The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1880-01-30
Thoughts for Working Men.

Within the last twenty years vast indus
tries haye sprung into existence in the
United States which give employment to
many thousands OF workmen. New mines
have been opened, new railways constructed,
new manufactures established. These things |
have been accomplished by the combination |
of the capital of individuals united together |
in incorporated associations. They could |
not have been accomplished in any other
way unless indeed the chief corporation, the |
state had undertaken them by taxing all the
people. 1t therefore appears that associa-
tion of capital is necessary to the develop
ment of the natural resources of the country
and experience has proved that companies
incorporated for the purpose OF uniting the
financial strength of number of individ-
uals are best adapted to secure the associa-
ton of capital requisite for the prosecution
| of great private enterprise.
During the last decade, however, the
power of associated capital has grown so inn
mensely that it has some times made laws
to suit its own purposes at the expense OF
the people and has even in one notable in
stance defed the authority of the federal
government ITSELF While therefore the great
corporations have contributed largely to
the general welfare they have subjected
themselves to the popular odum by attemp-
ting to control Congress and Leg islatures in
their own interest and by openly disobey-
ing the laws under which they received their
splendid public subventions. The Union
and Central Pacific railroad companies, Tor
instance, after having received the most
munificent subsidies in lands and money,
after having enjoyed their franchises and
the bounty of the public for dozen years,
deliberately and persistently refused to pay
their just debts to the government. This
was the elimination of corporate insolence
and in reality an attempt to set the power OF
private corporations above that of the re.
public.
But they were defeated in their attempt
to resist the Just claims of the government
The democratic party in Congress, led by
Allen g. Thurman, rose like lion in their
path. The railroad kings, Gould and Hunt
ngton, who had for years held the federal
I legislature in supjection to their will were
forced to yield to the democracy. The
I, measure known as the "Thurman Act" re-
Gently tested in the supreme court of the
United States and pronounced constitution
al by that tribunal, was enacted. Under
the law the Union and Central Pacific com
panies are forced to a settlement with the
| Il nf he
i moneys advanced out of the treasury to
e meet the interest on the companies bonds
Not only did the passage of this measure by
: congress secure decided fiscal advantage
to the government, but the mere fact of it,
= becoming law has proved of inestimable
IS value to republican institutions. 1t did mol
e merely put the United States treasury in 6
n way of getting back Its own but it demon.
strated the fact that democratic government
a is entirely capable of protecting the peo
e pie against tn arrogance and power of the
4 corporations.
J. 1t follows a corollary that the socialism O
Dennis Kearney and of those who are in
tent upon forming a distinctive labor par
q ty," is not needed if it where not wholly ou
q of place in this country Socialism is radi
! cal, revol utionary, destructive. Democracy
is liberal, order-loving, conservative 1t wa'
not the revolutionary and destructive radi
, calism preached by the so-called "labor re-
', ', form" agitators, that gave the people the
- victory over the Union and Central Pacific
companies. Arrogant monopoly bowed it
naughty crest before the Democracy, liberia
4 in the enactment oflaws tor the protection o
popular rights, but conservative of the es
tablished institutions of the county.-Har
u ris6urg Patriot.