The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1888-02-24


monopoly, without the protection Of un
just discrimination by railways. You
have such a syndicate or trust in the
standard Oil Company. 1t was built
lup by unjust discrimination without
| it, it could never have reached its pres.
ent dimensions, and it is endeavoring
to protract its existence today by un-
Just discrimination. You have also a
cotton seed oiltrust. Why should one
I-person have right to monopolize this
industry? You have sugar trust to-day
being organized all over the country,
representing seventy millions Of dollars,
believe.e. That sugar trust cannot be
formidable unless fhe ,~ilroad COM
panies give it preferential rate over
individual re6ners. Why? Because
the moment it, advances the price Of
sugar that moment, in every city, new
sugar re6nerics will spring into exis-
tence and the independent manufac-
turer will then be able to compete with
the trnst and competition will keep
prices within limit. But ifthe trust
has an advantagein transportation rates.
wnere will the independent re6ner be?
He can do nothing to compete success
fully for the market, and will be crnsh
led ont OF existence.
EwHY AMERICANS DO NOT PROTEST.
/ Mr.. Gowen. They would have a
very good pretext in such a case.
Suppose that in Italy one company
controlled eighty per cent. of the olive
oil, or eighty per cent. Of the silk in
dustry OF the country, or suppose one
man could control the monopoly and
make the price of the bread that is
placed on the table of the poor man in
Europe, how long would any dynasty
lAkist that .prmitted such a msnopoi52
But here we say nothing. Why?
Because the country is so rich We can
afford it, and, for the present at least,
it is easier and cheaper for the injured
person to turn to some other trade or
occupation than to waste his time in
fighting monopolies This is an excep.
tional country, and we are rich enou gh
to stand accumulation of very large
surplus collected in the pockets of our
privileged classes by railway discrimi-
nation. The gross receipts Of the rail.
roads of this country, in round mum
bers, are eight hundred millions Of dol
lars per annum. and | verify and hon
estly believe thus one hundred mi lilo Ms
OF dollars annuity are taken out OF the
pockets Of the peope of this country
by unjust railway discrimination, and
turned over to this privileged class
and this is equal to tax Of two dol
lars per head paid by the people tor
the sake of building up the new aristoc-
racy OF wealth that III this Tree country
arrogate to themselves the position ot
the nobility of the older countries.
Aud who compose this privileged class
aud constitute this new order ot mobility!
Not men OF lntel.ect or genius, or learn.
ing, or even OF honest thrift, or patient
industry? By no means! Cold calcu-
latipg men, who, by open bribery and
naked rascallty, secure the favor OF
railroad officials until they wrlng one
hundred millions OF dollars annually
from the mass of the people and the
overburdened industry Of the country.
These are our privileged classes, these
are the men whose patents of NOBILITY
are inscribed upon the records OF rail-
way eompany-attested by the broad
seal OF the corporation. and counter
signed by general freight agent-and
when people from other lands visit the
country and ask to see our great men
We do not say, This is man of great
intellect and genius and learning, or OF
long descent, of kindly character and
charity; but we say, Behold the new
gods whom We now worship! Behold
him whom the railroads delight to
honor, and the limits OF whose wealth
are only PERMITTED to conjecture!
Nobody can deny the real truth OF
what have said. We cannot close
our eyes to the fact. 1t is almost
automatic, that is impossible in copa.
try like this, when the people arc so
adventurous. where everybody likes,
to hit the man uppermost and enter
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