The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1886-04-15


corporate kings this day exists.
These great arteries of trade, if once
controlled in their methods and curbed
In their combinations, may be made what
they were intended to be, a source of hon
est profit to their owners, and blessing
to all the people. Let them remain un-
checked in their power and exactions, and |
like the many headed red dragon in the |
apocalypse, they will forever rule this |
state with their rods of iron, and stand |
ready to devour the fruits of honest labor.
1t concerns, therefore, every citizen of |
Texas that the railway shall feel in all its
operations, the ever present power of the
state, and be subject to its control.
THE CORPORATION.
The corporation in its very nature is a
device, whereby the providence of Deity,
which limits human control to the dura-
ton of human life, is arraigned and 6efied.
1t is commissioned-an artificial creation
to move among men with resistless power
-soulless, bloodless, and devoid of human
sympathy as its iron rails. Its morality
is the morality of expediency, for it feels
not, neither can it die, like the
creatures must who voted 1t into
being. 1t is moved by unseen masters
who command it to collect from the
people "all that the trade will bear" and
who, being honorable men, carefully dis
tinguish between their morality and the
morality of the company. 1t knows no
duty except to increase its gains, and COM
pels the very citizens who should control
it to mould public opinion in its favor, as
you may see by the congratulatory tele-
grams to Mr.. Hoxie, on March 49, from
merchants at points so far removed on the
same day, and with language so Identical,
as to show common paternity at some
headquarter office. Implicit obedience is
the price of its favor, and whether cor
rupting congress with its credit mobllier,
pocketing the twelfth Legislature of Texas,
or endeavoring to turn the sluices of the
press against all who expose its methods,
it still remains wonderful power, either
to confer public blessings or corrupt and
control states, according as it is governed
in its charges and methods, or let alone.
LEGISLATION TO CHECK MONOPOLY.
We must retrace our steps and begin to
marrow the chasm dug by partial laws or
we will soon have no rights left worth pre-
serving. While existing rights, acquired
even under pernicous laws, must be up
held, new departure must be made for
the future. Every acre of land granted
y as subsidy, by national or state govern
ment, which has not been fairly earned in
the time prescribed, should be promptly
!, reclaimed and kept for the people. Land
corporations should be abolished, after
y proper notice to settle with the world, and
: divide their properties. The resistless
wave of emigration which beats against
the usurped domain of corporate power
must find entrance or 1t Will turf
u back upon social order to poster 1t
The punishment of bribery, tina
= convenient tool of corporate power
with acknowledgements, should be en-
I, forced. Unjust determinations and re
u bates that make or break towns ant
) tradesmen, should be visited with suddel
u punishment. Gambling in the necessa
u ries of life with capital, whether corpo
~ rate or individual, and the making o
y pools and corners to set at naught tn
q natural laws of trade, should be punishe
y as a conspiracy against the people, and
70 felon's garb should be placed on any OIL
n cial of a corporation who speculates in II
~ securities. The patent laws under whos
influence monopolies have develops
II should be so revised as to leave prop
l. stimulus to invention, without constltutln
"a the discoverer the owner of the forces
u nature he was inspired to reveal.
u 90 further, and say that since one co
~ porate power has become the nations
. mail carrier for Texas, and the telegrar
wires in this state are said to be owne
g, and controlled by the head of that corp
III rate power it is high time to begin
t. think seriously whether we ca
H. afford postal telegraph owned and CO.
es trolled by the government, unless we \
SO tend that all our communications WI
~ Washington shall depend on that gent
OF mans caprice. That he does not contr
J! absolutely the whole postoffice system t.
&C. day. as we'll as the telegraph, is not
e. fault. for he testified before the sena
Ic labor commission on September 9th, loe
SO in these words; II think it would be be
10 ter to-day if they would take the postofii
- and have it run as an individual prlVa
y. institution"
~ SECURITY IN TEXAS.
l. No matter what may be the outcon
- of impending danger elsewhere, Texas CT
49, and will take care of herself alike again
II. those who would assassinate free COVER
I1 ment with violence, and the more lnslc
III Gus assaults of financial power.
US The spirit of true democracy viii
l l,H alone looks to the general welfare, mt
.vn inspire all reforms. The farmers
leh whose labor, all other people are pensio
De- ers, must come to the front and asse
10 their power. Unless they do this al
lyss q, vern the primary meetings in which
osC people's voice shonld be heard their VI
lze power for good will never be felt, a
+ al YOUR legislation for favored classes W
d never be changed. Let the true iaWy
as; who in all ages has been first to lead
'rai civil reforms, the tradesman, who 10y
'o.c his state more than he fears railroads. a
S II the farmer, who sustains all, preserve
OF machinery of the grand old democra
ely ship from the tinkering of ring maste
pa pa. and nail to the mast a flag inscribed W
~ ~ we'll defined principles and policies; !,
the then, though she may lose some OF
cen crew, she will have still enough to w
low her. Put her head to the storm ana .
ose her lee-room, and she will swing prou
to her work, as she breasts alike
rDi- waves of communism and OF corPor
ent- mover, and will ride safely through
DOT storm, until rational liberty, resc
10 from violence, and secured by equal ID
ntll shall cheer and bless the world.