National Republican., 1886-01-09
Dr. Crosby wrIles 4 bout Grent Torlnne.

DR.. Crosby Writes About Great Fortune,
To THE EDITOR OF THE New YORK SUS--
Sir You quoted lately passage from an ar
ticle OF mine on ovcrwealth, and Invited mo
to explain my Views. They are simply
these:
/. Dangers to the peace and prosperity
OF the country must lie guarded against by
the government and laws.
2. Men and corporations, so large pecu-
niarly as to be able to buy up legislatures,
are danger to the peace and prosperity OF
the country.
.. The acquisition aud holding OF such
wealth should be carefully hedged about by
wise legislation.
There is my syllogism. Now let me add
q few notes!
I. A large part Of the enormous wealth
OF individuals aud corporations Is made by
lying, stealing, and oppression. The run.
ming up and down Of stocks, what Is known
as "bulling aud bearing" is practical lying,
and has nothing TO do with real values.
Credit Mubiier schemes, by which directors
rob stockholders to enrich themselves, are
common methods of expressing the poor,
who have been fooled into putting their
little all into stock.
2. The rich man is protected by law, and
whatw lth preferred creditors and property
held in HIS wfc's name aud n hundred
other devices, he fails and Is as rich as ever.
The poor man Is thrown out OF employment,
and has nothing to fall back on. lie can
lc TUNED out at moments notice, and
has no redress.
3. We need legislation that will defend
the poor, @. g., making q months notice
necessary before discharging hand, pay
ing him by the year as a sllaried man, aud
giving him n proportional interest In the
concern.
4. We need legislation that viii make the
man, as he grows richer, to bear more OF
the public burdens. The graduated ncomc
tax would be the most equitable. II that
he lmpractic0hle, as many hold, then let
the nearest practicable plan be adopted, 50
that with us, as IN ancient Athens, tho rich
shall bear the chief burdens OF the state.
8. We need legislation to restrict ths
power Of corporations, forbiddlng and pre-
venting gifts direct or indirect, all water
ing, all use Of franchises without full pay.
ment Of value to the state, all interest OF
directors In side schemes Of parasitic ma
ture, all secrecy Of operation, all combina-
tion with other corporations, and all ex-
orbitant dividends at the cost Of the public.
o. With such legislation there need be no
Limitation OF property. Justice, equal to
all, Will give trade and acquisition natural
health, which is now denied by partial
legislation IN favor of the rich and of great
corporations. With such legislation prop
erty will be naturally limited, and there
will be no place for discomfort or socialism.
a. If we saw man a mile high stalking
over this way from the west, and discov-
cred that he had already trampled eight or
ten towns into nothingness, we should feel
called upon to take measures to suppress
him before he could put his big foot on the
Sun building aud blot out its light forever.
He would be a danger which we should be
justified In preparing against Our great
corporations are very much like this giant.
They crush thousands where they tread.
They hire journals, courts, and legislatures,
and have everything their own way. IL is
for the people Of our land so to curb this
power that II may be only useful and not
harmful. II this be socialism, am n So
ciallst. HOWARD CROSBY.