Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1886-10-13

power, with its vast rami6cation all over
the Onion, and 4 hard grip on much Of
the.political machinery, on the one hand,
and the people in an unorganized condi-
ton on the other for control of the gov
eminent. It 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 a
republican form of government, is, how
shall these conflicting forces be reconciled,
and how shall each be educated, controll-
ed and constrained to recognize the rights
of the other? How shall the govern
ments meet the questions so that neither
the rich nor the poor shall be treated
unjustly, and 80 that neither liberty nor
civilization shall suffer, nor constitutional
rights be oyer-ridden?
In q monarchy, perhaps, a few thou
sand bayonets or muskets would settle
the question, but 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 ofnumbers
or wealth overrides the rights of any
other class, a blow is struck at freedom
which will tell on after generations.
wEALTH's SHARE TOO GREAT.
These social and political problems are
as important as have ever engaged the
attention of any people. In their pres
ence it would be imbecile cowardice to
exhume the mummies and petrifactions
of past political eras which have been
long since buried. The handwriting on
the wall is clear, and any lover of his
rae must rejoice in the fact that such
laws must be enacted as will make i'm
possible the accumulation of wealth in
such dangerous amounts in the hands of
any one. While it is the pride and
glory of u country that personal lib
,erty, personal security and private prop
erty are sacred and inviolable and must
be fearlessly guarded against all attacks,
on the other hand the rights Of indus
try 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.
I have no hesitation in saying, and it
has been my view for many years, that
wealth has bad an unequal and too great
a share of the profits. The many dis
honest shifts and articles resorted to by
stock,jobbing, stock.watering, ETC., as
means to this end, should be declared by
law to be a criminal. And "protection,''
so called, which compels the poor to con-
tribute to the princely fortunes of the
rich, should be abandoned as political
heresy, as should the granting Of subsi-
dies and bonuses of all kinds at the ex-
pense of one person or class for the ben
eft of another.
ANARCHY AND HONEST LABOR
are as Numerically opposed as right and
wrong; the former must be denounced
and punished, the latter protected and
honestly and literally rewarded. The
greatest inducements must be held out to
honest, intelligent exertion. AS each
man lows 80 shall he reap. I believe,
and always have, in the democratic doc
trine of equal rights to all, special privi-
leges to none. But as wealth is power,
legislators should see to it that such laws
are enacted as will surely protect the
poor and more helpless classes against
rapacious avarice. Just how this shall
be done is a question that no man seems
at present to have settled in his mind.
But undoubtedly some scheme will be
enacted by humane lawmakers who
honestly sympathize with their race and
are ready to labor for its elevation. The
suggestion of the president in his spe-
cial message of a department or com
mission of labor, seems, as far as it goes,
to be wise. The democratic party in
congress, under the lead of the presi-
dent, has taken a stand on the question
from which there is no danger that it will
go back. The committee on labor ap.
pointed by the house did much to furnish
such data as will make beneficent legisla-
ton not only possible but probable. And
the democratic house presented and sue.
cessfully carried through the bill to
prohibit the importation of contract
labor. The language of
OLIVER CROMWELL
to the British parliament is demo-
cratic doctrine. He said: eff there
be any law which tends to make a
few rich and many poor, that suits
not a commonwealth" But I would
not do justice to myself if I init
mated that this sentiment is not
heartily responded to by the masses
Of the republican party also. It mnst
be admitted that there are many
heartless men-that the accumulation
of wealth tends to dry up the better
sylnpathies of many-'that mans
%inhumanity to man makes countless
thousands mourn" But the man
would do injustice TO his a c who
Wonld intimate that among all classes
whether rich OF poor, broad, gener-
Gus and hearty sympathy is not often
f0nnd 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 I have
by no meanslreferred to all the men
aces of accumulated capital. In the
control of the railroad property of this
country a few private individuals,
responsible to no one but their i'm.
mediate constituency and subject to
no supervision and looking solely
to their own interest, yearly collect
from the people not less than $780,
100000. To no men or body of men
is it safe to commit such a power. The
mere statement of the proposition to
any thoughtful man shows the neces-
sity for government supervision and
control. 1t matters not whether they
are honest or dishonest. No man.
when his own interest is at stake
should be trusted with such power.
Not only do they levy and collect
this tribute, but a few men sitting
in their offices in Chicago or some
other city may by even a slight dis.
elimination in rates, affect most dis
astrously the interests of every local.
ity, business and business man in
this land.
A SLIGHT DISCRIMINATION
against any person, place or business il
| destruction. It cannot be expected, il
should not be tolerated, that such fearful
power unrestrained and unguarded should
be committed to any private man or men.
| The people of the west have exceptional
interests in this question. On this ques'
ton, too, the democratic party has taken
advanced ornund Nv l;m;tod 4;me