People's Pilot, Volume 4, Number 50, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 June 1895 — MR. J. R. SOVEREIGN [ARTICLE]

MR. J. R. SOVEREIGN

WRITES AND SOUNDS THE NOTE OF WARNING. The Power at the Back of the Shylocks Will Be Utilized to Carry the Elections in 1896 —Populists Most Be Up and Doing. (Southern Mercury.) The following letter from Master Workman Sovereign should be read by everyone. It is a note of warning that it would be well for the people to heed before the chains of slavery are forged Upon them: A few days ago the gold bugs of Wall street, through, the leading gold basis' club of New York City, a club whose membership comprises more than 3,000 of the millionaires .of this nation, announced through the columns of the corporate press that they now control the editorial columns of 1.000 of the principal newspapers of this country, i and that they have closed contracts with the leading stereotype plate and ready-print houses, through which they are enabled to permeate the country press with the single gold standard doctrine, vulgarly called ‘sound money." This club, which calls itself what it is not, "The Reform Club,” has thrown off its mask, and, after announcing that it has been working secretly for many months, declares that not only the metropolitan prfess of the country is at their command, and that they have untold millions with which to carry the elections for the privileged classes in 1896, but they openly boast that every Influential federal officer will be brought into service to write letters to personal acquaintances and friendly newspapers in the interests of the gold barons, and. that all public speakers friendly to the Wall street, policy and the present administration will enter the public rostrum for the purpose, if possible, of defeating the candidates of the people. In its issue of April 23. the Philadelphia Tinies, the recognized organ of Cleveland and the plutocratic classes of the east, editorially says: “There are two issues that will bt paramount in lhe great national contest of 1896, and all other questions will be merely incidental. They are: First, an absolutely sound financial system, that will maintain public and private credit, anti a currency that will command confidence at home and throughout the civilized world. Second, the maintenance of law and order, and the

protection of person and property, by all the powers of government. -There are just two issues for (he people to determine in the battle of 189(5 Whether the new president shall be Republican <><; Democrat.is of little moment, but it is of moment that we shall have honest money and h»nesl obedi once to the majesty of the law. and the protection of person and property." ’l'he kind of money mentioned by the 'l’imes means gold and national bank notes, and nothing else. And the obedience to law and order demanded, means gatliug gun government, and. if need be. a military campaign, to overawe and Intimidate the people into a wilfiul submission lo the mandates of foreign bondholders and American shylocks. It means that in the name of law and order, compulsion and military coercion will lie employed lo subjugate the masses lo the will of the arrogant military robbers It

can mean nothing else. For nowhere ih tlris country is their any organised resistance to the maintenance of law and order, amt we already have an ! ample constabulary'and judiciary in every town and hamlet, to prosecute and punish individual violators of the law’, and to protect the innocent. But, in connection pith the perpetuation of the gobi basis theory of money, which, more than all else, has contributed to rob labor, and concentrate the wealth of the many into the hands of the few. It is declared that the importance of maintaining law and order in this country is of such supreme -moment tnat it makes .ntle or no difference whether a Democrat or a Republican is 1 elected president in IS 96. if ha is sound on the two issues mentioned. It is not an infraction of the law, or a disturb-, ance of . the peace, that they fear; but that the people will rise, en masse, and throw off the yoke of bondage that has made them subservient to the dominations and exactions of an oligarchy of wealth. The low and order they want to preserve is the law and order that issues interest-bearing bonds* ih violation of the constitution, and buys gold with the hard earnings of the) people, to appease the insatiate greeds of aristocratic money kings. Tfcey wjsfe to preserve the lay? and that.-i?*, sues despotic and tyrannical Injunctions to'restrain the working people, from securing their natural rights, Arilf a just remuneration for their They want a law and order tMr$W? tects the corporations and thcHimvey kings In their pow’er to rok induw try, cove? the homes of thezpedptei with mortgages, reduce ration rates and pervert ihter-state commerce laws. Io and imprison every Person,who darfH resist their robber rules. '"Hiey want'a law and order that will exalt public criminals, protect mercenary capital, and enthrone forfeitable form of private monopoly Kbit iinfests the country, with‘t,he>l)U'lt plßgjie, of wage slavery For this kind of a.iJanr thng want a president wire, will fIOS plpce the gatling guns ajid of tlw government between, the, qp'd, ,tne freedom and, inalienable rights' vouchsafed by the declaration of independence and the Cotistftntfon of th? republic. After carefully studying all the recent movements on the ‘chess board or American politics, I feel that I would

be untrue to the best interests of the organized workers of this connny who have honored me with the position of their executive hegd, if I did not urge the readers of yonr valuabh paper, and the reform forces of thir country everywhere, to meet this soulless moloch of monarchy and greed with all possible opposition compatible with the obligations of American citizenship. No time must be lost. The campaign of 1896 has been opened by the money power and the corporations early in 1895, and there is not an act of cunning, nor a crime known to disrep"utable conspiracy, that they wifi not resort to, to accomplish their ends. They will deceive, buy, bribe, bulldoze and intimidate, whenever and wherever their pernicious designs can be advanced by so doing. Let reformers everywhere awake to the responsibilities of the Mnir. Let every advocate of the people’s interests, available for. campaign service, take the rostrum al once, and meet this vulture-hearted enemy in its own field. To the end that I may contribute my bumble efforts to the cause of humanity. 1 desire to tender my services in the field where The tight is hottest. I have decided to make a lecture tour of the southwest, passing through Missouri. Arkansas, Indian Territory, and Texas to the Gulf, Those desiring to arrange public meetings for me will please make applications at an early date. The route will not be changed, after dates are given and appointments announced. On my return through the south 1 will pass through Kansas, Nebraska and South Dakota, and will give al) lime possible to rostrum work in other states. Please address me at Des Moines. lowa, lock box 585.

J. R. SOVEREIGN,

G. M. W.