The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1886-10-28

racy, in its platform, solemnly declared: "rhe
democratic party is the friend Of labor and the Ia
boring man. and pledges itself to protect him alike
against the cormOrant and the commune. That
pledge if patience shall have her perfect way, will
vet be redeemed, and il the national democracy
cannot afford that protection, no other party can
All along the line of its progress for
nearly hundred years II hss shown its sympathy
tor the millions WHO on n manual labor; In
1868, in national convention, 1t declared: This
convention SympatuiZs Cordially with the working
of the United States in their efforts to protect
the rights and interests of the workngmen of the
country" In 1884 the same national democracy
declared that it favored sail legislation that would
tend to the equal distribution of property to the
prevention of monopolies, and the strict enforce
ment of individual rights against corporate
abuses
DEEPENING THE GULF
How rapidly financial power has been centralized
in the hands of a Few under perncious laws passed
in defiance of the constitution, which was de-
signed to confer equal benettson all men, and ex-
elusive benefits on none, may be understood when
we see five men, presidents and owners OF railways,
welding and directing over three thousand mil,
lions of value invested in roads which belt and
chequer the continent. You may search the pages
of history in vain for accumulation of fortunes like
theirs. Take that period in Roman history when
a prO-consu loaded himself with the spolls OF
plundered province, and was protected by a cor
rupt senate ;-eXamine that worse period in French
history, when an oppressed people tolled TO sus'
tain the favorites of corrupt court or that era
in British conquest when the wealth of India was
taken from timid race to fill the Golfers of the
East india corporation, and we find no parallel to
the colossal fortunes alnassed in a few yeaIs in
this country under the operation of federal boun-
ties and OF partial laws.
Entrenched in power, the American senate has
now become the citadel of their strength, where
eighteen millionalres sit who were lately presi
dents of railways and of mines, or attorneys for
gient corporations. Becks bill, to preclude them
from accepting fees from rail roads, to represent
them in the courts while m -mbers OF the senate,
fell still-born thier listening ears.
Would these senators have ever been elected by
a direct vote of the people! 1t may seem harsh 10
suspect that they the fruits of legislative lob
bying, but their presence there, in government
like ours, is most unatural
THE REMEDIES.
What is the remedy for the concentration of po-
lica power at the federal capital and the concen-
traton OF financial power in the hands of the few
The first step is TO return to the doctrine of strictly
constituting the federal constitution, and this Will
never occur until the south and great west make a
square fight with the North Atlantic states on the
protective policy.
The senate is fast becoming the stronghold for
corporate power, and a few more millionaire rail
road presidents there would block all efforts at dem
ocratic reform. constitutional change which will
destroy the power ofegisatiye Hobbies and make the
federal senator be elected by the people, Will soon
be demanded as a necessary reform.
The laws of forced helrship. which Will compel
the division of estates among all mans children
should be re-enacted. The remedy of forfeiture
for the misuse, or abuse of charter, is always in
the hands of the peope-but no one wishes a re
sort to so radical a remedy Specializing in cor
porate stocks and securities by those entrusted VIII
corporate management should be made felony
so, also, should gambling in the fruits of the earth
by those who do not own them, and who thus fix al
the bidding Of the longest purse the low prices C. o.
our crops. No rights can rest in defiance of the
constitution, and every contract OF purchase, by
which parallel or competing lines OF road IN leNaS
have passed under one control, should be annuled
and the penalties of the law for future violations
should be directed not only against the offending
corporation, but against the offending agent.
Upon both national and state governments rests
the duty of more intelligent control of railways
not in spirit of oppression, but control ina
would secure liberal returns on values fairly In
vested in them and dollar of dividend on wate
bonds; thus and thus only can the water Dt
squeezed out of them. This can never he done I'm
til agents of the state well selected and we'll paid
are created to stand between the roads and TN
people, and fix and change, as occasion may re
duire their changes, maximum ratio alone
which permits the roads to iuctuate their charge
under it at pleasure, means continuance OF IN
power to Cypress. The hand OF the government
both state and national. and not the hand of tn
company AGENT must control the sliding seal
charges, or there is no security for commerce, o
freedom from oppression.
And now say to you, mark we'll the candidate
whose time is spent in showing the advantages o
railroads, which all understand, and who advise
no remedy for their lawless methods
more deeply concerns us and our chlldre
that we shall control in due bounds tn
Incorporated capital already here than tina
we should do nothing but increase it until IL DE
comes too strong for control. From the mer
politician reforms will come unless inspired D
the people, who are now searching for remedle
far in advance of those who assume to lead then
The political pool is almost as dangerous to goo
government as the financial pool, and II there
any one thing which should cause the America
people to draw close to their president ana susta
him it is the noble stand he has taken to pnrlt
the civil service and break the power or omcli
pools by stopping the lips of their official retainer
We had reached the point when private CUE
who aspres Office, and who was not initiate
into the family of the official pool was regarded
an upstart and an intruder
STRIKES.
In government like ours the peop
must govern through the ballot al
neither man nor prope' ty can be secure, nor CT
civil freedom be preserved when wrongs are I
dressed by violence intimidation. The san
law that protects railroad or millionaire Is U
only sure protection for the cottage OF the huf
blest laborer. Organizations for improvement
for mutual protection, for advancement In know
edge of government and for social elevation, a
all commendabe: but when their members SEE
political reform in the interest of labor and
man they will find the only sure road in uphol
ing the principles and securing the success OF u
national democracy. Let us go, my friends, y
once more to the breach, and instead OF aDando
ing the democratic party, sustain it now, and purl
it hereafter, by discarding the leaders who may D
tray it,"
of wide spread anarchy. lofder MANHOOD
daWninp llpon our people who are all fast learnlI
anew that old lesson of l776, that the preservauI
OF freedom from tyranny, whether lndlVldual
financial, is more precious to man than the me
splendid government can be, though adorned WI
ali the lustre of royalty and wealth, Our Anne
lean citizenship, emancpated from the tetters Tn
now bind our commerce. control our le@lslauo
and retard individual prosperity, will soon asse
triumphantly in all these states its manhood az
ballot box Then, when this government In all
departments shall be administered under lhe
spiration OF true Jeffersonan democracy, II W
feel like an electric shock, the impulse OF nj
and nober progress.