The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1883-01-18

There il no country in the world
where corporations are 81 numerous
and so diversified M in the United
States, and as they have entered rs 4
controlling force in American politics,
the people have begun studying their
influence OH tho social condition of tho
nation, and the methods by which they
arr shaping MI things to suit their own
requirements: and this study has heen
intensified hv the discovery that they
are immortal, There il absolutely no
limit 10 their existence. and except their
political influence he DESTROYED. and
their power To centralixe wealth re-
stricted, there is no telling what form
our Government will assume, They are
working radical changes in our political
AMI industrial systems. and in the very
thoughts aud habits ef our people.
Their rapid growth, their great wealth,
their tremendous power. their unity IL
action and their sueeess in controlling
Legislation have alarmed tho Intelligent,
and brought into the field II active pol.
tiles an antaganiStic force which ia
every day extending its lines ~ il pre-
pairing Tor IN approaching struggle,
The corporations have arisen Ia the
present condition by an nnscrnpulous
use of their wealth and power. They
stand untlmchinels by the party which
favors their designs. subscribing liter.
ally to its Corruption fund. and making
its candidates their own, Executives
and Legislatures are their creatures,
Many II our great lawyers arc their
agents. They "eontrol" newspapers 70
mold public opinion, They hire lobby.
lists a. corrupt Legislatures, There IL
to-day scarcely Legislative body IN the
Union that i not in some degree under
their influence. nor Judge whose
Judgment has not heen biased by their
attorneys, Even our congressman take
fees in their service while voting an
measures affecting their interests, The
nation felt degraded hy the discovery
of tho connection of its lawmakers with
the Credit Mohllier. and how hamhling
to the intelligence To learn that they
still maintain like connection with
corporations fully rs corrupt and equally
exaeting, Stockholders in national
banks vote in Congress- to Increase the
value of their stocks--to put up the
price of their bonus and Increase the
purchasing power of their money and
the people approve their action, Rail,
road stockholders and holders III stock
of other corporations east their votes I,
increase the value Of their property or
multiply their privileges, |, is no un,
common occurrence To see members al
Congress, who are partners in manufact'
uring establishments. arrange tariff
bills SO rs 10 protect" their own pro
duets. In fact, the Government has
been made u means hy which the pcopl.
are taxed for the benefit III corpora
tions. II has been made = mere al
dendum to monopolies.
When the Government was organ
ixcd, "the fathers" were seinlons il
their endeayors to avoid laws II primo
ployed in the old country to hold tn,
property in the hands OF the few, The,
took great care that the property shoul,
be divided equally among the heirs a
the death Of the owner. But corpora
tions are accomplishing what "the faith
ers" sought to avoid. Ii one Who hold
stock in the corporation dies. his stocl
Ii transferred to somebody else. and tia,
corporation lives on. Corporation
never die. and their property is neve
divided. hut continually grows. incrcas
ing their power To corrupt and eNtort
They are piling mp the wealth II III,
country into few great aggregation
much faster than could he done hv law
of promngenitnre and entail. and /
would he better that il were left in th,
hands Of individuals. for they hav
sympathy aud charity: corporation
have neither. They have no bodies /,
be kicked nor souls to lie damned.
They are without single human attri
butte. They exist lint to exsort. The
are the embodiment OF monopoly. abov
the law which brought them into being
subordinate only 10 the will ri thei
beneficiaries. The creations Of though
and skill are monopolized by them
Progress IL their slave. Invention, tina
would he blessing to the whole people
monopolixed by them, has almost be
come curse. How can their power b
broken ?-Ghieago Express.
no-nnxl EAS fhn EN~ D>~Av