Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-02-25

and narkct-places, the growing torploi'y vi
public opinion, the constant strain unoer
which our machinery of government visiniy
works, the crude, undigested proposltions LOT
reform which en,anate from every quarter,
the startling rapidty with which change de.
velops itself, and the rapidly shifting phases
which all interests assume, clearly indicate
some deep seated social and political revoiu-
ton now in progress. What this Will result
in time only can disclose. 1t would be
mere waste of space and ingenuity TO en-
deavor to forecast it at present. One thing
is, however, daily becoming more evident,
and as a result may, according to present IN
dications. soon be classed among the things
that arc inevitable. Our political system can
not much longer sustain the conflict with
corporations. Modern civilization has crea-
ted class of powers which are too strong for
the control of our governments. The ma
chincry of combination and perpetuity is too
perfect. The future in this matter is in some
degree foreshadowed by the past. Once al
ready has great corporate interest grasped
at the control Of our government, and 1t
could only be thrown off by the CONFUSION OF
a civil war On one other occasion the gov
eminent became involved in conflict witha
private corporation. welding the power of
only $35 ,OO0, 900 of capital, and for years the
country was disturbed. Both Of these were
the episodes of the earlier and simpler days.
What is the aspect of the present! The
States of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and
Maryland are respectively owned by corpora
tons within their limits. New York is gov
erned by two corporations, acting in concert
with one corrupt political ring. The United
States is struggling painfully with half a
dozen great combinations of private and cor
poratc interests. and no wcll-informed man
doubts that to-day it is in the power OF the
national banking system alone to dictate to
the national government any financial policy
it may desire, and to compel its adoption
The simple fact is, that on the people, who
with us are the source of all power, these
combinations, through their material infiu-
ence and their power to create or allay DIS
turbancc, exercise more control than oinciais
and rcformcrs combined. How indeed could
it he otherwise? Compare the things OF to-
day with those of yesterday. The United
States Bank, in the days of its greatest pride,
boastcd a capital of S35, 900, 900. The slave
power was welded together by nine hundred
millions of property, but CONTROL only one
section of the country and could be combated
in another The bank was overthrow through
its own folly, aftera nine years struggle; the
destruction of slavery was accomplished after
twenty-five years of agitation and four years
of civil war. The present banking system
consists of one compact organization, sensl-
tive to the common interest subject to a COM
mon control, which now enjoys 26,OO0,OOO
of wealth. and $50, OO0, 900 of income, and is
distributed all over the country. The rail
road system dwarfs even this. Single
members of it control two hundred millions OF
capital and employ tens of thousands Of men.
As a united influence it shoots out its rami-
fications into every State and county and
town of the whole Union, and represents and
yields all the power contained in 81 900, Oo0,-
600 of wealth. These are the disturbing
forces now called upon to take part in
social system which grew up under govern
ment created in 1889. What will be the linn
its of their action? May not the oak tree
already be SCATTERING the porcelain vase?
These powers and influences, be it remem-
bered, do not violently overthrow, but rather
quietly antiquate, any system Of government
which thwarts their development In our
case they will prove disturbing, and proba-
bly,, under the present system OF government,
an uncomfortable, force just so long as their
development is a subject of legislation, and SO
long as the community seeks to impose legal
restraints upon them, or they have ends to
gain with Legislative bodies. The real danger
lies in the sad fact that in the conflict the gov
eminent has not an equal chance. The cor
porations are always in earnest; the officials
rarely are. Above all, the corporation does
not change. Its whole organization aims at
unity in council, persistcncy in action, and
the selection from the community of the high
est order of that ability which it needs, and
which, once found, it permanently retains in
power. 1t is disciplined, organized ar
my. This superb, effective organism, the
last development Of modern civilization, is
then placed in subordination to, or brought |
n. al. II ,,v,sct
which originates in the caucus, is continually |
for its retention in the temporary |
power which it received on the principle of
rotation in office, and which it signalizes by
new illustration of the maxim that to the vic |
ors belong the spoils In conflict with such |
system it needs no prophet to forsee that,
n the future, as in the past, the spoils will as
rule, belong to the corporations.
Here are the facts stated by Mr.. Adams.
Do you doubt them? DO you doubt his con-
Illusions? Is not the danger impending over
,ur republican government very greatT Are
lot these great corporations consuming the
itals of the Republic? just look at New
FORK city. Republican government has al
eady disappeared from the great heart of this
ation. The legislature is bought and sold
ike sheep in the shambles, the judges are
orrupt, brothels and grog shops rule the city,
S shot upon his own door steps, another one
icing refused a glass of whiskey shoots the
nan refusing; their most distinguished men,
,er of Congress is a prize fighter, and at the
lections the rule is for the honest man to vote
nee, and the villain to vote twenty times.
Sir, this bill places too much power in the
lands of one set ofmen, however respectable.
But who will be their successors! A man
,efore he is entrusted with such power should
re first baptized with the Holy Ghost and
With fire. To what untold evils may not this
,reat Consolidation lead? Wilt thou make
covenant with him, wilt thou bind him for
Ivy maidens, wilt thou put hook in his nose
VIII he make many supplications unto thee
Viii he speak soft words unto thee! Behold
he hope Of him is in vain. The sword that
syeth at him cannot hold; the spear nor the
Tart, nor the harbegeon. He esteemeth iron
As straw, and brass as rotten wood
This tremendous power will be the fountain
Of untold corruption. 1t will eat out the SUBJ
stance of the people. 1t will create an order
of nobility. 1t will bestride
-"bestride the State
Like a Colossus; and we petty men
Walk under its huge legs, and peep about
To find ourselves dishonorable graves"
Gentlemen, the people of this State are not
willing to see all the future railroad interest |