INTRODUCTION, 15 



its character and far-reaching in its consequences as that 

 of the ambitious kings and despotic rulers of the past. 

 That the people could be made a party to a crime against 

 their own interests and liberties, is only another evidence 

 that the ingenuity of man directed to the accomplishment 

 of diabolical and hellish schemes, can keep pace with the 

 progress of the age, and will ever be present to frustrate, 

 if possible, the establishment of governments and institu- 

 tions founded upon humanitarian principles. But, that 

 this is the fault of the people, is no reparation for existing 

 evils, or guarantee of future safety. "Eternal vigilance 

 is the price of liberty." The conspirators against Ameri- 

 can liberty have discovered a new scheme by which they 

 expect to carry out their infamous plans. As the press, 

 the moulder of public opinion, ushered into the world a 

 new civilization, it has been seized and its power is now 

 directed to the enslavement of the people. The power of 

 the press is not realized by the great body of the people. 

 It can sow seeds of error that generations may not eradi- 

 cate. It can soothe the passions or arouse the prejudices. 

 Its power over the public mind is as potent as the wand of 

 the famous magicians of the East. The press is controlled 

 and has been for years, by the money power of the nation. 

 The agricultural masses, the most numerous and important 

 of any class of people forming the great body of the 

 republic, and whose interests are identical, are kept divided 

 upon the great issues which affect their welfare. They 

 are robbed by an infamous system of finance ; they are 

 plundered by transportation companies ; they are imposed 

 upon by an unjust system of tariff laws ; they are deprived 

 of their lands and other property by an iniquitous system 

 of usury ; they are fleeced by the exorbitant exactions of 

 numerous trusts ; they are preyed upon by the merchants, 

 imposed upon by the lawyers, misled by the politician and 

 seem to be regarded as the legitimate prey of all other 



