Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1868-05-12

per surface of society Democracy il
extending bis authority. Did his do.
mlnion embrace the interior as well
rs the exterior Of human affairs his
work would be effective in the pro-
motion OF the general good but con-
fined as ne is to the surface, we
have only the hope that his spirit
and power may ultimately penetrate
into the heart of society.
Internally, Despotism is rapidly
extending his authority in this
country. Democracy is diminishing
as population increases, and Despo.
tism increases in equal ratio with the
progress of the Capitalization of cap
itai and business and enterprise. In
ventions and railroads and every>
thing that is called Improvement con
tribute to Capitalization. This is not
only in the more rapid increase of
city than of rural population, but OIL
soin manufactures, the mechanic arts,
in trade, and even in agriculture.
The word now is that we must
have q wide domain for farm in or
der to economically use agricultural
machinery. This widening OF the
democratic homestead and the mere
farm into a princely plantation de
mands host of retainers to live and
labor under the despotism of the
baronial proprietor. But agriculture
very feebly displays the increase of
the servility of the many to the alb
solute will of the few as compared
with the other branches of business.
Our mines are more and more work
es by men Of wages, and the power
and wealth of the proprietor are rap
idly increasing. Our manufactures of
every sort are assuming prodigious
proportions, and the number of dc,
pendent operatives is increasing in o
far greater ratio than the number of
masters in that department. Trade
is being more and more absorbed by
merchant princes, and the class of
independent small traders will soon
be confined to the street corners and
the railways.
Soon we shall have 80, 900 miles of
iron track extending from ocean to
ocean and from North to South
The locomotive is rapidly pouring
the produce trade into the hands of
few great capitalists, whose mos
nopoly will be complete. Every
thing co operates to throw all bust.
ness into fewer hands, and to create
the necessity for great capitals for
tho successful conduct of business.
Hence the great body of the people
is becoming more and more depend,
ent. more and more subiugated to
the despotic authority of the few.
Our own business affords a plain liz
lustration of the working Of the sys-
TEN of things. Twenty years ago
ten thousand dollars wonld start a
daily paper; now it is unsafe TO be.
gin a new enterprise in this field
without two hundred thousand in
bank.
In the light Of those facts the OUT
look to our social condition is not
very encouraging for that democra.
cy which demands the mastery Of
tho individual over himself
If the rate Of progress for the
past few years shall continue for
half a century to come, what will be
the condition Of the people and of so.
cietyl How complete will be the
reign of Despotism over our internal
affairs--a despotism that our exter,
nal democracy will not be able 70
control, but, on the contrary, WILDE
controlled by it Aristocracy, pride,
vanity, pomp, luxury and extarva-
gance will increase with equal step
with the concentration of capital,
business and power, and unless some
very great reforms shall be made in
the habits of life, the worst conse>
quences will result to the families
of the masses of the people.
The great remedy is perfected
and thorough system of practical ed
ucation, together with such changes
in our laws as time shall prove to
unjustly and unduly promote concen
tration, and consequently internal
despotism. Our external democracy
affords the power 10y which the nec-
essary reforms may be peacefully
carried.
If, by calling attention to this mat,
ter, we can induce some poor young
men to save their earnings and be
their own independent masters, a
benefit will have been conferred upon
them.