Daily Republican., 1881-02-24

Mug and amongst the noted speakers
was Judge Blacx Of Psnusy l~snia' 4
WAS held under the auspices o. The
anti monopoly league and is but tn
first that Is to follow OF q general aSi
tation Of she subject all over the coun
try. The League proposes to arouse
public attention and to Inform the
mind with a view to securing State and
national legislation which VIII bring
the best int rests OF transportation I'M
der the control OF Jaw aud iato su oseF-
yience to the rights and interests O
the people. There can be 10 donm
that the period for the discussion o.
this question has arrived at there IS
constant growing tendency towards
moAopolizing tie transportation anc
the system OF transmitting the news OF
the nation. Corporations have been
for years active and alert in watching
legislation, and have brought every
appliance 10 bear to secure provisions
of law favorable to their objects and 10
prevent enactmeuts that would stan0
In their way. They have retained
under pay the best legal talent, they
have not only carried potent influence
into the halls of legislation, but they
have lost no opportunity to work
through public elections to gain seats
therein Tor representatives OF their
own who would labor on every oocs-
sion for their interests. They have
sven attempted to lay their hands on
courts which interpret and apply the
law, and are reaching out for control
OF the public press. While huge cor
porations have thus been strengthen
ing themselves in citads!s OF power the
people have been looking on and assist
ing them by dull listless apathy, lit
tie thinking OF the small cords OF power
that were being bound gradually
around the business of the nation,
which would eventually haIld up q
power stronger than the nation itself.
If too long neglected the question
may become one Of domination. Corpo-
rations heve grown to such IN extent
that they resist government control
which is controlled by the will of the
people exerted through constitutional
methods and are attempting to make
governments their own instruments.
They contend with the people in the
election of those who make and ad
minister the laws and become rivals
of the body polite In the dominion OF
the country 80 far as their own priyi
leges and interests are involved.
1t becomes question of mastery, and
when that issue reaches an intelligent
and well informed people there can be
no doubt on which side the victory will
be. The corporations have great power
and wealth, bat the people are many
and their resources are great. 1t Is
hoped that there will be no ocoaEion
for struggle between corporations and
the people. The railroads are instru-
mentalities OF great value to the growth
and prosperity Of the nation, and they
should in no way be crippled or ul'
Justly dealt with, but when they
stretch out their arms to control the
government, they should be watched
with a jealous eye and kept within
proper restraint. This can only be
done through aroused public se4t;-
1aent. In the struggle through which
eur State has Just passed, the people
have been defeated. They wanted CON-
petition but strong corporation which
got its life from the people, denied 1t,
and rather than submit has fastened q
greater monopoly on the State, Whole
some competition has been denied, and
our State lies PROSTATE at tae feet of q
monopoly that can dictate Its own
terms. That it will not,do, it Is not be-
sause It has not the power to do 80, but
only because 1t Is not politic to DO 80
II san act the thumb screw OF oppres'
sion If 1t 80 desires. With two mono
poles in q State opposed to each othe
the interests Of the state and the PEG
ple are safe. With only one the Stat
and people are at its mercy. 1t is tim
the people we're arousing, and lookin
out for their interests.
-----~~-~----
THH DELAWARE Legislature mus
have felt very foolish when they a.
tempted to deliberate en- the Deiawal
Western bill after what has take
place. As q fit limax to their FOOLS
delay, the Committee on Corporation
have decided to report the Delawal
Western bill with Sn amendment pr
hlbiting the company from eoAsolid'
+;ro Nth auy other railroad compAp,