Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-03-26
DANGER AHEAD.
what II. 9. Fulton Says OF Government
Control of Labor.

February Century.
In the November Century appears an
able article by DR.. Lyman Abbott, en-
titled 'Danger Ahead" in which, in the
main, there is the best Of argument; but
the author shows an evident misconcep-
ton of the province of government. At
the close, in writing of government con-
troll Of the telegraph, he says: "Govern-
ment In England can conduct great tel
egraphc enterprise IL government in
! America cannot it is time that we found
out the reason WHY In relation TO the
| Erie canal he SAYS: 'If we can own, adj
minister and control a great water way,
why not great highway? Again, In
contrasting the Union Pacific railway
with the English India railway, he asks
''If England can do this make per
cent. profit in India, why cannot we do
| it in American" Without at the present
disputing the conclusion Or. Abbott
would have us reach, we ask, what OF IT.
II government In America cannot man
uiacture a purer and better article of
baking powder to enable the people to
eat more wholesome bread, 1t is time
we found out the reason why II we can
own and control great penitentiaries for
the accommodation of the lawless, why
not great hotels for the accommodation
Of the law-abldlng? II great manufacture
| ing establishments can make money out
of patented inventions, why should not
government 90 into the same line of bust
ness? Are these three questions absurd?
Yes. But no more 50 in principle than
the questions Of DIR. Abbott. Why ab.
surd? Because all these things are be-
yond the province of government
We are very liable to be misled by un-
authorized acts of government, and
to suppose them right and done by
authority; and when we have taken I'M
authorized acts as basis of action, we
are most certain to run into great error.
The government was established solely
for the protection of the people. Its de-
partments were organized for this pur-
pose only. For the protection of life,
liberty and property. Our fundamental
law makes the government a protector,
not guardian 1t is not for government
to assume the functions of the individual,
and engage in pursuits other than those
necessary for this protection. What the
people can do for themselves it is not
necessary for the government to
do for them for it would
be useless to form a government
for the doing of what could be done be-
fore 1t was formed. Because, perchance,
the government can carry on some work
better than individual, Is no reason it
should do so; for by so doing it becomes
a dictator. II government would give
full and complete protection to the peo-
pie in their person and property,
and allow them to develope the country
and manage their own enterprises, many
of the Changers aheadn would be avoided.
strong government is necessity, but
complex departments, necessitating an
army of officers, and built up on the false
idea that government is a huge organ
lZation for business, debases politics,
substitutes the desire for office in place
of the desire for the welfare of the ma
ton, and thus leads to that corruption of
which we have had garing examples, and
which may work great injury. This is a
Changer ahead" which it is well for us
to guard against
The opening up of new portions OF the
country should be left to the people, that
they may act as necessity requires. The
forcing process by government aid and
credit, which throws open vast areas
which cannot be occupied excepting by
calling for and inducing the Old World
to unload its surplus, and oftentimes
laWless, population upon us, leads to the
growth of socialism. II socialism is q
"danger ahead" the government may
take part of the blame for not leaving the
law of increase and progress to work out
its own natural result. Our desire for
Increase of population and the settling
up of the country to a degree beyond that
afforded by increase within and
through natural immigration has
mazda ~ To
ment to do that which was not contem-
plated by our organic law, and which
cannot properly be considered q duty OF
government. And this has led to invit.
ing changer ahead" by indiscrlminately
opening our doors to the world, anc
drawing to us the lowest disturbing ele-
, ments OF Europe, and placing the ballot
In the hands OF those absolutely unfit tc
govern themselves, and much less fitted
to have voice in the government OF
others BY this process we have
, not strengthened our govern
ment, A country may grow be
yond its strength. Material may bC
gained which adds to the growth, but in
, lures the stability. When government
keeps within the line of its duty, and pro
, tects the people, while they build suct
, avenues of communication, open up sucf
/ sections of the land, and engage in such
other enterprises as they may deem
proper and required by the natural growth
: OF the country, there will be found les.
J "danger ahead" than when the govern
/ ment assumes the functions Of gigantic
, moneyed corporation, engages mall sorts
: OF business, and comes into competition
: with private enterprise. The question is
/ not what government can do, but wha
) government may do, consistent with tn,
purposes for which 1t was established.
7 II. G. FULTON.