The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-11-11
Oppressive Combinations for ExtortiOn.

The cause which Impelled the inhabit-
ants of the British colonies in America to
sever their allegiance with their sovereign
vas his disregard for theirpersonal rights,
as set forth IN the Declaration OF lndepen-
dence. The moment that they had severed
by the sword the band which made them
the subjects of personal ruler, that mo-
ment they became free and lndenendent.
them to rebel, led them toFiCtOry and left
them in full possession of its blessings.
They were not long In thlgcondition, how
cqer, before they realized he necessity OF a
power to which they could be subject, and
az they adhered a persoial government,
they determined to goyernthemselves, and
to give to personal libertyth The greatest lati'
tude possible to insure To Zach citizen pro
lection to his person and property, and to
the whole people welfare and prosperity
To this end the constitution, of the United
States was framed and declared to be the
fundamental law of the new born nation
The chief object, therefore, II the institu-
ton of our form OF government beng to
lpromote,the general welfare, IT must sure
| ly be within constitutional limit tor the
legislative branch of the government to
enact such laws in all cases rs may be
necessary for the purpose. Distractions to
the natural law of competition ly corpora
tons and combinations of individual clti-
zens form greater evil than all the other
evils taken together that exist under oul
government. There are combinations OF
railroad, iron and coal interests, and OF al
the manufacturing interests, and IN Oppo-
sition to these "a natural consequence there
are combinations of the labor interests, the
whole forming one grand monopoly, which
although composed of comparatively
small portion of the people, yet, by viola
ton OF the natural law of competition, I'M
personal benefit. To the extent of the i'm
position of taxes without their consent, thu
people to-day occupy the same position tt
liking Pool" as did the inhabitants of thu
Colonies to King George In l776. The diff
ference between the combination price ant
q free competitive price Is the percentage
of tax LEVIED On the people by King Fool,
and this percentage Is not less than 20 pc
cent. on all the manufactured goods. Re
peal of the tariff is rccOmmendedIby SOM
as Il remedy for the evil, but as tins would
be an evil in itself to the extent Of assist
ing to make the balance of trade With Eu
ropean nations against us, and "a enrich
ing foreign manufacturers with tie prof
made on the merchandise which we shoult
purchase of them, it Is highly objection
able. Besides, a repeal of the hrft or
manufactured goods would, by its immedi
ate elect on an established system of busl
ness and prices disrupt such system ant
prices, and thereby cause financial disorder
whereas, If all distractions to treecompe
tition were removed by Legislation, price
representing q reasonable compensation TO
capital and labor would be reachedby sue
degrees rs 10 AVOID disturbance OF on
finances. Evidently, the safe aud politi
remedy lies in legislation prohibiting tn
combination of corporate and personal in
terests for the purpose, and with the inter
lof avoiding the effect on prices OF ire
competitlon betwesn them. The act of tw
or more parties who form a combiua,io
for the purpose and with the intent of con
pelling third to pay them greater pric
for needed article or for the use OF a COZ
: venience which they control, than the
would charge in selling in compettio
with each other, is in its nature no les
criminal than stealing his sheep. For tn
intent IN both cases Is TO take for their Us
/ and benefit portion of third party
, property without compensation. The fat
Is, that the combinations, SO called, for til
purpose of avoiding the effect of tree con
petition on prices, are cOnspiracies again'
, the general welfare and prosperity of th
people-consplracies to rob and plunde
they are in nature and effect felonies, an
should be legally recognized as such.
these conspiracies are not soon restralne
by legal action, the people will ultimatel
be nccessitated, in defence of their personi
rights, to have recourse to the same remed
that relieved them from the tyranny an
impositions of George Ill. A. LYNCH.
Ottawa III Nov z