The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1888-08-24
Blaine the rpOIOgist of Trusts.


True to his uniform record as the
champion of monopoly in all It's forms,
Mr.. Blaine has come out boldly as an
apolOgist of the numerous trusts that
have been organized in this land TO
corner the supplies of necessaries
nf living. Speaking at Port
land last week this statesman. WHO
is so cocksure Of everything, said he
could not tell whether the trusts are
altogether advantageous or disadvan-
tAgeous.'' This is the first time that
Mr.. Blaine has ever confessed his falli-
bliity on aDy public question. He seem
sd To incline however to the opinion
that Trusts are advantageous" institu-
tions, and so they are-to The monopo-
lists and bounty y-mongers of whom he is
the faithful champion. Becoming en-
bOldened in his speech IN defense OF the
Trusts, he said: They are largely pri-
vate affairs ~ith which neither the
President or any other private citizen
has any right TO interfere
President Cleveland is not a private
citizen (nor is he likely to become a pri-
vate citizen until the 4th of March,
1892, and II was therefore his solemn
duty. = the chosen Chief Magistrate of
the Nation, to give official warning of
the dangers that threaten the people in
the Trust monopolies that have been
created by the tariff. He could not do
less without violating his constitutional
obligation to recommend to Congress
-'such measures as he shall judge neces-
sary and expedient." But Mr.. Blaine
says this is none OF his business.
Hon. John Sherman has introduced
a bill to restrain the trusts. and the Re
publican members OF the House have
introduced like measures bat Mr..
Blaine, who cannot venture to say
whether this form OF monopoly is ad-
vantageous or disadvantageous," tells
the representatives OF the people that
they have mo right TO interfere
For months the Republican organs in
all quarters of the land, in language
more or less emphatic than that of John
Sherman, have denounced the sugar
trust as lone of the most dangerous and
wrongful mOnopolies ever created in
this country" They insist that this
sugar trust owes its very existence 20
the tariff and, in order TO destroy the
monopoly, they demand that the SIS,
0O0, 900 OF fiscal revenue from raw sugar
shall be abolished. But Mr.. Blaine re-
Dukes the party organs by telling them
that this trust sis private affair with
which they have no right TO interfere
As the tool of mOnopOlies who has be-
come rich by their favors Mr.. Blaine
was bound, of course. to stand up in
their defense. He could not DO other
wise without offending the Carnegles
aud all the rest of the beneiciaries OF
the tariff-fed trusts which are eating up
the substance of the American people.
We can imagine the last words of An
drew Carnegie, when they parted in
Scotland Don't fail TO stand up for
the Bessemer Steel Combination and
our Structural Iron Ring, out Of which
l am able by hard labor 10 realize only
81, 10000 year. These are only pri-
vate affairs with which neither PIesi-
dent Cleveland nor any private citizen
has right to interfere and, therefore,
don't let the Republicans of the Senate
meddle with chem. in imitation of the
Democrats of ths House,
Mr.. Blaine has tperformed his task
with great deal of fidelity; but he
gives rather too loose rein to a certain
habit which seems 10 have grown TO be
constitutional with him when he asserts
that "Engla nd is literally plastered
over, under her system of free trade,
with trusts" Are there in England
Bessemer steel trusts, lumber trusts,
salt trusts, lead trusts, rubber trusts,
linseed oil trusts and other Rings to
control supplies and prices of the ne
cessaIies OF living AS soon as such
combinations should arise in England
Mr.. Blaine knows that competing pro
ducts would pour in to redress the
balance in favor of consumers and he
knows, too, that every one OF these
American trusts and a score besides
would perish with the removal of the
protective" features ofth tariff. For
this reason he champions the trusts, and
lnsolently asserts that these greedy
Tarih-fed MonOpolies are private af-
fairs" with which neither the President
nor Congress has any right TO interfere.
Mr. Bia!ne's first campaign effort in
behalf of the Tariff engendered trusts
can hardly be regarded as a success by
his warmest admirers. When he shall
next speak on this subject he may poss-
IDLY be able TO say whether, IN his opin-
ion, thest monoplies are advantage
Gus or disadyantageous'' to the public,
As we'll as to their possessors.-PhiIa.
Record.