The Daily Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Or.) 1876-1883, 1881-02-22
Dangerous Men.
Editorial Corr. AsroRIAN.

George Tor the NnrlslnaS hummer
of the Sacramento Bee, contains
some thoughts on political quacks
that are very suggestive. The
very striking and original work of
political economy by Mr.. George, |
entitled Progress and Poverty, en-
titles him to speak on this subject |
with certain authority. After |
discussing the changes that are go
inc ON in the modern world tending
to make the rich richer and the
poor poorer, and the need for some
counteracting influences, the writ
er saws: The men of whom ] ann
most afraid, are not the men who
think the existing state of things
all right, and set their faces against
any change. 1t Is the men who
want to proceed to action as soon
as they get an idea half way into
their heads; the men who Jump to
conclusions without making sure
of the intermediate steps; the men
who, feeling that something Is
wrong, are for ANYTHING for a
change" 1t is true. In all fields
OF American politics, especially
those that touch commerce, manu-
factures and finance. the men of
half ideas have been most danger
Gus. The democratic party abounds
in reformers in tariff protection
and finance, whose danger lies IN
a certain ability in advocating half
ideas and whole fallacies. The
public health is more endangered
by jealous ignorance than preju-
dice, passion, or even corrup-
ton. The rapid changes that
are goisg ON in the business
world follow one another so swift
| ly that 1t Is not easy to see
their full significance. 1t Is an
age of combinations and cOnsolida-
tions, in which the number of con-
trolling powers is decreasing, the
number of the controlled is IN
creasing. Railroad combinations
are going so rapidly that in few
wears at this rate there Will be only
few great consolidated lines and
their ramifcatiOns. One corpora
ton controls the petroleum trade:
another Is not far from controlling
the anthracite coal trade. The
sugar refining trade is following
the same path, and So ON through
other fields of industry. The large
concerns swallow up the smaller
Middle men and iObbers are at an
ever-iEcreasing disadvantage, and
the manufacturer and importer
| operating through agencies, come
more and more in contact with
the customer. The tendency is tc
concentrate wealth and power
r more in the hands Of few grear
corporations and to reduce the
small traders and manufacturers tC
. the condition of employees. Som,
! nav consider this an advantage
Others a disadvantage; but ther,
can be no question of the fact, anC
very little question that the pro
cess will go much further during
= the decade which we have recently
: entered. Its equally undeniabl,
= that the concentration of wealtl
!, goes hand in hand with the deffu
= sion of poverty and wretchedness
4 Wherever the most enormous for
: tunes are found, side by side wit
1 them will be found the extremis
q destitution. The greater the powe
E Of wealth, the greater the depend
r ence and helplessness Of the Ope
a rative. In some parts of Eu
II rope the process Of consolida
II ton has entered the ownership G
n lands. The number of land-own
l. ers in Great Britain, PARTICULAR
Is in Scotland and part of Irelans
= is decreasing. Small farms disar
pear, swallowed up in enormou
estates. The condition of tb
q agricultural population is more an
e more hopeless; the rent may be 5
ie apportionated as 20 swallow II