Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1873-10-02
MATT H. CARPENTER.
Speech Before the Agricul-
tural Society of Winnie
bago County, Illinois.
Delivered at Rockford, Sept. IS.

Combination Of numbers and ag-
gregation Of capital is the mania OF
our country and our times. Corpor-
ations exist elsewhere, and have
been known from early antiquity
but in no other country have they
been created for such q variety of
purposes, or clothed with such ex-
traordinary powers. All the great
interests OF the country,-agricul-
ture alone excepted are managed
! by corporations and of late corpor-
avons have been consolidating their
capital and property, and combining
Tor their mutual advantage, so as to
prevent competition; until lines of
railroad reaching from Ocean to
Ocean are controlled by few midi
vlduals our telegraph companies
have been consolidated into two or
three nam moth corporations, and
the same is true OF express compa-
MES. The absence OF any combina-
ton or cooperation among agricul-
turlsts has made them to a great ex>
tent prey to the powerful corpora
tons and combination of corpora
lions controlling rival and conflict
lug interests.
Governments are clothed with
sovereign powers, held in trust, TO
be exercised only for the benefit of
the people atlarge. Every franchise
granted to a corporation, and every
favor bestowed upon particular
class, from which no compensation
advantage results to the community
IS an act OF injustice TO the people.
This general proposition will be adj
mltted by all but it frequently is lost
sight OF IN adjusting the details OF
legislation. If TO create q railroad
corporation, for instance, and confer
upon 1t certain privileges and pow
ers, will result in the building of
railroad to be operated upon such
principles as to be beneficial to the
community at large, then the peo-
pie, in this benefit receive a compen-
sation for the franchises granted to
The corporation. But if franchises
are so improvidently showered upon
3 railroad corporation as to enable it
to plumber and Cypress the people,
then the people not only receive no
compensation for the favors confer.
ed, but are subjected to a positive in
jury and wrong and the govern
ment which has thue empowered the
corporation, has violated its duty.
This principle is the test by which
ali legislation, national or state,
should DO tried and to this test all
theories of political economy should
DO subjected. To illustrate what Is
called protection" to the manufac-
turers of iron or woollen cloths, is in
substance raising money by taxation
and paying it as a bounty 10 the
manufacturer. The immediate re-
suit is TO increase the cost of the
manufactured article. Now if it can
be shown that to grant this bounty
is certain TO result IN greater advan-
tages to the community; from devel-
oping its resources, atfording home
markets for provisions. and an ulti-
mate reduction in the price of the
manufactured article, &c, then the
granting of such protection or boun-
w, is not only just but wise. But if
such advantages will not result, at
least equal to the bounty paid, then
the so-called protection" is unjust
10 the people. Take another illus
tration. The article of salt, cannot
like iron and wool be manufactured
any here in the United States but
only whore salt springs or salt de-
posits happen to exist, as at Sagin>
aw, Michigan, and Syracuse, New
York, and few other places south
and west. Now, to lay tariff upon
salt for the protection OF those en-
gagged in this business in a few plac-
es, which raises the price to be paid
forssalt, is certain inconvenience !;
and those who maintain that the
people of Illinois and Wisconsin, re-
ceivo some advantage equal to or ex.
ceeding the inconvience of paying
two prices for salt, are bound to
show in what way such compensa-
ting benefit is received. Ifthey can
not explsin how such benefit is re-
ceived by the people at largo, then
1t is fair TO assume that none exists
and the bounty is fraud. The
farmers Of the Northwest realizing
the situation, feel the necessity for
cooperation TO protect their rights
and redress their wrongs and espe,
cially TO relieve themselves from ex-
horbitant charges on transportation
TO sea board markets aud are Or
ganizing to this end. This move
ment has attracted the attention OF
! the whole country and awakened
some apprehension on the par. of the
combined and incorporated capital
lists Of the country, lest the farmers
assuming control to redress existing
grievances might exercise their pow
ers so as rot only to protect the
public in the future, but retaliate up
on corporations for past wrongs.
There is however no foundation
for this fear. To- suppose that The
, farmers of the country, organized TO
q correct abuses, will be guilty of in
. justice, and exercise their power 81
/. as TO infringe or impair the JUS
rights OF others, is to question tn,
! theory upon which free institution
/, rest. Wisdom will suggest that pro
lection TO each The laborer is wor
/ thy of his hire every Iaborer j
!; worthy OF his hire; and every on
: who contributes to commerce, hetb
er by raising wheat, manufacturing
D 1t into flour, or transporting it I,
2 market, is justly entitled to fai
: compensation for his contribution t,
the general result. The problem is
: 10 ascertain what is fair compenss
4 ton for transportation, aud to de
;, wise means to limit those so engage,