Questions national and of national importance to every American citizen, with reference to questions municipal

Preface

Introductory :

Questions of great importance in general. Tariff:

Tariff and Prosperity preferable to Free Trade and Poverty.

Restriction of immigration, a protection to American labor and a subterfuge from anarchy and like evils.

A true Government banking system as a relief to misery and pauperism, caused by unscrupulous uses of capital.

Railroads, Telegraphs and Express:

Government ownership of these properties a true means of investment of the people's money, through a government banking system, to induce frugality, and thus lessen the great suffering among the people, due to financial evils.

Municipal ownership of all properties, traversing or occupying municipal properties, a protection to the people of municipalities, against the wrongs of capital.

PREFACE

THE object of publishing this little volume is to illustrate to the people, from the standpoint of a true American citizen, and not from that of a partisan only, that if true benefits are derived from properly enacted tariff laws, they must be fully supported by properly enacted immigration laws; that, if we have tariff laws, which are a known necessity, we must have, also, just as stringent and just as equally forcible immigration laws for true protection.

Also, that the money question in connection with those of tariff and immigration, although each performs its part, is not the only great question that so disastrously harms the welfare of our people. But, that in connection with the great principles, as taught by the representatives of the great political parties, there are other questions of equal importance to us as American citizens; and, which will need our attention in turn fully as much as either of the questions named. They are such questions as anarchy and unscrupulously invested capital; not legitimate capital, but that, which with its most unmerciful and unprincipled methods of transacting business, crushes the very life out of the great mass of American people for its own special benefit; the one, anarchy, as a result, is the product of the other; and, each is an extreme and set

6 PREFACE.

apart from true humanity, performing the opposite criminal functions, which have been and will be, until true legislation sets aright such wrongs, the means of perpetrating the greatest criminal acts relating to business and financial matters; and, as well as being a detriment, and a most decided drawback to the advancement and general welfare of a civilized and enlightened American people.

If we establish true laws for the interests of humanity, generally, then we will have founded a true system of government, which is the same as we now have, when we have had enacted such additional laws that will restrict, fully, all improper acts and abuses, bearing particularly upon the welfare of our people.

The principles herein set forth are strictly American on every subject touched upon, and tend to establish fully, true American principles in every line of thought, so that we may stand upon one common basis as citizens, having but one flag as our standard around which we may rally in times of peace, and, around which we should rally, when troublous clouds hover around our political horizon, menacing the welfare of our people; but, discouraging anarchistic or like un- American principles, teachings or methods; advocating instead, a truly just form of government to strengthen our cause, and win to us those who now frown upon our government and its institutions.

Introductory

Questions of Great Importance in General

HAVING recently passed through another of those business disturbed periods commonly known as presidential campaigns, and noting the unusual activity of the discordant elements, and to what reckless methods, through unsound and un-American principles advocated by them, that this whole country might become subjected, is certainly good and sufficient cause to bring us to a realization of duty, by carefully studying the whole situation with a view of bringing forth such views which may prove beneficial, in a degree, in helping to solve the great questions which are far-reaching and of such magnitude that it will require very judicious legislation to avert, even in the future, a great national calamity.

Now, that the great political battle is over, and the minds of the people are again assuming normal conditions, let us view this matter intelligently and without party prejudice, having in view the good to be gained for the people, there being no doubt but that good will result from it.

During the last campaign the tariff and the