The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1881-06-02

overthrow oppressive structures which
their Legislatures have created and fos-
tered. This truth is too much over
looked by people and corporations.
Whatever public powers Legislatures
have given to corporations the ultimate
control and use Of these powers 10 in the
people still, and nothing can hinder
them, when they determine to resume
them. The crown can not finally divest
itself to iss subject Of any particle Of its
royalty. The very essence Of sovereign
ty, autocratic or popular, is its suprem-
acy over nil affairs within its domain.
and whatever public powers it may have
given to subject it may always sum-
marty retake. No individual, court or
other creation within itself can enjoin,
hinder, or prevent its doing SO.
Citizens should always understand
that the people are not subject to their
Legislatures, but that their Legislators
are chosen to exercise functions com.
mitted to them by the whole people. IN
and under prescribed form OF constitn-
ton, which the people may be compelled
to alter, amend, abolish or reconstruct.
If the attitude Of opposition between
monopolies and the people continues
until the influence OF the former becomes
omnipotent in Legislatures and courts,
there remains Unpopular government the
ability of reforming its courts and Legis-
lature, and putting its heavy and ire
sistible tread ON overgrown and offensive
monopolies.
But we do not believe that as yet any
such remedy Is necessary. Pubic Opln-
ion, the accumulation of private opin-
ions, the result of information. educa-
ton aud sound judgment, is yet able to
control the action Of Legislatures and
compel the solemn study Of Judges.
The gravity Of n contest between the
people anda portion Of themselves ag-
glomerated III great monopolist corpor-
atiolls can not be overratcd. 1t is now
well known-the boast on one side and
the solrow ON the other sidc-that i'll
one way and another, by the use Of their
wealth and their armies OF votes, great
monopolist corporations are enabled to
exercise visible control over Legisla-
lures and courts, and to declare them
selves in many particulars independent
Of the popular Government which gave
them existence
This is the position in which matters
stand to-day in relation to more than
one great corporation in this country.
The people have almost lest their SOW
ereignty, and will entirely lose ii if the
present tendency Of things continues
few years longer. Such corporations
occupy the position Of the robber knights
Of old times. Acknowledging the nomi-
nal sovereignty Of the empire, to which
these pay as little or rs much support rs
they please, thy levy taxes ut will on
every farm, village, traveller and mer-
chant within their reach, and ridicule
the plundcred who propose to appeal to
the Emperor for redress. That old style
Of local monopoly ended when the en-
pire crushed the robaer and burned his
castle, leaving his ruins to be 4 monu-
menta! warning for later civilization.
Tie illustration does not exaggerate the
present relations existing between the
people and the corporations which are
the creatures Of the people. The mer-
chants of New York and the farmers Of
tile great West, the sellers Of products
on the seaboard and the producers in
the interior, nil agriculturists, manu-
factnrers and artisans IN the country,
are suffering from the lawlessness, or
the exac.ions under color OF law, Of
these corporations in the exercise 1T the
franchises which the people have placed
| III their hands.
There is hut one way out of this state
OF afi lrs. The people may correct the
| evil before it is too late by breaking the
| monoroiles to pieces, resnmng the pow
ers which have Ecen misusel, compell-
ing corporation Judges to study law and
forget old forensic opinions, electing
Legislators who will be faithful anti
monopolists, and faithful representatives
! u s'.. rspnlar sovereignty.
The evil is deep-srafcd, and 1t require.
sharp, active, courageous treatment.
An honest Legislature OF trustworthy
men, chosen to recover for the people
| the powers nov welded by monOpolies,
would remedy the evil in a short session.
But such Legislature will not be chos-
en- until the voters are wide awake to the
danger, and so wide awake that they will
make personal selection Of their canli.
dates, choosing them as they would
choose men to take care OF their fort.
| unes-men whom they know, and know
they can trust. When the people thus
select their representatives in Legisla'
lures, We may hope to see the strong
arm Of Government reached out to re
cover and WELD for the people those
powers which great corporations now ust
TO Cypress them.