Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-10-10
ma AntI-MononoIr Craze.

OF the renowned bOss lOA lHO "SlAoAC
of the party that is gratifying to say the
least. However hopefully the alliance
may strike him, it appears that he could
do the party and the country greater ser
vice by devoting his energies to the hsr-
monizing Of party differences in New
York.
1t is not evident that the Democratic
party needs new issues. and all the prin
ciples worth battling for in the platform
Of the League are embraced in the creed
for which Democracy has been fighting
for a century. Tie cardinal principles
of Democracy are equal rights and econ
Omy. Those principles are as potent for
good to-day as when they were first
enunciated. What is needed is men that
will live up to them. The deliverances
of the League are emphatic and clear
enough, but the execution of its pro
gramme will require a departure from
Democratic traditions that consistent
party men will be slow to sanction.
The evils of monopoly, which were
mostly begotten by the waste, spolistion,
greed and low tone Of the leading Radi-
Gals that have shaped our recent legisla.
ton, State and National, are grievous,
but, while their effects may be dimin
ished, the trouble cannot be entirely re-
moved. The charters of these monopo-
lies cannot be taken from them, and
they have learned enough in the past to
be able to profit by their opportunities.
while sanctioned by the State.
There are rocks ahead. though we
seem to be sailing free. No prOscriptive
crusade viii work the remedy sought,
and no immediate remedy can be found.
4 new party, with the shibbOleth death
to mOnopolles, might command the sup
port Of the Discontinued, and thousands
who were but lightly burdened would
deem themselves heavily oppressed, and
would join the movement in the hope Of
plumber. A raid is ever attractive,
promise what it may, and a political
raid is most alluring; witness the French
Commune and the rise of the Republi-
can party. Such a raid as is proposed
would be virtual revolution, and revolu-
ton is only justiiable when reform is
found hopeless. While in such revo-
luton oppressive and grasping corpora
tiOns might be shorn Of their power or
swept away, reputable organizations
of capital that are not to be clsssed with
the oppressors of industry would receive
like treatment.
The remedy is not to be found in
clothing the Federal Government with
further powers. 1t has done mischief
enough IN disregarding the trusts Of the
people by sanctioning the rise of the
mOnOpOlies complained Of, and there is
no warrant that added powers to control
these would be exercised discreetly, or
that their nOn-exercise could not be pur-
chased by those whom they were calcu-
lated to restrain. The mainstay of all
our mOnOpOlies IS the iniquItous Morrill,
tariff.
With a new tariff, framed as it should
be to meet the best interests of the whole
country, half the work of checking mo-
nOpolies would be accomplished. The
unperfOrmed contracts entered into by
existing corporations and the Federal,
State and municipal governments should
be enforced, and important franchises be
no longer lavishlY bestowed. The work
is to undo, as far as practicable, the evil
complained of, and not to destroy the
sources from which it springs; for they
can be made. as they were designed, to
benefit the people.
What is needed as the first step is
honest, pure Democracy in the national
councils. This would in time insure
like purity in States and municipalities
There is no evil in the body polite for
which Democracy cannot find a remedy,
and no benefit that it cannot work. No
new issues are needed. The Democratic
party demanded reform in all quarters
in 1876, and the people rose up and an
swered aye Let it make the same de-
mand now, and let its leaders in their
conduct be true to the wishes of the
party. and the people will again trust it
The party deserves their confidence. 1t
was through Its unceasing struggles that
the dignity and privileges of the Ameri-
can citizen were preserved to him.
No spasmodic movement like that of
the League can be of benefit We have
had one new party" too many already.
1t has cost us billions of dollars and
thousands of lives. 1t has set back the
march of prosperity at least decade,
and has generated the evils which the
proposed new party is designed to cure.
Democracy might absorb this, but if it
should it would gain nothing by the
alliance in the way of added principles
A government of the people for the PEG.
pie by the people is true Democracy.
Such a government it gave US in the
past, and such a government it can give
us in the future Here in Georgia we
are witnessing the effects of local cru
SADIE on capital, which curtails one or
ganization and enlarges another. A ma
tiOnal crusade would differ from it as
the vast canvas differs from the simple
miniature.
Unless vigilance, the price of freedom,
is soon scrupulously exercised, the con-
test between labor and capital is likely to
come soon enough. Why precipitate the
conflict, when by the enforcement of
existing law and the exaction Of faith
ful performance of contracts the battle
may be avoided, or at any rate STAYED
OFT The people have it in their power
to enforce every one of their rights.
Honest representatives, chosen by the
voice Of freemen, are better able to deal
with the problem and allOt justice to all
than demagogues and their followers,
who appeal not to the reason but the
prejudices Of men. The remedy is in
the ballot box, but the evil needs no new
banners nor battle cries to impress the