Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-04-30
X CENTENNIAL LESSON.

X CENTENNIAL LESSON.
 It could hardly be expected that Presi dent Harrison or Chauncey Depew in their orations at New York to-day would point out the most vital lesson suggested by the centennial celebration. Men who are so closely allied with monopoly could not be expected to stand up before the world and point out the dangers that lie in a continuance of monopoly rule. And yet there is no lesson more obviously needed by the people of this country as they cross the threshold of the second century of their national ex- istence
 The simplicity of our fathers, the rude but honest democracy that obtained when the immortal Washington took upon himself the burden of government, has long since passed away. Many of the dangers which that wonderful man of destiny pointed out in his inaugural address have come upon the country, and the greatest has been the greed for gold that has built up huge monopolies at the expense of the comfort of the people. Instead of a government of the people by the people for the people, there is grave and increasing danger that ours will yet be government of the monop olies by the monopolies for the monop- olies. Wealth has become an almost in- dispensable condition of political pre- ferment, and the vast combinations of wealthy men that secure political control for the purpose of perpetuating a dis eliminating tariff are becoming more powerful every year to crush out the political ambition of those who have only brains to recommend them. In our legislative halls and executive offices the creatures of capitol strut and bristle at every turn-the slimy trail of poodle and monopoly is over them all. The tend ency of the times is towards monopoly, to place unequal power in the hands of the few to oppress the many and fatten at their expense. Take the acts of our congresses and our state assemblies, the construction of these acts by our courts and their execution by our officials, and through it all we see d catering to wealth, a consideration of the desires and de- signs of capital, a stultifying obeisance to the commands of monopoly. It is this undemocratic spirit that bodes most ill to the continuance of our republic and makes patriotic Americans fear for the stability of the nation whose centennial celebration is under way.
 | Ac r1- oh dent Harrison nor Chauncey Depew could be expected to allude extensively to this evil of our times. President liar rison is himself a creature of the monop- olies, the monopolies that thrive and wax fat from the determinations of an un equal tariff. It was the fat that these monopolies fried, the poodle with which the palms of the fioaters were greased, that enabled Ben amin Harrison to step into the shoes worn by his honored grandfather. If there were no monop olies in our republic, no favored bene- ficiaries of our robber tariff, no combi- nations of wealth to buy up our elections and keep our legislative halls peopled with their creatures, there would be no republican party, for such party could make no headway against one whose principles, ''from turret to foundation stone,' are equal and exact justice to all. President Harrison would have stultified himself if, in the presence of the Amer ican people to-day, he had pointed out the greatest danger that confronts this people. He would have discredited his party if he had so lnsulted the men who compose it and who fry the fat to boost it into purchased and unhallowed power. And President Harrison has not yet reached that condition where he will !, deliberately make fool of himself. , The American people should ponder we'll, however, the condition that con- fronts them in the morning of their second century. Unless monopoly is checked and wealth is made less potent in the control of our national destinies we may we'll fear that the republic will not celebrate it's second centennial.