The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1885-06-04

his the values invested in manufac-
,uring enterprises, most of which
are operated under charters of incor-
Doration, we find the amount to be
sight thousand three hundred mil
lions OF money, or nearly one firth of
the aggregate wealth Of the entire
country.
WEALTH AND POWER OF PRIVATE !
CORPORATIONS.
If we assume that one-fourth as
much more, as is thus invested, is con-
trolled under navigation charters and |
incorporated enterprises strictly pri
vate, which are found in every city
and town, invading every department
Of Individual industry, we are con-
founded with the startling fact, that
one fourth Of all the wealth Of all the
states is invested in these creations of
law, and is moved and controlled by
no higher aim than selfish interest.
CORPORATION CHARTERS IN TEXAS.
IN Texas, seven hundred and fifteen
charters of private corporations had
been filed up to December %, 1884,
representing over seventy millions of
stock. In January last the LegiSla-
ture sat Under circumstances which
Induced the belief that corporate
charters would be curtailed, especially
as to land ownership. The anxiety to
secure special privileges in time, will
be understood when I state that
within ninety days, eighty charters
were filled, covering almost every
branch of human industry. If we
will pause and reflect (for upon this
point we have no statistics to guide
us) how vast must be the number of
men in America sWayed and con-
trolled by these automlton vehicles of
gain, who are daily the blind instru-
ments Of their will, and then reflect
on the connecting influences of that
great multitude we will begin
| er.
WHAT INDUSTRIES ARE INCORPOR-
ATED.
Not only in Texas, but in a majority
of the states, charters have issued
under general laws for churches and
country stores, brick.yards and TEN.
perance societies, building associa-
lions, agricultural implements and
grist mills, steam laundries, printing
offices and blacksmith shops, and per
tanning to every other department OF
industry, which until few years age
was regarded as within the eX
elusive domain of individual en-
terprise. In Texas alone TWEEN
ty-four newspapers are incorporated
The central idea of Plato's republic
was to fit its citizens with employ
mentS suitable to their natures. Ths
tendency of ours is to close every ave
nue of individual effort by shadowine
man with the dwarfing influence O.
giant pc Ners, contending with him il
the same employments. In New York
the people mistaklng the character O
the disease, have actually resorted tt
the disease itself for remedy by or
ganizing corporation of gas consum
ers, to watch and prevent tn
theft Of a corporation OF gas max
ers.
GOVERNMENTAL INTERFERENCE
WITH PRIVATE INDUSTRY.
The influence of such Legislation
is evil and only too evil. The de
mands of progress afford us no ex
cuse. for no progress is real which i
destitute of conservatism. In pro
portion as men are educated, permit
ted and encouraged by their govern
ment to look alone to their individual
intelligence and energy, in providing
for themselves, just to that extent
the spirit of civil liberty fostered an,
protected. On the other hand, just il
proportion as the organic structure O
practices of the governm mt permi
and extend paternal aid in helping tn
individual man to do thar, which i
left alone he may do or not do TO
himself, that aid will in some way b
appropriated for the benefit of the few
and not the many. That aid vii
through circumstance, artifce, favor
itism or fraud, be used to increase III
gains Of capital, and the wages of la
Dor; and while building up deprave
lust for place and power in the few, i
will render disconnected with thel
lot those who labor for their bread
Civil liberty will always flourish
longest on earth among thoso who's
government confines within the small
est compass its interference with tn
legitimate business of the people. On
exception to this rule is now general
ly admitted, and it Is found il
the practice of promoting the education
Of children by the state. Yet ever
that duty it would be pernicious tt
monopolize and it is only duty, be
cause the preservation of the state
must depend on intelligence.
LABOR THE GENERAL BASIS OF INDI.
vIDUAL OWNERSHIP.
Without considering the views O.
political economists as to the origin o.
seperate property, one fact addresses
itself with peculiar force to the ordi.
nary mind, viz: That generally thu
true basis of all Individual ownership
of property, is labor. This labor i'm.
presses it with the ownership, anC
makes it subject to sale, and by SC
cial laws, transferable by inheritance
1t would seem then to be bat the plain
suggestion of justice, thata govern
ment professedly organized in the in
terest of civil liberty should never
either directly or indirectly, create in
CAPABILITIES of opportunity, and adYant.
ages by law, thus aggregating cap
ital uDjustly in the hands of the few.
1t must also follow, that when gov
eminent acting through governmental
agencies, or indirectly, by transferring
its sovereign power to money hunting
individuals, creatss in them an ability
to suppress ana strangle the competi-
ton of other men in the race for
wealth, dangerous factor has been
started, which sooner or later will de-
stroy civil liberty, unless destroyed
itself in time. If the interests of cap
ital and labor are to harmonic, that
harmony will never be perceptible to
the son of toll, until he is made to I'M
derstand, that the capital which he
serves is neither created or sustained
by partial laws, enacted to his disad'
vantage.
1 use the word capital in its popular
sense, disregarding the definition of
Adam Smith, Ricardo. or McCulloch;
and without stopping to consider the
definition of Mr.. Mill. For ny present
purpose, that term is used to designate
that available surplus, the produce of
human lahOr Or that nIrndpr from tho