Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1886-02-16
MISCELLANEOUS.
Monopoly VS.. Democracy.

To one grounded in the faith of the
Fathers of the bill of rights, and the L.
S. constitution, the discussion of the
question of special privileges is next
to superfuous. But . somehow, or
other" during the late war, party
standing became confused, and an
old Democrat now feels like Tiberius,
who apologized to :tn Roman Senate
for using the Greek word monopoly.
There is no conformity between
monopoly and Democracy. The two
words are directly antagonistic in
significance. Democracy teaches
and ought to always practice what
ever is for the public good; that is,
the greatest good to the greatest
number of the states citizens. Mo-
nopoly on the contrary always is
based on the greatest good TO the
forrest number, and pre-assumes that
special privileges are interviewer with
and part of the things to be accom-
plished; SO there is direct antago-
nism between the two principles
such a want of harmony as to pre-
vent the two principles from existing
in the same body, or in the same per-
son, which if true, makes it incon-
gruous for Democrat to be mo-
nopolist, either in the aggregate, or
in the concrete, either in a public ca
pacity, or. in private relation
Having thus defined my understand
ing of the relative meaning of the
terms used. l viii! attempt TO elabo-
rate the subject, as applicable to our
American institutions. The first thing
a Democrat has to consider in assum-
ing public relation { l do not propose
to discuss the private bearing which
the subject involves between individ-
uals) is to enquire: How will the
question affect the public weaI-is
the measure calculated to benefit the
masses, or is it TO benefit few. If
the former, then it is a Democratic
measure, but if it is scheme by
which an individual, or n company of
individuals, called n corporation, or a
class engaged in legitimate enter
prizes; but not content with legiti-
mate results, or profits, or dividends,
then it is n monopolizing enterprise.
and anti-Democratic, and it's adyo-
Gates, either in public or private, are
not Democrats, no matter what name
they 60 by, or in what ship they sail.
All tariffs that collect greater per
cent. of duty than is necessary to adj
NIT imports upon a competitive ba-
sis with the same articles of a do
mestic product, are monopolies. and
unworthy of the advocacy of Dem
ocratic Representative. because the
consumer is entitled to buy what he
needs wherever it can be bought
Neither government nor chartered
corporations have a right to interfere
with the legitimate consumers indi-
vidual, inherent rights: in fact, it is
a principle embodied in the free con-
stitution of an independent cit
iZen under our form of Govern
ment, and any restraint by way OF
hinderance is 2 departure from the
idea of Republican sovereignty, and
predjudicial to the public good
Protective tariffs are in everything
operative, whether direct or reflex. for
the protection of Injustice. for it f. a
mere excuse for the home producer
to add 20 1is product the duty levied
on the same class of production i'm
ported. 1t is not really to make the
home producer compc5s With the for