The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1871-10-18

SSlA = NAO ANA
man race, that there has ever been a
disposition On the part of capital to
exercise an undue influence in the
Administration of Public Affairs,
whatever be the form of Government.
To this very undue influence, quite as
much as TO any other single cause, is
owing to the fact, that there are so few
free Governments in the world
Money is Power, and conscious Pow
er is seldom just.
"When self the wavering balance shakes
Associated capital frequently becomes
an organized Power in the State, look
ing TO no object so much as the adj
.vancement and promotion of its own
exclusive interests, at the cost and
sacrifice of other interests, equally de-
serving the guarding care and protec-
ton of Government. Hence come
those huge monopolies and gigantic
corporations, with exclusive rights and
privileges, which have been the bane
and destruction of so many Republics.
The only protection which any mem
Der of society, or class in society, cor
poration or Other body, should re-
ceive from Government, is perfect Sc
curity against the wrongful acts of
others upon their rights, either of per-
son or lawful acquisition.
We, therefore, make no war against
capital honestly and justly acquired
or Corporate Rights of any sort. Far
from it; on the contrary, we maintain
that it is one of the chief ends of all
Governments, or should be, to defend
and protect capital so acquired, or
rights so secured; for capital so ac-
quired is nothing but the honest &C
QUESTIONS of labor, either on the part
of those who hold such acquisitions,
or those from whom they have been
duly and properly received.
But, what we do war against, and
what we intend, in this article, spec
tally to war against, is a combination,
or combinations, Of associated capital
to control the legislation Of the State,
for the special benefit of such combi-
nation or combinations. These com
b%inations, in modern times, are known
in the common %vernacular as "Ring."
at Washington they are known as
"Whisky Rings, 'sRailroad Rings"
generally effect their nefarious pur-
poses, in securing, or warding off,
such Legislation as they may desire,
by operating upon members of the
Legislative Department of the Gov
eminent, and including them, by many
ways and devices that are both "wily
and dark" to sustain their measures
or policy, without any regard to their
political principles or associations, or
the public good. This class thus form
themselves into a sort of Independent
political Ring under the influence,
direct OF indirect, of the moneyed
Power, whose interests they subserre.
against all such "Rings," "politicar"
or "monied," we wish it distinctly un-
derstood, that we do war;. and shall
continue to war, as long as we a ut
ter a word or use a pen.
What we have thus. said has been
prompted by reports, which have gone
forth from Atlanta, to the effect that
efforts are being made to form such a
combination or ring" in the interest
Of the company to whom was awarded
the Lease of the State Board, with q
view to control the organization of
the incoming Democratic Legislature,
and ca shape the future legislation of
the State upon that and other
kindred subjects.
Whether those reports be true or
not, we do not know. We are entire
ly uniformed as to the facts, OF sur
misses even, upon which, they rest
We, therefore, shall not repeat the
names of the parties mentioned In
connection Herewith. All we know
is, that a report, or to this ef-
feet, has gone forth, and what we
mean at this time to say is, hat we
hold all such combinations or "Rings,"
to be not only corrupt, but exceeding
ly mischievous to the Public interests,
and the welfare of the commonwealth.
We earnestly hope, if any such
programme has been in contemplation,
it will be abandoned.
We moreover, with equal earnest
ness, invoke every cratic mem
b.r of the Legislature, if any such
attempt shall be made. to have moth
ing to do with any such business.
Remember the Yazoo "Ring," and
the infamy which was attached to every
one who became even remotely m
nected with it. Let the State Board
Lease, and every other act of Gov
ernor Bullock's Administration, stand
upon its legal merits, upon full and
proper investigation before the proper
tribunal.
Let the Legislature organize upon
no principle, EXCEPT Democratic prin-
cirles, on which the majority was
elected. Upon these principles they
can give no eountenauc e TO corruption
in places either low or high. In the
selection of their officers, therefore,
let both Houses look mainly to abili-
ty and fidelity to carry out the great
trust committed to their charge, with
a fixed determination to be governed,
in all their actions from the beginning
to the end, by no policy, but that
which shall best vindicate the honor,
dignity, and rights of the State, as
we'll as the rights and interests of the
people at large. If any discrimina-
ton is made in guarding the rights