The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1888-05-24
NEEDS OF THE NATION.
WEALTH-SEEKE ROB BIN G.
THE POOR BY LAW.
The Creation of Monopolies a Method
of Getting Rich by Aid of the Law
Correction Needed.
ARTICLE TX.


ARTICLE TX.
A few reflections on the tendency
of the times will not be out of place
in connection with these observations
on tariff taxation. No man of a
thoughtful turn can witness the daily
course of legislation, both State and
Federal, without recurrence of these
reflections, and they will be of rather
melancholy nature il he sees things as
they appear to me. The haste to get
rich prevades every movement of So
sciety, and in so far as this desire in
wolves fair and square contest of in
dividual genius and energy it is not
only legitimate, but highly commend
able. Ont of such things grow wealth
and prosperity, and all of which civil
ization is capable. But when these
riches are sought to be obtained by
wrestling the laws to the service of one
man or combination of men, by means
of which another man or set of men is
placed in the power of the first, who
plunder them at pleasure, this same
laudable desire becomes, by its meth
ods and results, crime against socie-
ty. 1t deprives one portion of the
people of the equal protection of the
laws renders 1t more possible for
them to maintain the struggle for
their tair share of the public prosper
ity, and converts a government of
freedom and equality into a despica-
bic tyranny. No man can deny that
such an inter ference, whereby the law
takes sides between its citizens in
what should be an equal contest, is
inevitably followed by such results.
The manufacturers of our country
furnish an indisputable illustration OF
this getting rich by legislation. I
have already dwelt sufficiently on the
methods by which they have hereto
fore thriven under tariff duties, with
all of its inseparable evils an injustice
to others, and have also endeavored to
show how absurd and sophistical were
their arguments, even when the pre-
text and cover for these duties was
revenue for the government. Flinlsy
and unsubstantial as that veil was, it
is now gone. The revenue is now many
many millions in excess of the expen-
ditnre. Every possible expedient has
been resorted to for keeping that ex
cess down; extravagant appropaia-
tions, refunding of direct taxes, pen
sions without limii, the payment of
the due debt bearing three per cent.
interest, with money which was worth
six per cent to the people from whom
it was collected, and even reaching
forward and paying the debt not yet
due with premium of % per cent.
thereon, and still the execees over
the needs of the government is gain
ing. Yet the manufacturers and
their advocates in Congress refuse
to reduce tariff duties. Having OBJ
tanned an advantage over some forty
or fifty millions Of their countrymen
by the pretext of public revenue, they
propose to continue it after the pro-
text has long since disappeared. They
say, "Spend it, divide it among the
States, take it off those foreign pre-
ducts which do not compete with any
thing made by us, remove the direct
taxes, do anything rather than take
from US this advantage over our fel-
low-citizens, and compel US to fight an
equal fight, and scratch as other peo-
pie scratch!
What does little tc4 much in the
treasury matter? Our revenue is not
too large. We can spend it ALL Ii
you reduce the duties to only what the
government needs what will become
of us, who for hundred years have
been supported by taxation ?'
Another method of getting rich by
the aid Of Law is the creation of mo-
popolies. Monopolies are created
either by law or by combinations
which are made possible by the law
They also exist sometimes by force O.
circumstances. These monopolies
generally assume the shape of corpc
rations chartered by legislation, State
or federal. 1t is true that there is NJ
set limit to these charters. In theory
if one railroad company is incorporat
ed, another may be between the sam.
points. So OF banks and all othe
business associations. In good polio,
they should always be multiplied, fo
the greater the number the less th'
monopoly but in fact many corpora
tions become sufficiently powerful t
prevent the establishment of their ri
walls. Even where the Legislature
true to its duty and charters eEoug
companies to give the people the bene
fit of competition, they combine anon
themselves and become to all intent
and purposes monopoly In thi
form they are more dangerous tina
when acting singly, for their power t
influence legislation is So much great
er. Not only so, but being united i
interest and under such simple exec
ptiye management, they can easil
destroy all competition by the weigt
of their combined capital alone, with
out regard to legislation. All the
ask of the law is to be made body
politio, by which number of persor
can act with the efficiency and COZ
venience of single man, and that tt
law thould the. stand off. The mt
nopoly follows as a matter of cours
and individuals, communities. State
and entire regions of country are plul
dered with absolute impunitY. In th
gay the most powerful and benefci,
agent Of modern progress is conyerte
into an engine of oppression, withol
CONSCIENCE aud without responsibilit
For it must be adniitted that no co