354 HISTORICAL AND POLITICAL. . 



chase thousands of tons of coal from the starving miners of the East, 

 and feed the miner and his family on the corn that speculation now 

 compels them to burn for fuel. What an absurdity to cry overproduc- 

 tion when those who raise bread burn it for fuel, while those who dig 

 coal must quit because they cannot exchange it for bread ! Our system 

 will emancipate the true merchant, manufacturer, farmer, and laborer. 

 That it benefits the railroads and every other legitimate industry ; that 

 the prosperity of our people demands it ; that common sense, honesty, 

 and fair play demand it ; that every principle of humanity demands it ; 

 that the genius of advancing civilization demands it ; that the perpetua- 

 tion of free and just government demands it ; that the plan is perfectly 

 feasible ; that its cost is insignificant ; that its benefits will be enormous ; 

 that no more pressing necessity could exist for it ; that it will make 

 every industry prosperous ; that no one will be injured by it ; that no 

 sound reason can be urged against its adoption, for these, and many 

 other reasons, every prompting of an honest heart demands that we 

 adopt it. Let us align ourselves on the side of right, and forever free 

 our people from the power of money to oppress, and march forward to 

 a new civilization, thereby making our institutions the beacon light of 

 liberty to the oppressed of all nations, and make of our people a nation 

 of patriots, full of strength and prosperity. In such a country, every 

 laboring man will own his own home, free from execution, across the 

 threshold of which no usurer or other tyrant dare pass. Let us unite in 

 making our country 



"The land of the free and the home of the brave, 

 Where no man is master, and no one a slave." 



