Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1888-09-27
Sirginia fire. gress.
W. W. B. GALLAHER, Editor.
September 81, 1855.
Blaine on Trusts.
rom the Colrier-JourRGl.

bI VI tlttuu, -hdilOJ Oil bHO ActA Va ~AN
gust, but it was like all the rest, full of
sound and fury, signifying nothing.
The gentleman from Carnegie's Castle
is seen on parade he is going to tear the
Presidents Message and the Mills Bill
and the Democratic party to tatters and
give their remains to the Maine fishermen
for bait, but he is not yet ready. He
contents himself with reciting little Incl
dents of what he saw when abroad, with
sea sickness, rough seas, patriotic emo
tions, and then to crest his voice" as he
would say, he declares the Democrats and
the rebels are running the country.
At Portland, Mr.. Blaine gave utterance
to some views on Trusts, which are at
least worthy of attention.
In their platform, after demanding a
higher tariff to check imports and lessen
competition, the Republicans thought it
well to denounce TRUSTS" Now Mr..
Blaine says:
"TRUsIs ARE LARGELY PRIVATE AF-
FAIRS, WITH WHICH PRESIDENT CLEvE-
LAND NOR ANY PRIVATE CITIZEN HAS
A RIGHT TO INTERFERE"
Trusts are not private affairs in any
sense of the word. They are nourished
by laws of one kind and protected by
laws of another.
American trusts, shielded by the iniqui-
tous tariff from foreign competition, find
it easy to corner the market and levy toll
on American commerce.
Take, for instance, the jute hagging
trust. The tariff practically excludes
foreign competition in jute bagging. A
trust is formed to control the entire
American product, and just as the people
of the South begin to pick cotton the
price is advanced 80 per cent; that means
the American cotton raiser is forced by
this "trust," which, Mr.. Blaine says, is
private affair, to pay millions of blood
money to a syndicate of capitalists in
Boston.
But for the tariff this robbery would
be impossible
No one contends that trusts do not ex-
ist in free trade England no one sup
poses that they would not exist if our
tariff were reduced.
All that is contended for is that foreign
competition is a natural check, ali impor-
tant check, on domestic trusts, and that
if bagging were on the free list foreign
competition would keep down trust prices.
No man in the least familiar with the
course of commerce will for one moment
deny this.
Under a duty of 90 per cent, quinine
in this country was efectually controlled
under a trust, and our people gotno ben
eft from foreign competition, no benefit
from improved facilities of manufacture,
no benefit from new sources of supply.
We were hemmed in; competition was
put under the ban, and the manufacturers
established little protective tariff of
their own.
The trust is a protective tariff applied
to interstate commerce.
The tariff is established to destroy for
eign competition.
The trust is established to destroy do
nestle competition.
The tariff on bagging prevents any
competition between England and Amer
ic; the bagging trust prevents any COM
petition between St. Louis and Louisville.
The philosophy back of the trusts is
the philosophy back of the tariff.
The tariff is imposed to advance prices !;
the trust Is established to advance prices.
Both prey on the consumer.
According to Mr.. Blaine, the President
has no more right to interfere with the
trusts than with the tariff.
But the Constitution gives him the right
to "interfere" just as be has done. 1t i'm
poses on him the duty of calling the at
tention, and through congress of the peo-
pie, to just such monsters as the tariff
and these trusts.
Whence does Mr.. Blaine derive his pc
culiar views concerning trusts
Whence does he learn that trusts are
private affairs ?
From Andrew Carnegie, the head of
the Steel Rail trust, which Is levying a
tax of at least s2OOOO,OOO on the people
of this country in excess of a fair price
for steel rails. The steel raj. product Of