Poverty A Crime

"When yon see a man without any money, who wants to go to the Legisature. you just look that fellow over earefully. He'll bear watehing." It was not a Vanderbilt, a Gould, a Cleveland, nor a Hanna, wlio pronouDced that sentiment, so sweeplng as it is and so opposed to the spirit oí cur government. It was not a plutocratic aristocrat who thus evidencíd his conception of the right of class to rule. It was Hazen S. Pingree, by grace of the honest Totes of poor men Governor of Michigan, who, standing before a erowd of toilers in Fayeta's Opera House. Detroit, Monday evening, July ÍS. 1898, shouted forth this damnable slander against those who have been his warmest friends. Tliink of it'. A man may not aspire lo office unle"3S he have money! lie is prejiidged a thief and boodler who dares court tlie favor of his fellow-men, unless he can expose a bank account. the size of which this self-styled Friend of the People, this nnti-wealth howler, this polilienl Don Quixote, did not presume to decide. In a government supposed to be of the people. in which each citizen has all the rights aeeorded his fellows. we are enjoiued to look with suspicion on any man. except he be wealthy, who accepts a nomination to the Legislature. His life record may be spotless, but the moment he expresses a laudable deslre to impress his views upon legislation he must meet the implied aecusatlon. The idea is a damnable one, and the man who gave it utterance is unworthy the support of auy self-resijecting toiler.