The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1889-10-16
Republican Communism.
Republicans who are not vac

Republicans who are not vacci-
mated with communism or even
socialism will do well TO think a
little about the end of the Journey
on which the protecrionists are
leading them. TO the philosophic
mind it is perfectly plain that pro-
testionism is socialism unless it is
what is Intimately worse eommu-
nism, for it is a taking away from
one man and giving 10 another
man in a theoretical effort TO level
financial inequalities, which, because
it is utterly contradictory to all
natural law, has precisely the OPP
posite effect and makes tho distinc-
tion between the rich and the poor
moro distressingIy apparent The
very able address of Judge Grinnell,
who prosecuted the Chicago COM
munists. on the socialism of protecz
ton deserves wide and careful read
ing. But these charges Of COM
munistic or at least socialistic tend
encies, come from the anti-protec-
tionists, and will not make much
impression on the thorough going
Republicans. We therefoee call
their attention to an editorial in the
American Economist, the organ of
the Protective Tariff League, for
September %. For some time past
the New York Tribune has been do
nouncing trusts, and for this the
American Economist has been de-
nouncing the Tribune. On Septcm-
Der. % the Tribune came out with an
editorial in quito different key.
II said that the power of a trust
"comes from the Same virtue which
lays the foundation of all property,
and, therefore, of all civilization,
namely, from selfsdenial;" that in
making trust manufacturer Sin
trusts his power to another; that an
interest common to him and to others
may be served more wisely for ALL"
that combinations reduce the cost of
production and the public gets ga
share of the savings" and that a
trust "can be managed in entire har-
mony with the public welfare. :"
Thereupon the American Economist
asserted that it had converted the
Tribune from the horcsy of oppos-
ing trusts, and after pluming itself
on bringing this great paper around
to the support of trusts it said:
"This great and almost silent rev
olution 1.-THE growth of combina-
tionsl spreading over the whole
civilized world, is vast stride to-
ward the subordination of indus
tries to the control of the people,
Look at it as we may, it is the most
remarkable phenomenon of our
time, and opens the way to the
realization of those social changes
which are described in Shocking
Backward"
"Looking Backward" is Edward
Bollamy's coummunistic dream
which all the drawing room reform
ers and chamber philosophers of
Boston are at the present moment
talking earnestly about. 1t seems
to be perfectly clear, therefore, that
the organ of the Protective Tar
iff League believes that trusts and
other monopolis are beneficent ont
growths of the protective system,
which are to be approved and en-
couraged because they advance
society one stage nearer absolute
communism. Communism, then is
the end at which protection aims.
If the American Economist means
anything else than this. what is it2
And the New York Tribune, it is
claimed, is falling into line behind
the Economist-Nationdt Democrat.