THE WORLD'S GREATEST REVOLUTION.
By John Brisben Walker
[By John Brisben Walker, in the April Cosmopolitan.] DECISIVE battles are no longer fought with arms. Attack with weapons may constitute an incident; but campaigns from the opening of the twentieth century will be fought in the offices of those who control the world's supply of money. That event in the world's history which promises to be most deeply fraught with results to the human race was announced in the New York journals of Sunday, March 3, 1901, as a three-column advertisement. It was not an affair of Parliament, or of regal proclamation. There was no fuss, no ceremony. The average man, the welfare of whose great-great-grand-children was to be affected, scarcely noticed this advertisement, which read:— “OFFICE OF J. P. MORGAN & CO., 23 Wall Street, New York;” And began in bold, black-faced type:— “TO THE STOCKHOLDERS OF
“FEDERAL STEEL COMPANY,
“NATIONAL STEEL COMPANY,
“NATIONAL TUBE COMPANY,” This momentous event did not concern itself with princes, or even so-called statesmen. The world, on the third day of March, 1901, had ceased to be ruled by such. True, there were marionettes still figuring in Congress and as kings, but they were in place simply to carry out the orders of the world's real rulers—those who control the concentrated portion of the money supply. The words, “Office of ‘J. P. Morgan & Co.,” meant, in addition to the great wealth of the firm itself, the financial support of the HOUSE OF ROTHSCHILD; the approval, if not the active co-operation, of the HOUSE OF ROCKEFELLER; and the direct co-operation of the CARNEGIE and other great iron industries. House of Rothschild and associated banks and industries, one thousand millions. House of Rockefeller and associated banks and industries, eight hundred and fifty millions. J. P. Morgan & Co., representing iron industries and associated banks, eleven hundred and fifty-four millions. Total, three thousand and four millions of dollars. Of what consequence the German playing at emperor, or the king who recently read a speech written by ministers under dictation from the world of finance? Even the czar of Russia seems a feeble make-believe in the presence of men who control three thousand millions of dollars, and can push the endless buttons which carry their signals into every sort of mercantile house, into every military camp, which cause every court official to stand alert, and can even produce the profoundest movements in the church itself. Between the lines of this advertisement, headed, “Office of J. P. Morgan & Co.,” was to be read a proclamation, thus:— “COMMERCIAL METROPOLIS OF THE WORLD.
“NOTICE TO THE PEOPLES OF ALL LANDS AND NATIONALITIES:— “The old competitive system, with its ruinous methods, its countless duplications, its wastefulness of human effort, and its relentless business warfares, is hereby abolished, the change to take effect in part immediately, and in whole as rapidly as the details can hereafter be worked out. “The four great houses controlling the world's visible supply of money, having this day agreed to act in unison under the scheme of organization outlined by Mr. J. P. Morgan, have invested themselves with the controlling interest in the three great sources by which the public can be taxed—the supply of ores, the working of the same into the raw products, and the transportation of the same. “The business public will perceive at a glance that it will not be properly safe for any individual, or known collection of individuals, to arrogate to themselves the right to antagonize the organization this day created; and notice is hereby given that these commercial territories must not be trespassed upon or invaded without expectation that the full authority vested in the organization will be exercised. “The houses engaged in bringing about this organism in the interests of the world's economy, have taken to themselves such increment as has seemed proper in view of the important character of the service rendered. “Further, the houses of the world will please take notice that, owing to the immense sums of money now in the hands of the organization, it will be possible to force speculation. The banding together of the houses of Rothschild, Rockefeller, Morgan, and Carnegie, representing the united metal and transportation interests, leaves no room for competition, and any attempt in this direction will be met with the fate which should attach to an effort to return to the methods of barbarism. “Finally, it is our intention ultimately to take in hand the smaller industries, and organize them upon a scientific basis, calculated to reduce the waste of human effort to a minimum.” These are the words which have been read by every fairly intelligent business man in the advertisement headed, “Office of J. P. Morgan & Co.,” and nominally concerning itself with the exchange of certain stocks. Unlike the proclamations of kings and princes, no man will be found bold enough to defy its orders. From March 3, 1901, the entire aspect of the business and political world will be changed. Financial ambitions will quickly render themselves subservient to this overruling power. The futility of political hopes which do not attach themselves to the financial center will be quickly apparent. The market value of the Standard Oil stock is now $800,000,000, of which $300,000,000 has been added since last election. Mr. Rockefeller owns not less than one-half this amount, $400,000,000. Of his share, according to himself, he has paid out in the last thirty years $350,000,000 to working men, estimated at 20,000. Mr. Rockefeller calls this payment of wages to men who have worked therefor “the best kind of giving.” But during this time he has paid to one man—himself—$400,000,000. Twenty thousand men have received $350,000,000; one man has received 400,000,000! The two pictures are so suggestively striking, that no comment is needed. But it is such things as these that nurture the seed-sowing of unrest, rebellion, crime, and anarchy, to be reaped in the coming baleful harvest. God warns men now of these things. The rich are but stewards of God of what they control. They shall sometime be called to give account of their stewardship.