The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1877-11-24
WHAT A PARADISE |

The American Minister at the Hague has for
warded to our State Department some interesting
statistics on the social and political condition of
Holland As an illustration of the carefulness
and steadness of the Dutch he says that there has
not been bank failure in Holland during the last
40 years, and that the paper money of the banks
during that time has been equal to gold. There
is no such thing the failure of a fire insurance
company on record, and while the rate of insur-
ance does not average more than q half of one
per cent, the companies are in the most flourish
ing condition, realizing II to 16 per cent. per an
mum. First-class railroad travel is only one cent
per mile, and yet the roads pay good dividends.
Pifering officials are scarcely ever heard of, and
when they shock the nation by turning up they
are severely punished and forever disgraced. No
free passes are granted, and managers and di-
rectors have no power to pass anybody over the
roads free; all must pay the public rates. Dis
honesty of any kind or failure in business means
public dishonor, and utterly bars the dishonest
from any future public consideration. Four mil
lions of people live within an area of 49, 900 square
miles, and all appear to be happy prosperous and
contented. The secret of this prosperity lies in
the fact that all live within their income, and that
industry and honesty are principles SO firmly es-
tablished that their violation is looked upon
outrage on the national characteristics
Holland is too small to hold the population of
this country, or should feel like. proposing a
general nlSrallOn-prONlueu Ine Climate anu SUI
would have similar effect upon all who might
migrate thither. We rejoice that there is onesuch
country left on the face of the earth.-ErchdRge.
We would like to know what effect the reading
of the above article will have upon persons of
average intelligence in country.
Banks, insurance companies and railroads, all
managed honestly, and all paying dividends in
Holland whilst with us they nests of profit
gacy for officers and the sources of robbery of
stockholders. How many of the hundreds of dis
honest bank officers in the United States have been
punished? What officer of an insurance company
has been called to account? What railroad mag
nate bushes at the thought that his road has pass
ed dividend after dividend-and that the stock
holders that have invested their all in his road
this day without the necessaries of life?
These are serious questions for the people of
this country to ponder over during the long, cold,
dreary winter nights that coming.
They are questions that should be called to the
attention of those who to legislate. They
should engage the attention of those who admin
lister the law. But will they?
All, there's the rub. A few months ago one class
of men whose wages were reduced were intent on
destroying the only source of revenue that was
left for themselves and for the persons who had
paid for the railroad. But now, so tickle is the
American mind that if a railroad magnate should
pass through the country in palace car the very
same persons would gaze on him with intense ad-
miratiOn
This is not the way to bring about reform. 1t
is rushing from one extreme to the other-verify-
ing the old maxim, "when fools would avoid one
extreme they rush into the other" Let the above
paragraph be made the text of discussion every
where, in the papers, at public meetings, in social
gatherings. Impress its truth upon Legislators,
judges, grand jurors Enforce the laws in the
statute book, and if they not enough pass 9TH
ers more stringent, and let us see whether or not
this country cannot be made law enforcing coun-
try. Whether dishonesty on a large scale cannot
be put down, and whether man in high position
cannot be made responsible for his crimes and
punished therefor, just vigorously as somep
half-starved wretch out of work is punished for
stealing the necessaries of life.