Northern Ohio journal. [volume] (Painesville, Ohio) 1872-1896, 1873-09-20

gave his late speech upon the same sub
ject. Elected in 1871. on the anti-mO-
nopoly Republican platform. be now de-
clares that the events of the past two
wears have convinced him that that par
tY is not to be relied upon for carrying
out the anti-monopOlist doctrines. aud
that therefore he came out anew for the
cause whose triumph was recorded in
the election which took place week be-
fore last. Shortly after Governor Booth
made his speech which we published
last week, John B. FELTON,, possibly the
ablest lawyer, scholar and orator OF Cali
fornia. attempted u reply. Not being
able to appear on the rostriiIn, Governor
Booth rejoined in a letter, copy of
which, as published in the Sacramento
Daily Uaion, now lies before us. A care
inl perusai of the document shows that
MFR. Felton--probably because he has
the powerful support of a good and pop
ular cause-and also brings rs into near
er accord with the views therein ex-
pressed. Taken altogether, his letter
does him even more justice than his
speech, for the reason that it covers more
questions and gives better idea of the
scope of his thought and the policy he
would pursue. Being accused of wish
| ing to tear up the railroads and 10 apply
.. the Communisne theory,ss Governor
Booth replies:
4 stranger reading your speech who had
not read mine, would suppose that de-
sired to inaugiirate u war upon the rights
of property, when my greatest desire is to
| make each man secure in the possession
| OF his own. maintain, il You own a farm
and desire to give portion OF It's annual
income to railroad or other corporation
| no one should prevent you. Ii you do not
desire to, no one, not even a majority OF
| voters, should compel you.
| l would cut out cancer; you accuse me
| OF meditatiRg murder. / would stop that
| political corruption by which every mans
possessions are endangered; you accuse
| me of attacking the rights OF possession.
One might also suppose from your insin-
uations that WAS prepared TO throw a
drag-net Oyera city, large enough to en-
| compass IN IT'S meshes alike the widow'a a
homestead, the cottage of the poor, and
/ the mansion OF the rich-or was an evil
genius, whose very presence cast a
shadow upon the honestly acquired title
NY HelynUOEH pTOptTtys
protest against favored few making
government a machine through which
to acquire property at the expense OF the
many. r.s.5 -..tt
The writer also defines his. position in
regard to all the respectable robberie:
that have been and still are perpetrated
OH the country-such as 'tcOrners" il
the market, imitation of stocks by fraud
&C., which he would punish as crimes
We cannot do full justice to him in :
short article, and we conclude with tht
following extract as giving an intimatior
of his views on the local monopoly ques
|, ton:
Stating that vast concentration of capi
tai are dangerous to republican institu
tions, 1 am accused of desiring to checl
the general accumulation and fair distri
button which result from industry, ener
gy, foresight and thrift. A fair distribu
tion is as great an object of political econ
omy as rapid creation OF wealth. sup
| pose the two million acres of the San Joa
quin valley should come into the posses
, sion of a great irrigating company, with 3
paid up stock of hundred million dol
lars, who would employ $1,000 Cinnamon
The amount of wealth, the amount of pro
ductiOn, would be as great as though tn
valley were settled and owned by $500
: American families. The net profits woult
be greater, as the consumption would b
less. Will any one seriously contend tina
!, the first condition of society is as desira
BILE as the second, or that a man who re
sisted the enactment of laws to create tn
nrst condition was communist or social
, ist, and engaged in war against proper
ty? Yet this is the meaning of your argu
} ment, if it have any.