Whither are we drifting as a nation. And The new era in Republican government

Dedication

If, through the influence of this book, one nobler thought wings its way to a human soul, or one brighter hope lightens the step of toil, let a' large share of the praise be bestowed upon Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Paine, Daniel Webster, Abraham Lincoln and Horace Greeley, the spirit of whose political speeches and writings, has done so much to mould the opinions and strengthen the purpose of the writer.

To the sacred memory and broad statesmanship of these grand and illustrious men, this volume is gratefully dedicated

By the Author.

Preface

In a small city, in Minnesota, in the year 1876, my attention was first called to the question, which forms the subject of these lectures. I had just taken the stand to deliver a speech, in the interest of Rutherford B. Hayes, for the presidency, when an old gentleman came forward from the audience, and presented me with some questions in writing. They were questions, having direct reference to economic principles, and American financial legislation. Like most public speakers of that day, my knowledge of those subjects was confined to what could be gathered from newspapers and periodicals, which are paid to deceive the people, and consequently, I knew very little about the matter. I had the frankness to confess it however, and declined to answer, on the ground that I did not understand' the subject, to which his questions referred. The old man bowed gracefully, retired to his seat, and listened attentively. In the course of my speech, I assailed, with considerable energy,

11 PREFACE.

as I believed I ought, those who were finding fault with our financial legislation, or w r ere intimating that schemes were in embryo, to impoverish the people, and centralize the powers of this government, in the interest of the monied class. Some months later, the old gentleman came to me, and reminded me of the questions which had been asked me, on the occasion above referred to ; and, after acknowledging himself to be their author, spoke substantially as follows :

" Mr. Willey, when those questions were presented to you, I admired your frankness. You knew nothing about the subject to which they referred, and you said so. I have put those same questions to several prominent speakers. Some of them did not understand the subject, but did not have the frankness to confess their ignorance. Others did understand, but in answering, would lie outright. Now 7 , sir, encouraged by your frankness, I have come to ask vou to listen to some facts and arguments, which I have to present. For I know that our people are being wronged out of their hard earnings, in a way they do not understand ;(the wealth of the nation is being concentrated in the hands of a few; the country is on the flying

( train to ruin; and we have none too much time

'4:0 save it."

PREFACE. Ill

I listened, for considerable time to statements and arguments, which, at the time, seemed impossible to be founded in fact, but which, if true, were thunderbolts.

I parted with the old man, having promised him that I would study the subject. I did study the subject, and it opened a new world of thought to me. I found his statement of facts to be true, and his arguments as irresistable as the torrent of Niagara? "

Now, my purpose is to make others understand those startling truths, and feel their mighty force. In order to do this, I have proceeded, by methods peculiarly my own.

The reader will observe, that I do not charge all the political sins to any one party. Neither do I ask him to vote with any particular political organization. But I do ask him to study, and understand, certain economic principles, which underlie our structure of government, and, upon which our prosperity as a people, and our continued existence as a Republic, depends. I have presented my thoughts and arguments, in the form of lectures rather than in that of an essay, because it allows me a wider latitude in the use of language. My desire has been to make myself understood, by the masses; and to that end, I have used common phraseology, and

IV PREFACE.

short words, and studied to make my illustrations simple and plain.

There is something radically wrong somewhere, when those who work most get least, and those who work least get most. This fact forces itself home, to every thoughtful mind.

That there is more, in this volume, calculated to show the people where that wrong is, than is contained in any other book yet written on the subject, I verily believe. I therefore send it forth in the hope that it may help to arouse the nation to a sense of the danger that environs it, lest it slumber past the hour when salvation is possible.

F. O. WlLLEY.