The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-05-17

NtOnOpOIics.
"Othcr seliishness may be as intense, but
none Is so unblushing, because none is so much
tolerated as that OF n monopolist claiming
ucsted interest in public inJury.-lScniors Lee
lures on Public Economy
AS matter of temporary policy, mono
poles may sometimes, perhaps, he proper
" authorized by honest and intelligent law
giycrs But the rule for wise and just
legislation is that of non-interference with
the industry and enterprise Of the people,
and while giving equal protection to all,
granting exclusive fayors to none. Indeed.
it requires no argument to show that mon
opolics in traffic or commerce, or in the or
binary means which they must employ in
their pursuits, are antagOnistic to the com
mon rights Of IL common humanity. They
certainly are not democratic in principle.
Rather, they rest on the aristoclatic basis;
the benefit of the few. class, at the cX-
pcnse of the many.
Such have been the abuses of monopolies
in the past, it is now conceded on all hands
that none should he granted hereafter by
law, unless always open to scrutiny, and
subject to any subsequent legislation, of
repeal or amendment, which future cXpc-
ricnce or their misbchayior may suggest as
proper to protect the public from imposi-
ton. But as they are founded on bad
principle, they should be discouraged in Il
republican community. Nor can the pres
cnt increasing Jealousy of the people to-
wards ovcrgrown and grasping monopolics
be regarded in any other light than that of
a well founded conviction on their part,
that exclusive privileges aud human rights
are at natural cnmity with each other, and
where the first obtain, the last are liable n
suffer
What is one of the great questions Of to-
day ? Surely the colossal corporations of
the country, with their "vestcd rights,
their power, their disposition and habit to
control both state and national legislation
| in their interests and to secure immunity to
themselves in their rapacious sellishness.
This state of things is properly arrestng
the attention of many thoughtful men. 1t
| is a question that will not down without a
hearing. 1t was to prevent ''hostilc legis-
laIion" to monopoly that Cakes Ames, as
a director in the Pacific Railroad, disbursed
his 'Credit Mobiler" stock where il
would 'do the most good" and many
hands, thought to be clean, became smearcd
with this pitch of defilement and Il great
national shame came upon us, through tho
too plainly proven susceptibility to bribery
by the men whose supposed purity had
made them our petted idols. money an
swereth all things" said Solomon 1t can
at least, shape legislation, as we know t.
our cost. Cakes Ames knew this, or Ii,
would not have used it, as he did
That some of the great railroads of the
country-creaturcs of legislation-arc be
coming so powerful rs to largely and cor
ruptly influence legislation, il therefore, W,
consider, well known. 1t is believed, too
that their bride money and patronage have
in some instances-we hope but few soil
ed the ermine of judicial integrity AnC
should these fountains of law and iustc
become widely corrupted, the condition o
our country will be deplorable, beyond tn
power of language to tell. Great, irrcspon
sible corporations will rule us and becom
our ruin. Combining and acting in con
cert, they will hold the price of ever,
mans farm and shop as well us food AM
fuel in their exclusive control. And it
because of their eXtortions now, that cor
needed for food for man and beast in til
Atlantic States is burned for fuel in low
and Illinois. This crushing monopoly ca
only be prevented by honest and INTEL
gent legislative supervision over freight an
passenger rates, and by opening up ncN
and efficient competing lines from east
, west.
, To come directly home, Vermont, an
= especially Rutland county, need to-day
} and will need for all time, cheap freight
q We have immense quantities of marble an
D slate to sell, and we have very considers
f bic portion of our food and fuel, as well ,
= many other things to buy. And we shoul
1 not be placed AT the mercy Of one or tN
q railroads, nor be confined to one mode {
:. transportation, to take to distant market
d what we are glad to sell, and bring to on
4 selves what we are compelled to buy. Il
: stead of one road going to or passing ne'
l. our principal quarrics, we should have Sc
C cral, and instead of depending alone {
It iron rails and wheels, we should have on
Y canal and canal boats to aid us in our grei
n industries.
I Monopolies are dangerous power, cy'
Il when welded by men who, as individual
/ would wish to do right. For the men WI
> pull the wires of corporations as pre-
&c dents, directors and superintendent, W
often find excuse to do acts of injustic
re which as individuals they would shudder
Al contemplate. They somehow diyest thel
ID selves of the idea of personal and indivi
l. ual accountability, and SO the saying til
ID corporations have no bodies to be kick
x or souls to be damned, has passed into
Sc proverb. All power in human hands
r. liable to be abused, especially when the
dividual is ignored, and might hides safe
d behind the huge walls of "corporl
II rights" Though created, indeed, osten
al bly, for the public good, monopolies !