Wood River times., 1890-07-05


ather arhitrate = quession with Us
han fight i, out.
NO FORM OF GOVERNMENT PERFECT.
When one looks At the situat,on
md considers what we have done and
.re doing for humanity, he is almost
I" imagine that we have
arrived at that ideal stage in govern.
ment where all is perfection, and
where human wants, poverty, or dis
lress. can not enter; and yet such is
not the case.
l fear the system will never b. dc.
visea that will accomplish these ends.
While the winters winds chill, Or the
sun en~rvates. there will he
sickness aud distress, poverty and
wpnt. Human skill may alleviate the
one, human charity the other. But
we will alwavs have them with u.
Added to this there is the greed, the
avarice, the cupidi,y Of one class Of
men, and the cringing serviity OF an
other building up evils that require
eternal vigilance to guard ae eainst.
COMBINES AND TRUSTS.
Evils are growing up among us that
our revolutionary forefxbhers could
not foresee and did not provide
against. The concentration Of wealth
and the formation Of giant corpora
tions into combines or trusts, are \
menace and danger to free institu-
tons that must be met with prompt
and effective remedial measuses. II
this evil is not stopped the gentlemen
controlling these enterprises will, in y
short time, exercise more authority
than the old French nobility. 1t is
not proper that any association Of
men should he placed in position to
ABSOLUTELY control the price Of any one
commodity. II the theory that they
can do SO is correct,~ the time is not
far distant when every article that en-
t~rs our households or ministers to our
wants would be furnished US by q
certain corporation, that would abso-
lu,ely dictate to us the price and
terms on which we mi ght live, obtain
our sus,enance. our clothing, and the
terms on which we might be buried
when death relieved US of life's cor.
poral burdens.
There is still another and, If posi-.
bile, more serious view tn take of
this question. These trusts not only
claim the privilege of fixing the
terms on which we can obtain the
necrsssri,s OF life, but they insi t also
on fixing scale Of wages for all la
boring men in the United States
When that can be dune the laboriug
man is no longer q free agent. We
have pushed the hands ON the dial ol
progress back 100 years and remand
I'd the laborer to the condition oi
feudal s"rvi'ude.
What difference will it make II the
laborer is the vassal of afrudal lord OF
OF b greedy aud CRASHING trust? IL
either event he would cease to be tht
free man that was pictured by Jeff-r
son. On behalf of our free institu
tions, protest against IT.
On behalf of all the blood that has
been shed in freedoms holy cause,
protest against it.
On behalf of the toiling millions o
America, protest against it.
No! ! do not believe, canno
believe that the intelligence and TIN
love Of freedom and justice plan,-'
down deep in the hearts of our peo
pie, that such Il dangerous system will
be permitted to grow.
have faith that when our peopl
are aroused to the danger and magni
tude of this evil, the proper rened,
will be found and speedily applied.
PAUPER CONTRACT LABOR.
In all probability when the censu
which is now being taken is completes
it will DC found that we now hav
nearly 10000. 1000 of people IN tn
United States, serking the protection
of OUT laws aud the means to suppoI
life. These people must have re
munerative occupation. Without il
food and raiment cannot be obtained
To furnish employment to 100000
Of people SO that thrift may be tn
rule and poverty the exception coul