The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-03-05
DANGER AHEAD.
The Threatened Vortex of Governmental Con
troll of All the Purposes Of Business.

trOl OF All the purposes OF DuSIueSS.
81. @. Fulton. in March Century.
10 the November Century appears an able
article by DR.. Lyman Abbott, entitled Danger
Ahead, in which, in the main, there is the best
of argument; but the author shows an evident
misconception of the province of government.
At the close, in writing of government control OF
the telegraph, he says: Government in England
can conduct a great telegraphic enterprise. 1t
government in America cannot, it is time that
we found out the reason why In relation to
lister and control a great waterway, why not a
great highwayl" Again, in contrasting the
Union Pacific railway with the English India
railway. he asks: sIf England can do this make
2 per cent. profit in India, why cannot we do it
in American Without at the present disputing
the conclusion DIR. Abbott would have US reach.
we ask, what Of it,
If government in America cannot manufacture
a purer and better article of b~aking-powder, to
enable the people to eat more wholesome bread,
it is time that we found out the reason why. If
we can own and control great penltentiaries for
the accommodation of the lawless, why not great
hotels for the accommodation of the law abidlngY
III great manufacturing establishments can make
money out of patented inventions, why should
not government go into the same line of bust
nesss Are these three questions absurd2 Yes.
But no more so in principle than the questions
of DR.. Abbott. Why absurd? Because all these
things are beyond the province-o of government.
We are very liable to oe misled by unauthor-
lied acts OF government. and to suppose them
right and done by authority; and when we have
taken unauthorized acts as a basis of action, we
are most certain to run into great error. The
government was established solely for the pro.
lection of the people. Its departments were or
ganized for this purpose only. For the protec-
ton of life, liberty and property. Our funda-
mental law makes the government a protector,
not a guardian. 1t is not for government to as
sumo the functions of the individual, and en-
gage in pursuits other than those necessary for
this protection. What the people can do for
themselves it is not necessary for the govern
ment to do for them; for it would be use.
less TO form a government for the doing of
what could be done before 1t was formed.
Because, perchance, the government can carry
on some work better than an individual, is no
reason it should do so; for by so doing it becomes
a dictator. If government would give full and
complete protection to the people IN their persons
and property, and allow them to develop the
country and manage their own enterprises,
many of the dangers ahead" would be avoided.
A strong government IS a necessity, but
complex departments, necessitating an army of
officers, and built upon the false idea that a gov
eminent is a huge organization for business, de-
bases politics, substitutes the desire for Office in
place of the desire for the welfare of the Nation,
and thus leads to that corruption of which we
have had glazing examples, and which may work
great injury. This is a danger ahead" which
it is we'll for us to guard against.
The opening up of new portions of the coun-
try 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 ex-
cepting by calling for. and inducing the Old
World to unload its surplus, and oftentimes
iawless, population upon US, leads to the growth
of socialism. If socialism is a danger ahead, "
the government may take part of the blame for
not leaving the law Of increase and progress to
work out it's 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 immi-
grafton, has made it necessary to call upon gov
eminent to do that which was not contemplated
by our organic law. and which cannot properly
be considered a duty of government. And this
has led to inviting danger ahead, by indiscrim-
inatelv opening our doors to the world, and
drawing to US the lowest disturbing elements of
Europe, and placing the ballot in the hands of
those absolutely unfit to govern themselves, and
much less fitted to have a voice in the govern
ment of others. By this process We have not
strengthened our government. A country may
grow beyond its strength. Material may be
gained which adds tosthe growth. but Injuries the
stability. When government keeps within the
line of its duty AID protects the people while
they build such avenues of communication, open
up such sections Of the land and engage in such
other enterprises as they may deem proper and
required by the natural growth of the c~ountrys
there will be found less danger ahead" than
when the government assumes the functions of a
gigantic moneyed corporation, engagesinlal. sorts
of business and comes into competition with pri-
vate enterprise. The question is, not what gov
eminent can do, but what government may do,
consistent with the purposes for which it was
established.