The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1881-04-22

The NeNs Earis Tribune and Ssr. =. =. Flgr.
ber.
Following are copies Of the edito-
rial which appeared in the Ne.c York
Tsfbsssae of Feb. s3, 1881, and the able
reply of NTr. T. B, Thurber. They
both speak for themselves and we
give them to our readers without
comment, except that the T,iboae is
owned and controlled by one of the
most gigantic lsoaoroliesia in the coun-
try.
THE EDITORIAL.
ttWhat iseailed the Anti Monopoly
movement made further progress
toward defeating itself by the meet
ing ut Cooper Institute ON Monday
night. Naturally, those who partic-
ipated fail to see that the meeting
did harm to the cause which it was
Intended to promote. Most of them
were sincere and honest; the meet
ing was large and the conclusion of
those who are for the moment incapa-
bic of seeing both sides of the ques-
ton involved would naturally be that
public opinion had already been
strongly aroused, and weuld by the
meeting be aroused still more strong
IL, TO support some definite and need
ful reforms. But the thoughtful
observer will perceive that no clearly
defined Or rational remedy for exist
ing abuses was advocated BY the
meeting or its speakers. If he IS
sincere and large minded, the OBJ
server will also note with regret that
steps in the last degree impracticable
or usiust were advocated with reck-
less and violent spirit, wanton dis
regard of private rights, and au obsti-
nate blindness as to ultimate eonse-
quences to the people as Il whole,
which better fit the reds and COM
munists of q bygone day in Paris
than the free citizens of the SeiEgov-
erning and prosperous United States.
lit is hard TO make narrow re-
formers understand that extreme
measures usually tend TO defeat the
cause which they are designed to
promote. The s.Native American"
could not understand that few ultra
proposals, accompanied by \ few vio-
lent and unjust acts, caused COM
plete revulsion of public feeling
against the movement to restrict the
infuence of foreign-born citizens in
public affairs. The greatest reform
of the eentury-the abolition OF slav-
ery--vould never have bsen effected
had not the Republican party scrupu-
lousy confaed Itself to the resisting
the spread of that system Of labor.
The blatant demagogism Of Kearncy,
end the violence of his followers, corr
pldfely disguised the country with
agitation against the importation Of
Chinese Iaborers. The senseless and
unjust measure adopted by the Gran
ger influence caused a revolution
against the reforms in transportation
which reasonable men desired. The
intcIsIant spirit and into.erable de-
.mands of the Trades Unions, cJlmin
ating in the great railroad stlike and
the consequent riots, aroused all the
conservatism OF the country 10 resls
and put down tendency which, i
unchecked, could only have ended II
the destruction of allrighis'of proper
ty and the disintegration Of civilized
society.
.ssdE Black, the chief speaker Q
the meeting on Monday, bases hi
whole argument upon the assumption
that railroad corporations 'are public
servants and trustees The Common
sense of intelligent and conservative
men instantly rejects the assertion
and Is fevoited By the conclusions Il
which it logically leads. Trustees
and public servants cannot honestly
make money out of their trust. They
do not invest their own capital. Eg
ery sensible man knows tllas builder
and owners of railroads never woulC
have put dollar of theirsoWn none.
into the business, taking al the risk
which attend any other venture 0
private means and enterprise in TIA
expectation that they would be com
pelied TO account to the pubic a
trustees for the use 9f their oWI
money. and permitted to take 2
their profits only such sum as = pull
lie composed Of shippers aud travel
ers might be generous enough to Civ
them. Mr.. Blacks fundamental as
sumption is a huge falsehood. Ever
sober and reasonable man knows tina
it is, and is moved instantly to re
ject movement basedup pon.so sham:
less an attempt to copfscate to tn
State the property Of individuals.
The resolutions adopted at tn
meeting demand laws, in effect, al
suning for the public complete cor
trolssnd practical ownerFlip Of PROF
erty invested by individuals ia a
honest and legitimate branch of bus
ness. Laws sto prevent pooling an
combinations, though farmers, me
chants, lawyers and men of ever
other occupation daily combine,
the exercise of their righ6as free eli
izene, to secure a fair return for the
investment of money anil labor; Law
to prevent observation-disclosures ar
citizen, though every merchant, e.
cry farmer, every lawyer, and ever
free citizen in the land, has the rigI
TO charge less for his property or Sc
vices at wholesale than at retail; Law
sto prevent paying dividends on w
tered stock IA piece Of denaagogI
fit only for perso.s who are foo igno
ant to know that five pei. cent div
dend on stock Of $50, 900, 600 is pr
cisely equal to a ten percent diYiden
on 4 stock Of so alla 0aa and III.