New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-01-17
Tur p1Aeur OF MoH0P0LIEs.

sistence from the labor of others find q
means of effecting their purpose as well
under one form Of government s another.
Almost periodically in extended cycles OF
recurring venality, these combinations are
discovered by an oppressed people ana
thrown of as odious and insupportaole.
We propose to sketch somewhat the most
notorious abuses of this nature occurring
in the history of England and America
ending with the abuses Of the Transporter
ton monopoly, which the industrial inter-
ests.of the United States are now striving
to put down.
That most despotic king, James l., OF
England, set himself up 10 be independ-
ent of the people. He scorned to be
dependent upon his interiors for supplies,
and AZ he could not with Asiatic arrogance
seize the substance Of the subject without
warrant of law, he resorted to another de-
vice which his rapacious courtiers sug-
gested. 1t was to grant royal letters
patent which entitled his favorites to the
monopoly Of any occupation or commod-
ity they might ask. The most exorbl-
tant exactions, divided with the royal
treasury, supplied the want OF regular
taxation, while they subjected the people
to the most grievous burdens for many
necessaries of life. This system of patents
was borrowed from the custom OF the
Spanish and French monarchies The
civil tax upon salt was memorable for the
resistance Of the peasantry Of France, and
the thousands Of lives sacrificed by the
government to satisfy the Infatuated
patentees and subdue the wretched rebels
against absolute power:
These methods (aays a historianl were
suggested to him king James) by the enc.
mics Of the commonwealth, the tribe OF
proprietors and mOnopolsts, mendicants
who sheltered themselves under the name
and influence of the minister, and who re-
paid his protection extravagantly, ut the
expense of a people whom they were plum
dering and deyouring.
The people were vexe2 and plundered by
illegal monopOlies, and by other inischelv'
ous projects, calculated to enrich teo
and ruin thousands.
These mOnopolies were so oppressive
under the reign of James that bis chief
favorite and his creatures We're odious,
and as their rapacity intercepted the
larger share of their ezactions, the Kings
share was not adequate to the mainten-
ance of the public obligations. Il re-
suited from this necessity that the King
was compelled to apply TO Parliament
for aid. This was granted him, but there
was coupled Herewith probably the frs:
commission to investigate the alleged cor
ruption of the government--tha High
Court Of Equity with demand that the
obnoxious patents of monopoly should be
annulled. Even that absolute monarch
shrank from the responsibility Of pro-
tecting the miscreants who had plundered
the people in the name Of their yoya! pro-
tector.
The royal fayo,itc hastenei 70 protect
himself from popular indignation. and as
these crown patents must all pass under
the great seal, the Lord Chancellor Bacon
was abandoned to censure and sacrifice as
the chief culprit. BIS sentence was per-
fectly just for his admitted violation OF
judicial duty. but even the prerogative OF
king, who claimed TO rule by divine
right, could neither protect the wisest
man of his day from degradation, nor the
minor miscreants, who had obeyed their
sordid instincts of dishonesty. from the
fierce Indignation of the people. Many
notorious public robbers were brough: to
Justice; and if their official SUCCESSORS
were not more honest. they became. at
least, more circumspect.
The practice Of grantin. Monopo,ies
had prevailed under Queen Elizabeth. Sine
had granted charters tor the foundation
of foreign colonies, the fitting out Of com.
merciaI ventures, and historical! scandal
has even intimated that her majesty held
interests with the privatees Of that day
which even carried on the purchase and
bale VI AIliCHu bliFtSs AuAo sooio VI BiA'
Of monopolies by the Stuarts was. how.
ever, carried on in a far more fragrant
manner whenever they obtained royal
power. At a later day, even. the priso-
ners taken il the Monmouth rebellion were
granted to ladies Of the court Of Charles
II. and sold as servants in the American
colonies. No doubt theis des:endepts
are among our citizens.
But the incurable virus OF corruption
was by no means ext;rpated with the
Stuarts, or by the Protestant revolution of
1858. In the reign of the Georges it
reached disgracefnl and even dangerous
height The purchase Of all men was
openly boosted by ono Of Ensland's
noblest and most eminent ministers, and
the faint with which Walpole inoculated
the government was scarcely purified be-
fore the administration Of Mr. Pitt. The
government began then to perceive that the
responsibility for the robbery and roguery
of It's followers was far more weighty than
the active influence of these robbers and
rogues could carry. The government.
therefore. corrected this by the simple
process of making all subordinat. Offices
permanent. A tenant ia Office for short
time may steal. >Au offices who knows
that his maintenance for ..fe depends on
tho tenure OF honest duty, can not afford
to risk his place for tbs fruit. Of any ordl.
nary fraud.
IN. ..... ~. ior. 81 ss,nS,...; Z,