Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-03-20
Daily xeun.bet Journal.
AUGUSTA, WEDNESDAY, MAR. 70. 1855.
JOHN l. STEVENS. EDITOR.


II will be remembered that one Of the
chief charges made In the political cam
paign last year BY the Free Trade support
ers Of Cleveland against the Protective
Tariff was that it leads 10 the formation Of
trusts and improper combinations To main
tain prices against competition. When Mr..
Blaine replied to this unjust impntation
against the American system, which has
achieved such vast beneficial results TO
this country, by citing the facts that
trusts largely exist In the Free Trade and
Protection countries Of Europe alike, and
are not at all peculiar 10 the nited States,
a terrific cry was raised by the Democratic
and Mugwnmp newspapers, which accused
the Republican leader " making false
statements. Well Informed persons knew
then that Mr.. Blaine vas amply justified
10 the showing be made though In the
heat and dust of the national contest it
was not easy 10 get into the popular mind
the whole truth on the subject. Recent
data has come from Europe which clearly
proves that his statement was
not exaggerated. The leading CONNER
cial journal Of Austria, Das Iiandel's
Museum, has just published careful
list Of trusts In all countries. II IL not
complete, and, with trusts extending over
all lands, 1t would not BE- easy to make
list absolutely accurate. But the record
a. IL stands Ia reasonably fair statement
Of the condition Of affair. complied by an
impartial observer. The Museum find.
thirty-four trusts In Germany. fourteen
In Austria Hungary, six In Belgium, ten
In Great Britain, ten in the nited States,
three In France, three in Russia two In
Switzerland and three In A aia. Besides
these eIghty-iive 10 number, each
limited to TIA own country, the Austrian
paper names ten which are international,
and all but one Of which are organized
outside Of this country, Out Of ninety
five In ALI. therefore the United States,
with larger manufacturing output of
all England. larger mineral production
than Europe. and an agricultural product
equal to Great Britain and Continental
Europe combined has eleven, or a ninth
These authenticated facts concluslvely
show that the largest international trusts
have nothing to do with tariffs existing
under both Protection ard Free Trade,
and that the lesser combinations spring
up alike In all civilized countries Pro
lection does OF cause them, and Free
Trade does not cure them. They need
special legislation, and they can be con.
trolled and prevented only by altering the
laws and tendency Of modern trade The
duty Of our lawmakers ia plain, and
cannot well be ignored. Republicans and
Democrats, Protectionists and Free Ira
dcrs alike ,houid unite In demanding the
use of all reasonable and practicable meas
urrs for the suppression aud prevention
Of commercial combinations which take
from the people their Just rights Under Il
free government. Monopolies are necessa-
rily injurious TO the pubic interests, and
manufacturers and merchants have no
more right to combine to rob the people,
than had the rovers of the sea in former
centuries to plumber the merchant vessels
which were engaged in the peaceable and
beneficial pursuits of commerce, and by
which the daring and laborions mariners
families