Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-11-05

II friendly warnings can turn the course of a
nation from dangerous paths or the utteranceS
of prophets Of evil can frighten people into
retracing steps taken in wrong direction. the
United States should advance on safe ground.
The pitfalls exposed may be avoided. long
lease of security and prosperity may thus be
given to the nation which follows the couoara-
lively untrodden path of republicanism. The
words OF those like Macaulay who have pointed
out the national evils to come, are not less val
uab,e than the encouragement of praise from
Gladstone. In the last issue of the iates'da-
tiondl Rerteyr the pending OrdealS OF democracy
are discussed in a thoughtful article by George
W. Julian. Ii is not necessary iii order TO profit
by this article that one shall assent completely
to all tie views OF the author if it be considered
that in some respects they are cOiOrcd BY his
political tendencies. Every one will agree that
the evils suggested are to a greater or less de-
gree to he feared, though he NAV be unwilling
to accent tie examples presented by the author.
Mr.. Julian gives warning of the dangers that
spring from false relations between the people
and tie land as illustrated by the growth of
great estates and the resulting inequality
OF tie people; from the domination OF
great cities and its antagoniSm to popular
Institutions and the prosperity OF the rU-
raj districts; from the dangerous power Of
great corporations over the national ana
state governments: from the concentration Of
capital; from the Capitalization If political
power, ard from the shocking decay OF political
morality. partly the cause and partly the effect
OF the other evils mentioned. The danger from
the rrSt-named source is not ina Iinary. 4
country in which the land is the patrimony of a
few, cannot be truly free. The ye0manry, tie
strength OF a republic. disappear and landed
ariStOcracy arises. The necessities of the III
in
years, have given the nation tendency in this
direction that must be overcome Great estates
tend to swallow up the smaller ones and to plp-
duce constantly multiplying ana cTouchng
tenantry. In California, where there are num-
berS OF men who own hundreds of thousands of
acres each, proposition has been introduced
into the state constitutional convention. with a
view to discourage the accumulation of great
estates. II is proposed that whenever one pc
son owns more than one thousand acres of
land, so per cent. shall be added TO the Yall!a-
ton OF his land for taxes; an additional % per
cent. Is 20 be added when two thousand acres
are owned. and another similar addition Is
made when tie ownership extends to three
thousand acres. To the owner of 5000 acre,
the increased valuation is $50 per cent. and il
becomes 200 per cent. for the ownership of 5000
acres The effect of this system OF proyre ssiye
taxation remains to be seen. There is no point
better established than the concentration of
population In cities, which Mr.. Julian suggests
as the second evil Successive statistics show
That there is a continuous growth of cities at
the expense OF the country. The G.ain upon
the farming population and the growing a
tendency OF the bad elements which rule the
large towns, may we'll be dreaded The great
cities are not governed by democratic method.
and yet by holding the balance OF power i'm i'm
portant states they rule the nation. The agrl-
culturistS, whose interests suffer most. make lid
majority Of the people; their business feeds
the human family, and from il both manufac-
lures and commerce draw their life Consc-
Quently the whole of society is injured with
them. The danger to the nation which NAV
spring from the power OF great corporations lch
as railroad companies, which represent Il co.,
Solidated capital OF five thousand million dol
lars, and employ an army of 100000 men, is also
one to be regarded. The railroad has done
much in settling and developing the western
lands; creating towns which Ii connects, and ex-
tending civilization with all its appliances 1t
Is useful servant, but it will not be safe to per-
init IT TO become the master. Every one too
Will see tie wisdom OF guarding against the
1nS1dious approach of imperialism, and of er-
deayoring to purge the nation from political cor
ruption, with its strong allies in popular ignor-
ance In the vice OF intemperance, which lends
Itself TO the service of every evil element in So
ciety, and in the stupid enforcement of party
discipline, after party issues have lost their
meaning, or have totally disappeared