The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1880-12-03
GENERAL PRESS REVIEW.
ADangerous Element.

ST. Louis lines
The great influence which rich ana power
full corporations have exercised in tne uesu'
Mao Of European nations 10 the sixteenth,
sevente enth and eighteenth centuries Is uiS'-
ter of history. The East India company CT
England aad of II bland, the immense guild
of the Netherlands and similar organlza-
t;ons of other countries of Europe, laid and
hu;lt the foundation of wealth which, while
d;s.ipated in some cases in later times, have,
however, in England an4 other places, given
than the command of the worlds commerce.
But in this century the influence of corpora
tions in the whole progress of the nation,
whether commercial or political, has reached
its acme All our legislation is shaped to
suit their will. The interest of municipali-
ties of the towns, Of the county, of the city,
of The state, and even OF the coun-
try at large is postponed to that
OF the corporation. 1t is q matter of
history how for years the great Pacific rail
road corporation made football of congress
The New York Central the New York Erie
and the Erie canal, when united, hold and
control the legislature at Albany. The
Pennsylvania Central carries the political
opinions of the legislature in It's cash box,
Throughout the whole country we ind The
same yena submission of the legislative
branch to some powerful corporation. But
although these are the evil effects OF the
presence of great corporations on legisla-
lures, still for all this the existence power
full corp 7rations is absolutely necessary for
the convenience the prosperity and the
wealth 60 Tally of the whole nation aud OF
the individual Our interests are so diverse,
our territory 50 vast, our necessities so numer
Gus. that il is impossible to avail our
selves Of the great resources-sgricultural
mineral or mechani2sl-at our command
unless immense sums are used IN their de-
velopment. 1t is after these vast supplies
have been collected and rapaci,us capital
wish TO make money greed money, without
accompanying risk, turrs its eyes longlngly
on the treasures of the town. city, state or
nation, TO possess itself of liberal share OF
these hordes, il Is necessary to unlock the
treasury doors. II is here the interference OF
the corporation in legislation, becomes i
selfish necessity. From the primary
to the day of the election and onward t.
the meeting of the municipal councils OF
national legislature, the enissary of the cap
italist is busy at work. Obnoxious candi'
dates are defeated in the primaries compla
cent politicians are pushed into popular
favor, and when the legislature meet:
those who hith rto have succeeded in spite o
opposition in gaining their seats, are ap-
preached and felt. Money buys some. Trad
ing of interests purchases others. The result
is, the whole legislative body is soon made /
complacent council whore the the creed Of
the corporation is glutted, under the preten {
of promoting the wealth Of the nation, by
encouraging internal Improvements. Another
and perhaps the very strongest hold which
corporations get upon legislation, is through
an alliance with political managers. These
latter are bent upon possessing themselves o.
the spoils of Office, and to make certain
thing, they make common cause with somt
great corporation. United, no opposition O.
private parties, however we'll organized, car
successfully resist them. As a rule the result
is as clearly determined before election day
as is tho Hotion Of the hands Of clock