Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1888-12-05
4AsCHAPTER, on TRUSTS.
Pointing Out the Manner in Which Mo-
nopolies Rob the Public.

nOp0l1e6 ROT the 4 n bic.
We'd iscover that the fortunes realized by our
manufacturers are no longer solely by reward of
sturdy industry and enlightened foresight, but
that they result from the discriminating favor of
the government and are largely built upon undue
exactton from the masses of our people. The
gulf between employers and the employed is
constantly widening and classes are rapidly
formiQg-one comprising the very rich and DOW.
erful, while in another. are found the toiling
poor.
capital we discover the existence of trusts, COM
binat10ns and mOnopolies, while the citizen il
struggling far in the rear or Is trampled to
death beneath iron heel Corporations
which should be the carefully restrained Great
OF the law and the servants of the people are
fast becoming the peoples masters.
Still cOngratulatlng ourselves upon the wealth
and prosperity OF our country and complacently
contem plating every incident OF change insep-
arabic from these conditions, IT. is our duty as
patriotic citizens to inquire at the present stage
OF our progress how the bond OF the government
MADE with the people has been kept and per-
formed. Instead of limiting the tribute drawn
from citizens to the necessities of its econoE,
zeal administration, the government persists in
exacting from the substance of the people mill
lens which rnapplled and useless lie dormant
in its treasury. This fragrant injustice and this
breach OF faith. and obligation add to extortion
the danger attending the diversion of the cur
rency OF the country from the Legitimate chan
nels of business.
Under the same laws by which these results
are produced, the government permits many
| "
ing of our people and to be taken from. orr con-
sumers which unreasonably swell the profits of
small but powerful minority. The people must
still be taxed for the support of the government
under the operation of tariff laws, out to the ex-
tent that the mass ofour citizens is anordina ely
burdened beyond any useful public purpose and
fer the benefit of favored few. The govern
ment under pretext Of an exercise of its taxing
power, enters gratuitously into partnership
with these favorites to their advantage and to
the injury of & vast majority of our people
This is not equality before the law HE exist
ing situation Is injurious to the health OF our
entire body polite 1t stiles in those all
patriotic love of country and substitutes in it's
place selfish greed and grasping avarice. Dero-
ton to American citizenship for it's own az ke
and for what 1t should accomplish, as O motive
to our nations advancement and the happiness
of all our people. is displaced by the assumption
that the government instead of being the en-
bodiment OF equality, is but an fundamentally
through which especial asd individual sd
vantages are to be gained
The arrogance of this assumption is uncon-
cealed. 1t appears In the sofdid disregard of al
but personal interests; in the refusal to abate ior
the benefit of others one iota of selfish advantage
and in combinations to perpetUate such advant-
ages through efforts to control legislation and
Improperly influence the SURFACES of the people
he grievance OF those not included within the
circle of these benefciaries when fully realized,
VIII surely arouse irritation and discomfort
Our farmerG. long suffering and patiently strug-
Cling in the race of life with the hardest and
most unremftting toll will not fail to in spite
of misrepresentation and misleading fallacies
that they obliged to accept such prices for
their products as are fixed In foreign markets
where they compete with the farmers of the
world; that their lands declining in value
while their debts increase, and that without
cempentating favor they are forced by the ac-
ton of the government to pay, for the Benefit Of
Others, such enhanced prices for the things they
need that the scanty returns of their labor fail to
furnish their support or leave margin for &C.
cumulation.
Our workingDaen, enfranchised from all delu-
sions and no longer frightened by the cry that
their wages are endangered by just revision of
our tariff laws, VIII reasonably demand through
such revision Eteadier employment, cheaper
themselves and their children from the doom of
perpetual s.rvitude and open door to tleir
advancement beyond the limits OF q laboring
class Others of our citizens whose comforts and
expenditures are measured by moderate salaries
and fixed incomes will insist upon the fairness
and justice of cheaQeHing the cost of necessaries
for themselves and their families.
When to the selfshness Of benefciaries of un-
lust DETERMINATION under our laws there shall