than
before, it is so ingenuously filched
from those who earned it and so
Systematically concentrated, that
there is more poverty, more suffer-
ing than ever before. The opulence
of a country does not mean general
prosperity. 1t may mean slavery.
When Egypt withdrew her fabulous
wealth from the people and hoard
ed it in her temples, soon the owls
began singing their watch-songs in
her magnificent towers. She per-
ished. Greece and Rome ventured
the same economic blunder and
shared the same fate-soon the spi-
der wove his web in their glittering
palaces. Bodies it to us no evil that
in Roosevelt's seven years orgies of
trust formations that thirty-one
billions of capital and ten thousand
distinct, Independent and compel
ing industrial plants were drawn,
by a system of interlocking direc-
torGtes, within tie control of six
men, to say nothing of their bale
full influence upon every important
industry in the land? Absolute
despots who dictate the financial
policies of the country make and
unmake men, measures and panics,
laugh at our laws and scorn our
courts. If they want TO take over
The Tennessee Coal & Iron Co. with !
all its vast holdings of natural re-
sources, they produce a panic that |
not only wrecks Tennessee stocks, |
but forces Roosevelt to grant an OPP |
en- violation OF law to save his adj /
from ? like wreck. In
al these great United States, where
Is there set Of men who would
lare undertake any important en-
erprise without first going down
upon their knees for the consent OF
hese men Where is there an in
'ust'ial or financial institution they
'arnot wreck at a word? What
en- despots or demons ever had
lalf such power?
Protection has made this posi-
Ne. Indeed it is the chief factor.
: arms these giants with the terri
,io bludgeon of nearly one and
hree-quarters of a billion dollars
very year, with which to brain all
opposition, and stands guard on
iur coasts to prevent any possible
elief, till now, like Hydra OF
1esperedes, they literally consume
he substance of the people. But,
mark you, | do not mean by this
o cunningly suggest riots, violence,
r destructive legislation. No, no.
his would be criminal folly and
ould end only in disaster to all.
he cure is in an intelligent ballot
a weapon that comes down as still
s snowfakes upon the sod; but ex-
cutes a freeman's will, as light I
ing does the will of God; and from
s force no doors nor locks can {
lield" even the almighty trust. t
Heigh-ho! One by one We see
ur idols and affairs tumble in the !
ust and ourselves thrown further o
ack upon nerve-straining self-de- v
Evidence. What a rest to mind h
nd body to fully relax and wholly 4.
ust and believe in things-a v
int's compensation even if his Y
IDS are false. Il
Like the little frolicing, trusting =
lDpv, we love to sally forth into !
Ia great big old world, piouslv Z
,lieVing that every living creature |
our natural friend. but, alas! 3
hat shocks and cruel disillusions 7
Wait MS. How soon this beautiful CT
18th is shattered! One of the last Il