The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1871-11-11

next Democratic National Convention as
its candidate for the Presidency. The
greatest danger with which both our Ma
tional and State governments are now
threatened is the increasing and control
ing influence of corporate wealth, exer-
cised, as it always will be, to sggrandize
and enlarge its already overshadowing
proportions:
"In this country-whateyer may be the re-
suit in countries where popular government IS
unknown-the railway Is moreover destined to
exert an influence upon the state which, when
welded by the bold sch e;ner " no controls some
giant corporation, is hsly described by Mr..
Adams the introduction of CRssrism into
corporate life. The man who controls one of
the great thoroughfsres between the eastern
and western boundaries of the State oy that
very fact controls more than $l0U, 900 600 of
capital. He has, however, ADDED to this the
practical control OF othsr railways consisting in
the aggregate of at least four thousand five
hundred miles of road, and representing not
less than $3.50 900 GOO.
THE influence which this enormous fnan-
cial power might give him over the govern
ment of half a dozen States through which his
lines of railway run depends solely upon the
comparative honesty of legislators. But the
power of such 4 railway King is not merely TO
be maasured BY the wealth controlled by him.
He can marshal an army of IaborerE at the
polls If he owns all the great railway lines in
lhs State he can dictate terms TO the trading
and travelling public of one half OF the Union.
The only check interfering between him and
q virtual dictatorship grander than that of
many 4 European despOt in former times is
the competition of rival corporations. When
such a composition does not exist within the
of Stata lat Sfatp ia ly
owned and governed by its railway and those
who control the rail way. Such condition of
affairs has loug existed in Pennsy ylvsnia, where
the railways are in reality the government. and
that it does not yet exist here Is due mere
" to the provision of law that the Erie and the
Central corporations shall not be under the
control of one body of man, and that the Erie
Canal can still compete in frsights with the
railways.
1T is in the consolidation of railway lines,
and in the consequent decay of competition
that the danger to American Democracy exists.
| This tendency to consolidation is the ieaturs of
the day. The Pennsy sylvRnia Railway year by
year draws other corporations into its insatia
BILE grasp. 1t already controls three thousand
miles of track, and represents securities
amounting to Sl75 coo, 900. The land grants
10 the various companies that are owned and
controlled by it amount TO SO 900 square mil es,
or an area equivalent to that of the aggregate
possessions OF four of the existing kingdoms
Of Europe, and its gross revenue is at least
$40 coo, 900 per annum. Had Vanderbilt but
succeeded, as he nssrly did, i'll adding the Erie
road to his possessions. he would have welded
even a greater power than this. And these
corporations, already so powerful, will un
doubtedy add to their possessions and vastly
increase their power. With the presence OF
such ferce in the political life of the nation
our whole system of government may at All
early day be utterly centralized in ali except in
name