Democratic Sentinel, Volume 2, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 May 1878 — Esfense of the Toiling Masses. [ARTICLE]

Esfense of t he Toiling Masses.

In Ins pieu before the Senate for the repeal oj the Resumption Act, Mr_ V oorhees presented statistics showing how few were owners of the lands of Europe and how cruel aud oppressive then exactions. lie then pictured iu true colors the steady srides beiug made in that direction in our own Ile-pui-dic, and proceeded to defend the people against the charge of the Shylocks that their extravagance had brought about the date of aflairs that now exist. We make ihefollovviu extracts: Sir. tiiuse statistical facts arc OAcrwhclmiug in their niguificancc. They reveal every feature of human seiv tude and up all the ghastly tin. | ''aments of degradation, famine and woe. They explain the exodus of {he last 35 years from Great Britain, din ing which time seven millions of her subjects have, exiled themselves from her shores. I have cited them, however, at this time, not for the purpose of dwelling on them, hut simply to show* to American land owners who have been loreetl to mortgage their lands to the money powi , ‘ r 11 con .ten sou and comprehensive view of the j l ‘" ,! 11 Uiai career on which thev have entered. I j net-ire them ic see that the policy of their governi mem in withholding an adequate supply of diiiiij >-W in circulation has forced them into the clutches ol a power w men to-day hoids-niottgages on more acres ol Ainesiettn farms than the entire lands I wiutiu tnehoundari,.s ol England. And I desire . m ujeir heuail to appeal to the American Congress to promptly unoo, as far as possible, the ruin i mat has oe,<u iaiticted, uud to inaugurate a liuaucial reformation which will secure to the toiling '**i mi r his imperiled home auti to the industrious mechaiii.: living wages. It is customary, however, at this time for the supporters ol tiie presen t liiiancial policy of the government u> charge tne mislortuues of the pet - joe oa the people lueuisetves. The extravagance o; ihe peo )e, then reckless expenditures, and t.ieir prodigal mode of living are now taverito themes on me tongues of those w ho recline in the sol: lap ot vveuitu and tare Sumptuouslv evenday. J lie hard handed, sunburnt millions whi* use to their daily take vyuiie the morning star is; .■ei in the ... r. :,r,d toil fora subsistence until the evening star appears, are constantly ie.tured on Me- \il tiles oi economy by the dwciiera ill palaces, by the inmates ot gilded mansions, bv tec masters of livened attemlun;s, by the loi'dsof mil dons, by ai. such as derive their incomes and their .ii-.a.ics from 1.,e .aoorand privations of others. 1 n--se mud ‘'bleachers oi seit denial on the purl G tue laborer have A vsn the meaning of thin world ibivc.:,. o‘ : lie spn mui meaning us sublime uuI '"or lntoUUed to the parable of Uie ten talents: ! ' Tor unto every one lhav hath shall he given, and j siiat. ua,e aoiinuonce; but from him' that hath i lu 'i shall be taken ..way even that which he hath.' ‘ ■‘e poor are exhorted to give up luxuries which | Idcy ddve not, m order that the rich may add to ituir already ;„i nl abundance. Goto the homes i b! tho ewhoea: their bread in the sweat of their i uiCes and asceriaiu ii you can the extravagances in whim they indulge. Do they maintain costly equipages, splendid carriages, aud richly comparin'.i uorscs .y Are their humble dwellings adorut;u wan valuable paintings, or titled up with expensive funm me.- Do you see pier-gla“ses ou tneir waits and teei velvet carpets beneath your "■t 1 on men- hours'/ take a Heatwith them at ! tneir uugal, but hospitable tables. Do yon find I extravagance lucre? Where is the solid silverl nnie, Uie long succession of delicate dishes, the I various brands of nigh priced wines? .None ot I lhi.-e things ale found to tempt the Epieureau ; taste ot those who, while preaching economy to j i he inunstriul classes, sit down cacti day to banquets such as Dives presided over when Lazarus l.iv at ms gates begging bread. Have tile farmers a ~d mechanics of iuu country brought calamity on themselves by extravagance m dress/ nHere one indulges m broadcloth a hundred are gbm to be comlortaoleand appear decent in Dome spun. Do their wives and daughters wear velvets and expensive tiiks/ Must tncy too ecouomi-e and put ou plainer attire iu order that the volumes ol fadhion and wealth may increase their demands/ .Sir, the laboring men and women of tii.s country have not been extravagant iu their livin'", nor do tneu pre-.ui einimnassmeuts and sutl'erj tugs arise lrow unit cause, it is enough that thev i snuulu be weary with care and toil and tilled with 1 anxiety lor tne sail darkening future. They j should Hi least be spuied reproachful calumny, j t uey constitute the only economizing, sell'-denv- | ing c.uss ot ciL.zens in all this broad land. With j vvmit loree and justice could luey turn upon their ; u".-Usci'H and lusien on them the crimes of protiiI gaev and shameless extravigance. The federal j government usell lias been administered for . mans years past ou a scale (if the most stupen- , dou« expenditures, it has rioted with the public i moneys and set an evil example, .states, counI t ies, el tie , lid corporations have too generally dt'li.'u mi ide principles of economy in tneir man- | ugmneui. Hut ol ail vvlio commit extravivuucc lin'd j,is.ti c seit-mdulgeuce, tile most conspicuous u mat cuiss which holds the minds of the , government and the mortgages of ttie people, and i louuly urge* its oppressed debtors to me most I a id econiny tor its own benefit. To those who compose Uns favored class tile pleasures and iuxuris of every land aud clime are accessible. To them nothing cun be denied which money will c unruaue. An tuey travel over oceans uud continents in quest of new enjoyments, they are us sailed by no anxious fears in regard to their pecuniary resources. They know that the plowman in tne uurow. tne mechanic in his shop, the American laborer ol eveiy kind, and wherever he inav be. pays daily tribute uud makes their income se : - eit re. ! Fa. be it from me to incite the people, even if in my power, to disregard their financial obligations. No such purpose inspires my conduct, but I shall at all times vindicate them against the asperations oi those who rtrst oppress aud then denounce them. Aud I shall also always maintain that the entire financial policy ot the government should tie revised, changed, and reformed iu their interests and for tneir relief. Are there those upon this floor who regard the financial question a temporary one/ To iiiy mind it is not so. its different phases may be met and tor the time beiug disposed of, but 'in my judgment it will reruuiu the paramount question in our public affairs long after every eye that now -yai Kies in. tins chamber shall be closed in eternal sloop. Debt is a merc;l (»s master, and gives its victims little time amt less inclination to consider anything except its ceaseless demands. The American people at this time, aside from their private debts to ijpeh other, are indebted to the ledcrul and stategovernmesnts, to comities, cities and corporations, iu the almost in.#icuiubie sum. of more. than $5.0 )0,1)30.000. The boniftigo of iucii a debt can uor he a short one. Generations will come and go before emancipation, day fur the American taipaytsr.. arriro*.

[From the Remington Times.] Appointments.— The president has nominated Horace E. James, ol Indiana, consul at Turk’s Island.-Chica-go Times. That is all there was of it, but ft throws a flood of light over the course pursued by the Rensselaer Union since Hayes’ inaugural. This shows why that paper, standing almost alone in the State, persistently supported the administration in its opposition to the silver bill, and boldly supported all the odious financial measures of the gold bugs. It shows that in advocating measures so inconsistent with the interest of his patrons, for a“auid pro quo,” Mr. James was only consistent with himself, aud his past record Congratulations are now in order. —The Rensselaer Union man was cleverly caught by the Republican convention, and safely anchored by being made Chairman of the county central committee. Thus, was this luminous, erratic, independent political eotnet captured and harnessed to the machine, and made to obey the laws that govern political bodies. —Barney Patton met with a serious affliction this wtek, in the death of one of his horses, thus breaking up his best pair of roadsters, the blacks. - Remington Times.