St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-09-17
power which it gives to its possessors. and

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comparatively high prices, the difference be-
tween the poor and the rich is becoming
more marked and emphasized. The oppor-
tunities to rise from the grade of employe to
that of employer are becoming less, and for
reasons which cannot be touched on in the
few moments allotted to me, the purchasing
power of money is growing less. 1t Is hardly
to expected that under these circumstances
the less fortunate class, who by unremitting
industry merely earn their daily bread, and
who know that to- morrow they may be hardly
able to earn that, should not feel and express
discomfort, when they see their neighbors
spending each day what would be to them a
fortune. Nor will mere education in the
sense Conformation or knowledge, mitigate
or remove such discomfort. On the contrary,
it will prove an aggravaton and be an aid and
incentive to organized opposition TO the order
of things which il will be supposed fosters
and makes possible such great disparity.
The book says: at is easier for camel to
go through the eye of Il needle than for a
rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven;
and it must be admitted, as we grow older
and more observant, we become more ana
more and inclined to accept the scripture as
literal truth rather than fgurative express
sion intended merely to declare that
RICHES ARE AN IMPEDIMENr
on our Journey to the good land. At any
rate it is not TO be doubted that the influence
of concentrated and centralized capital is be-
have grown rich beyond the dreams of avar-
ice and to increase their power in almost
geOmetrical ratio. Corporations have been
formed possessing the wealth of many indi-
viduals, and practically immortal. What was
dangerous in the hands of individuals be-
comes many times more so when consolidated.
II is not exaggeration to say that less than
score of individuals could be named i'll our
country who by the influence of their unitei
wealth, could paralyZe the industries OF the
country, and create such financial crisis as
would spread disaster throughout the land.
He is indeed happy optimist who does not
feel that this is in some degree menace to
society. When capitalists so combine 1t is
not to be expected that laborng classes and
all other classes should not associate. THE
rapid growth of corporate power and the
malign influence which it exerts by combina-
ton on the national and state legislatures is
well grounded cause of alarm.
A STRUGGLE Is PENDING
in the near future between this overgroWn
power with its vast ram iticatiOnS all over the
Union, and hard grip on much of the politi-
cal machinery, on the one hand, and the peo-
pie in an unorganized condition on the other
for control of the government. 1t will be
watched by every patriot. He is blind to the
signs of the times who does not see that one
of the problems of the near future, under all
governments and especially under republi-
can form of government, is, how shall these
shall each be educated. controlled and con-
strained to recognize the rights OF the Otherl
How shall the governments meet the queS-
tons so that neither the rich nor the poor
shall be treated unjustly, and so that neither
liberty nor civilization shall suffer, nor con-
stitutional rights be over-rid len?
In monarchy, perhaps, few thousand
bayonets or muskets would settle the queS-
ton, bnt with US the ultimate appeal is TO
the people, and nothing can be said TO be
settled until it is settled in accordance with
the dictates of justice When any class by
| mere force of numbers or wealth overrides
the rights of any other class, a blow is struck
| at freedom which will tell on after genera :
| tons.
WE4LTHS SHARE TOO GREAT.
These social and political problems are as
| important as have ever engaged the attention
of any people. In their presence it would be
! imbecile cOWardice to eXhume the mummieS
and petrifactions of past political eras VIII ch
| have been long since buried. The hand writ
| ing on the wall is clear, and any lover OF his
race must rejoice in the fact that such laws
must be enacted as will make impossible the
| accumulation of wealth in such dangerous
! amounts in the hands of any one. While it
| is the pride and glory of our country that
personal liberty. personal security and priv
| ate property are sacred and inviOable and
must be fearlessly guarded against all at
| tackS, on the other hand the rights OF in
| dustry and labor, either physical or mental,
! must be guaranteed a fair compensation and
a fair share of the profit which is the joint
| product of capital and labor. / have no hes
| itation in saying and it has been my view Tor
many years. that wealth has had an unequal
and too great share of the profits. LII
| many dishonest shifts and articles resorted to
! by stock jObbing, StOck-watering, etc., as
| means to this end should be declared by law
! to be criminal And protection" so called,
| which compelS the poor to contribute TO the
| princely fortunes of the rich, should be
| abandoned as a political heresy. as should the
| granting of subsidies and bonuses of all kinds
| at the expense of one person or class for the
! benefit of another.
| ANARCHY AND HONEST LABOR
are as diametrically opposed as right and
| wrong; the former m iSt De denounced and
| punished, the latter protected and honestly
| and literally rewarded. The greatest induce
ments must be held out to honest intelligent
| exertion. AS each man sows so shall he reap.
1 believe, and always nave, in the Democratic
| doctrine of equal rights to all. special privi-
! legeS to none. But as wealth is power, legis-
lators should see to it That such laws are en-
acted as will surely protect the poor and
more helpless classes against rapacious av-
arice. Just how this shall be done is ques-
| ton that no man seems at present to have
! settled in his mind. But undoubtedly some
| scheme Will be enacted b. humane lawmakers
| who honestly Sympa; hiZe with their race and
! are ready to labor for its elevation. The sug-
! gestion of the president in his special mes
| sage of department or commission Of labor,
! seems, as far as it goes to be wise. The
| Democratic party in congress, under the lead
| of the president, has taken stand on the
| question from which there is no danger that
| it will go back. The committee on labor APP
| pointed by the house did much to furnish
| such data as will make benehcient legislation
| not only possible out probable. And the
| Democratic house presented and successfully
! carried through the bill to prohibit the i'm
| portation of contract labor. The language
| of
OLIVER CROMWELL
| to the British parliament is Democratic doc
| trine. He said: IF there be any law which
| tends to make a few rich and many poor, that
| suits not commonwealth" But would not
| do justice to myself if ] ntimated that this
| sentiment is not heartily responded to by the
masses of the Republican party also. 1t
! must be admitted that there are many heart
| less men-that the accumulation of wealth
! tends to dry up the better sympathies of
! many-"that mans inhumanity to man,
| makes countless thousands. mourn" But
| the man would do injustice to his race who
would intimate that among all classes whether
| rich or poor, broad generous and hearty SYM
pathy is not often found for every class and
| degree of his race. And he is a bad man who.
| without reason, attempts TO prejudice one
| class against another. But L have BY no
means referred to all the menaceS OF accumu-
! lated capital. In the control of the railroad
| property of this country a few private ind-
| viduals responsible to no one but their i'm
| mediate constituency and subject to no super
| vision and looking solely to their own inter-
| est, yearly collect from the people not less
| than $500, 600 600. To no men Or body of men
| is it safe to commit such power. The mere
statement of the proposition to any thought
| full man shows the necessity for government
| supervision and control. 1t matters not
whether they are honest or dishonest. No
ma when his own interest is at stake
| should be trusted with such power Not only
| do they levy and collect this tribute, but q
| few men sitting in their offices in Chicago or
| some other city may by even slight dis
| elimination in rates, affect most disastrously
the interests of every locality, business and
| business man in this land.
| SLIGHT DISCRIMINATION
| against any person, place or business is de-
| struction. 1t cannot be expected, it should
not be tolerated. that such fearful power I'M
res ,rained and unguarded should be COM
| mitted to any private man or men, The peo-
- ~, Lyoet