Rensselaer Union, Volume 6, Number 29, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 April 1874 — The Doties Before Us. [ARTICLE]

The Doties Before Us.

Who that has lived and observed the history of our progress for the last fifty or sixty years can feel satisfied with the tendencies of the times ? What means the rapid growth of these powerful and evergrasping monopolies* Still gathering and. concentrating their forces and by their great wealth corrupting the fountains of legislation and controlling it to their own selfish purposes. If this thing is permitted to go on, how long will our liberties be safe* It has been our boast that the fabric of our Government securely rested upon the virtue and intelligence of our people. But what will virtue and intelligence among the masses of the people avail after they have permitted the legislative powers of the countrv to pass into the hands of a few monopolists* What can virtue and intelligence in poverty do against concentrated wealth * My virtue may be as pure and spotless as that of Cwsar’s wife; my intelligence may equal that of the most renowned sages, but lam poor. My neighbor may not know what the word virtue means, his intelligence may not rise much above that of Ute brute creation, but he has unbounded wealth, he owns all the_ land around him, even that on which I am permitted for a time to dwell. On account of his wealth he is courted and flattered; his will, his caprice and his passions, no matter how base, govern the neighborhood, in spite of my virtue and intelligence. If he wishes my character or influence destroyed, or even my life taken, all he has to do is to say so, and menial sycophants await with pleasure to do his bidding. Let the history of past ages and former governments teach us the danger and effects of concentrated wealth in the hands of a few. But all is not lost that is in danger. It is believed that all that is now needed to check the present dangerous tendency is aroused thought, concentrated, intelligent action against the intrenehments of the dangerous foe. While this is a work in which all good citizens, of no matter what calling or vocation, should and must engage, it is believed that the great agricultural class, the product of whose industry is the foundation of all wealth, is pre-eminently the one to take the lead in this general reform. They are fully equal in numbers to all the other industrial classes combined. Their productions are of paramount value to all others. They bear the greatest burden of taxation for the support of the Government. They suffer more from the ptamtorißfs and «wißdUap<<n<NKVO'

lies and petty robbers. They have It within their power tb do more in the Way of general reform than any other class, if not of all other classes combined. Now the question is, Will they do it! The system of organization and concentration that we have adopted will be a great help, an indispensable help, butthat alone will not do it. It is only the first step in thb right direction; a means through which we can bring our power to bear on the citadels of injustice and wrong. Our foes are strong, wily and well-disciplined veterans. They are already alarmed at our gathering forces, but laugh to scorn our yet raw and undisciplined recruits. They know that our cause is just, and with wise, prudent and courageous action we must succeed, and that our success means failure for them. Their hopes are predicated on the want of intelligence, harmony and unity of action among ourselves. Bnall we justify their faith! They labor to instill within our minds a want of confidence in each other, that dissensions and bickerings and factions shall spring up within our ranks, well knowing that, if these things occur, our strength will be broken and that we shall be as weak and helpless as before, and at their mercy still. And although we have already secured great benefits and substantial advantages in the very incipiency of our organization, the great battle has not yet commenced. As yet we have only skirmished a little with the advanced outposts of a powerful and strongly-intrenched enemy; only slightly aroused their suspicions and alarmed their fears. But as soon as they see that We are firmly united, harmonious and determined to move upon their works in solid phalanx, then look out for a struggle you have not yet dreamed of in all your philosophy, Horatio! But if we are true to our cause and to each other, the struggle, though severe, need not be a a protracted one Victory over bloated injustice and hoary wrong shall at last perch on our banners throughout the length and breadth of this land.— T. R. Allen, in St. Louis Republican.