The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1881-06-22

I
I CoNKLING AS THE LEADER Of the anti-mo-
nopoly league, and of the democratic ele-
ment in American society, appears in new
light. 1t is difficult to guess whether he will
attempt the role Of Gracious or Catiline.
It is not difficult to see, however, that he is
neither Marius nor Julius Cesar. Conk-
ling with his buncomb and cant and perfect
insincerity of political and social morality is
not in the true sense popular man, and will
not prove successful nor a popular leader.
| But it is certain that the time is ripe for q
popular moVement--a movement of the sort
that when once begun will be difficult of con-
trol-and of which the full scope and final
tendency will be impossible to present per-
ception. While we do not believe that Mr..
popular party il the United States, because
in his fight with the administration he has
represented the very principle which under
lies and has underlaYed the utter peryersion
one Of those men whose destructive influence
on existing parties and political forces will
give opportunity for the amplfcation and
settlement of new ideas, in a new form
Of political expires sion, and with new men.
IF he will prove unable to build up this new
party he will effectuallY prepare the way by
the destruction Of lie before q new
party can form from the wreck Of the two
old parties, the two old parties must be
wrecked. It is almost too much to hope for
that the Republican party is wrecked by this
move Of Mr. Conkling's, but it is impossible
to draw any other conclusion from the way
events are shaping themselves. The position
Of the administration has called forth spon-
taneous burst Of popular applause, which at
first sight would appear to be sure guaran-
tee Of its perpetuity and success. But the ef-
forts Of the administration have been SO
warmly seconded by the railroad interests,
monopoly interests that popular enthusiasm
in this administration will gradually cool
into Indifference or positive reaction, as the
animus of those interes becomes apparent.
Once the lines Of monopoly and anti-mo-
nopoly become so sharply defined that the
side issues which have retarded the develop
ment Of popular party will not cover up
the true issue before the American people,
and we will see the nti-monopoly party as
sumo growth and strength that will be
phenomenal. But until the cardinal princi
pie is reached, it will amount to inefficient
struggle and inevitable defeat.
But how is the power Of monopoly to be
checked or destroyed? That is question
which the anti-monopolists have not solved
nor even answered. How are the people to
assert that supremacy in the government
which must be asserted before the monopoly
power can be even reached And assuming
that they have reached that supremacy, in
what manner are they going to assert it /?
Will they subordinate the oligarchic Senate
70 the democratic house? # they do they
must destroy the Constitution and reorganize
the government. Having destroyed an oil
garchic Senate, and given supreme power to
the House and the Executive, will they go
still further, and destroy the feudal system
Of State government which underlies the
oligarchic Senate? Having gone thus far,
will they 60 still further and either buy OF
confscate the railroads, the telegraph and
the banking systems, and operate them for
the benefit of the people, as the postal SER
vice is now operated, and as the railroad,
telegraph, and other services are operated
in Germany? These are the great problems
implied in the anti-monopoly movement, and
until these conditions are fulfilled, the anti
monopoly movement will be . failure, more
or less partial according to the degree Of
their fulfllment By no less a revolution
can the people Of America control or even
affect their government. As the government
is at present organized, with its powers
SO excessively divided, its machinery is the
mere tool Of capitalized interests. Legisla-
lures are packed and bought until their crea-
tures in the Senate are and can be only the
servants Of the capital that has bought and