The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1885-06-18

convention is the only means that can
speedily correct the evils into which
the state has drifted. Legislatures
such as we have, would
never submit an amendment,
curtailing the opportunities for the
low class politicians to come to Aus
tin for the purpose of establishing
prices for legislative votes.
PUBLIC DANCERS"
The above is the sub-head given to
portion of Mr.. Bayard's speech, de-
ivered June 8, at the University of
Kansas. A few days before this
Judge Terrell, of Texas, addressed
the alumni and students of the uni
versity of Missouri upon private cor
porations, presenting elaborate argu-
ments as to their power to derange and
subvert government. Mr.. Bayard's
speech was upon 'Individualism.' and
one Of the divisions of his subject is
the one above referred to. Il, too,was
upon corporations and their danger
Gus influence upon government. We
were going to ask II the
treatment of this subject by
Judge Terrell and especially by
Mr.. Bayard upon similar occasion
Was not singular coincidence, but
may it not be said more properly that
these speeches show that statesman
realize the situation and think it time
to arouse public sentiment to a
great question affecting government
One speech was smade by a
private citizen of Texas before a dis
tinguished body of educated and
thinking people; the other was the
utterance of no less a man than thai
distinguished statesman of Delaware
who was lately called to the
head of Mr.. Cleveland's cabinet
Both spoke in states where the dan
gerous power of corporations has al
ready been felt. Mr.. Bayard said:
1--WE have not escaped the conditions
of humanity by adopting a popular
form of government, and by diffusing
responsibility, we have not decreased
it nor lessened the penalties that are
attached to political mistakes and I'M
wise public policies. Indeed, the very
breadth of the base of our liberties, the
recognition of almost universal par.
ticipation in the consideration of pub
| lie questions, has increased the diff
~ o. mi ii n ND
IN our day and time, and particularly
in this country, another force has
grown into magnitude which calls fol
the resistent counteraction of sturdy
individuality. l refer to the artificial
combinations called corporations
which are endowed by law
| with faculties and powers OF
many great and valuable results, and
have been instrumentalitieS of Won
derful development, but accompanied
by other consequences unfavorable tC
liberty and individuality. These arti.
fetal persons by steady expansion OF
their capabilities have been moulded
| by their special characters for the
prosecution of almost every business
| occupation, have long since passed
from the field of mechanical construc-
tion or the welding of accumulation
of private capital in banking, and have
become securities on official bonds
trustees and managers of estates, exc
| cutors of wills and even guardians OF
minor children.
They are devoid of many of the
weaknesses of humanity, for they are
free from "the ills that flesh is he'll
to-" and do not fall sick nor die, mol
| are their estates divided, but equally
are they incapacitated from exercising
or being controlled by that sense Of
moral possibility. of benevolence
of generosity, OF gratitude, of patri-
otto self-sacrifce which the individual
alone can feel and carry into action
under the impulses of high principle
and sublimated feeling. My hope fol
successful outcome of our great
experiment of popular govern
ment is in the appreciation of its
blessings and its value to the happi-
ness and welfare of our great people
and that they will realize that it is
| not merely popular government, but
self-governme nt we have to rely upon
"a public will, wise, virtuous and in
telligent, permeating and penetrating
the entire community. But it will, ]
fear. encounter what I consider a
point of weakness in our citidel, in
the impatience of majorities, and their
intolerance of opposing opinion and
| the consequent suppression OF indivld-
uality in public councils. A society
that dWafs it's men and checks their
| independent EXPRESSION, may indeed
render them quiet and docile, but it
will find that with small men no
great thing can ever be accomplished,
and that with false men there can be
no security. The real strength of a
state will be found in the long run to
consist in the strength of the individ=
uals who compose it, and the founda-
ton of all good government is in the
Individual abstenance from encroach-
ment on the rights of others; and that
which urges man to defend his own
rig hts will teach him to respect the
rights of others"
Mr.. Bayard, as was the case with
the Texan, simply directs attention to
an evil which public safety demands
shall be corrected. The only thing
singular about the matter is that
these two men should have met on
almost Identical territory, each over
thousand miles from home to dis
cuss so vital a public issue.
MOTHERS.
If you are failing, broken, worn OuG