Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-07-02

tion FIRM natural death. They cannot
be Salty or successfully handled by the
indtvi ual. The Corporation, device
first flopted from the civil law, has
suuped the ready and feasible instru-
men 1t is to-day our chief manufac-
tnre and carrier as alone able to ham
dle.ne machinery Of modern produc-
tia. and the equipment Of modern
trY Sportation.
fTe have seen the rapid development
Interpretations and their obliteration
NJ only of the Individual, but OF the
slaller members of their own kind. No
Dnder men are becoming Uneasy as TO
ieir own rights, and as to the relation
Ii such powers TO republican gov
ernment. If vigorously restrained TO
their appointed service as carriers OF
goods and men, they become immense
contributors to social wealth and indi-
vidual happiness, but if rioting in their
new and tremendous power they aspire
to become Industrial mOnopolies or po-
litical dictatorS they prevent the equal
working of Cover nment and destroy the
rights of individuals.
How shall we secure their best SER
vices and escape their possible injuries?
The census will probably disclose one
third part of our wealth in corporate
hands.
No wonder many in their first alarm
are turning from the States TO the
National government as alone strong
enough 10 deal with these new forces,
or that many are demanding that part
of the work done by them shall be as
sumed by that government as pubic
| function.
And not only is the Industrial revela-
ton. working through its chief inStru-
ment, the corporation, etfecting rapid
reorganization OF society. 1t Is steadily
producing a redistribution OF popula-
ton.
We are passing by quick stages from
/ arural to an urban people. We began
with three out OF Il hundred living IN
the cities; we now have thirty out OF
| hundred, and this is not due to over
crowded population or want OF land.
This is a momentous fact. Our tradi-
tiops are those of a farmer people; our
| institutions come to us in the main
through farmer people. Mr.. Freeman
saws that TO the British people
who settled Britain a city was SIM
ply a prison; in their eyes the only
place OF assembly for free men was the
open moor with no roof but the roof OF
heaven. This feeling was still strong
in the mother country when the colo
MES came over, and independence was
gained. The religious movement that
settled New England fostered village
communities, but Mr.. Bancroft says OF
the early settlers OF Virginia and the
South ''their aversion TO TOO much gov
eminent expressed itself in their soil
tary manner of settling in the country"
The railroad, the telegraph, and the
Capitalization of manufacturers are the
chief factors in draining the country
into the city. Lord Chatham said
..Trade increases the wealth of coun-
try. but it's real strength is in the Gull
tivators of the land, in whose simplicity
OF life is found the integrity and cour-
age of freedom.
Mr.. jefferson prophesied that when
we got piled on each other in cities we
should become corrupt, and begin eat
ing each other as they do in Europe.
The Virginia statesmen who lead in
1.-the, movement AOl INDEPENDENCE az"
the constitution were all planters who
combined plain living with high think
ing.
Prof. Bryce says that the city Is the
one conspicuous failure in government
in the United States, The reason is we
we have not yet been able TO fit SyS-
tenn of government that has grown up
with an agricultural people to the rapid
growth and complex interests or cities.
The American city, with universal
suffrage, immense expenditures to keep
mace with growth, an immigration
from countries not habituated to repre-
sentative government, that organizes
itself and declines to be absorbed into
the hody of citizens. offers a fair field
and an irresistible temptation for the
! activity of political machine, and i:
: the favorable indus for the political
e boss whose power is soon felt in State
4 ana National politics.
b Inese two illustrations, one the ehieI
lnstruhsat through which the revoiu
ton doesss work, the other genera
result OF NA its forces, will show it
r bearing on Sacrament. Both may b'
r traced IN many s4ore directions.
. If we are 10 sesNe down to the per
manent policy ofNNaking the govern
!. ment not tho protecss hut the distribu
!, tor OF wealth, we caheet view withou
. alarm the maSsing and hebilizing of s.
:, large d part Of our wealthy the hand:
:. of corporations, which rescesept III,
aggressive grasping spirit of sSfshness
If we are TO preserve wise ana frupa
government we cannot view wshou
: alarm the massing of so large a pan 0
). our population in cities, and the wies
a ing of their voting strength in Sta'
/. and National elections through the Pr
r litical machines by the political boss.
: Such stupendous changes put a sever
;. strain Of free government, but oil
greater danger is in the resort to pc
nicious laws for present relief.
Notwithstanding our boast that "
q seek prosperity by individual effort an
! not by legislation, with Congress ar
! forty-four State Legislatures, we z
> more exposed to this danger than
other people. -,
Before we can deal wisely with
= political evil we must understand
J. true nature of our government. and q
terminate between evils that belong