The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-09-13
VOL. XIII.
ANTl-MoNOPOL}.


A New York p&per, engaged in the
labor of attempting to throw screens
between the public view and the high
protective tariff outrage, sayst
1t is impossible TO conceal or dodge
the fact that the greatest and most
urgent and most vital issue before the
country to-day is that which Is repre-
sented by the name of Anti-Monopoly.
1t concerns every merchant who buys
and ships bale of goods; every
farmer in the lands every f1ianufacA
turer and ship owner; every iaborer,
and every man who eats and wears
| clothes, 1t comes home to every men
who rides in car, or SENDS tele-
gram, or reads Z newspaper. 1t
involves the liberty and rights of the
people as no other issue does. For
this country was founded for
the people as whole, not for
particular classes. The Republic was
intended for the equal projection of
the persons and interests Of all citi-
zens alike, not for combinations of
capitalists and within twenty-five
years these combinations have been
steadily and stealthily forming and
extending their ram1ications and
powers, obtaining powers by infini-
tessimal increment and then exercis-
ing them as rights, until to-day they
defy the people and are using the gov
ernments of the states and the Repub-
lie to increase their pferogativea and
profits. They have secured control of
the transportation interests of the
country. They own the telegraphs.
They make most of it's currency.
They have stolen public land enough
to found an empire upon. They aspire
to the control OF every interest in the
country and the people every where be-
gin to realize the danger, and demand
that some wise and effective check be
put upon methods and tendencies
which, If continued, Viii prove fatal
to our free institutions. This is what
ant1-monopoly means. 1t means the
rule of all the people for all the
people, through their chosen agents,
and not the rule of a few unscrupu-
lous and irresponsible capitalists
banded together for their own gain.
And for this reason every Democrat
IN the country should be an active
and earnest anti-monopolist.
This is all true enough but our CO.
temporary fails to call attention te
that worst of all monopolios, pro-
lection. 1t was in protection
the first plant Of monopoly was made
in this country. The old time idea of
a tariff for revenue was proper
enough, but this war tariff, made
and imposed for individual benefits, is
not to be tolerated. tf Democracy is
going to Eght monopoly, which it
should do, then it should not strike
vigorously at those things, which, in
making individuals rich, have also
benefited the country at large. 1T
should hew down to the very root
OF that giant monopoly protect
tion. which has robbed and
which does to-day rob the people of
this country-every man, woman and
child-of more money than are the
profits of all other inonopolies. The
so-called anti-monopoly league, which
is making quite fuss in New York,
is engaged somewhat like the paper
quoted from. 1t has it's existence in
the East, where these protection in
are most felt. and 1t is partic-
ularly observable that its anathemas
are directed mainly against the rail-
way and the telegraph companies.
In the league documents, circulated
over the country, there is singular abb
sence OF complaint about the distresses
the masses are forced to indure, be-
cause of that ell-pervading monopoly,
created by undueprotection. The lead
ers of the New York Democracy, and
those of Pennsylvania as well, desire
to control the expressions of federal
Democracy, and they will, If they can,
secure a platform silent as to an hon
est tariff. The masses in those states
are for tariff reform, and the plan to
be pursued by Democrats of the South
and West is, to go into the next |
convention, ready to ex-
ercise influence in the direction of re- |
lieving the masses from expressions, |
and not to please the so-called leaders |
and bosses of the East. They are
loud mouthed against monopolies in a
general way, but that is all. They |
must be made to take back seats, or
join in the honest undertaking to re-
lieve the people from real and not
from imaginary expressions. The
paper, from which we quote, is work
ing apparently with these Eastern
leaders and bosses. 1t breaches, like
they have preached, very good doc
trine, but when time for action arises |
is accomplished, nothing is
definitely promised by these eastern
influences.