The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-06-16
MAJOR RAGLAND's SECOND RE-
PLY TO DIR. ]. v. BROOKS.
Trusts, Monopolies and Privileged Capt.
tai, and their Politico-Economic
Influence in the United
States.
HYCO, VA, May 10, 1891.


Brooks to the proof of his declaration
that combinations, in the nature Of
monopolies, have wrought the great
est blessings to the human race, and
distinctly admitted that capital, ethi-
cally used, is beneficial, industrially,
socially, educationally and religiously;
but when large aggregations of capital
are used in any monopolistic forestall-
ing or gambling business, with the
avowed or secret intent of overriding
and driving out competition, it is hurt
full and antagonistic to all legitimate
honest business.
The doctor accepts the challenge and
says: Il will say that I believe the
great railroad monopolies of the coun-
try, such as the Baltimore and Ohio,
Norfolk and Western, Chesapeake and
Ohio, etc, ETC., have been, or will be,
great blessings to the human race.
They have built other roads and
cheapened freight and travel to an
extent that smaller roads could hardly
have achieved to advantage"
The word 'monopolies, " whether
justly or unjustly applied to the rail
ways named is fatal to the doctors
proposition, for it is clearly demon
stratable that all monopolies are antag-
onistic to popular rights and interests.
Monopoly, from the two Greek words
mono, alone, and pollen, to sell, possess
or cOntrol-means says Webster, 1.-The
sole possession and power to deal in
any species of goods; exclusive com
mand of possession, obtained by en-
crossing the articles in market by
purchase or by license from govern
ment." Now any act or policy Of
these or other railways that partakes
of monopolistic character is ethically
wrong and cannot be successfully de
tended
Railroads can only be constructed
by State authority, and, while they
are built by corporations, the com
panies exercise under a license a func-
tion and prerogative which belong to
the State, and therefore, as public car
riers, they should never be allowed mo-
nopolistic powers or privileges. To
maintain his first declaration that
"monopolies have wrought the great
est blessings to the human race, " the
doctor must leave out railroads and
bring forward other monopolies that
he claims confer such great benefac-
| tiOns on humanity.
We grant that combinations and
consultations of railways have facili-
tated and cheapened travel and trans
portation; but evils, as well as benefits,
have resulted therefrom, and none but
the great railroad kings favor extend
ing concentration to the absorption of
all the railways of the republic into
one giant corporation. Such would,
indeed, be a railroad monopoly of the
frst-class, monarch and dictator of
the transportation of the nation, un-
less restrained by the authority that
creates railroads. Could directorate
of such a mOnopolistic franchise, if
created, composed of the Vanderbilts,
Goulds, Sages, Huntingtons and men
Of like stripe be trusted to manage it
for the public good Let us have a
categorical answer, doctor.
WEALTH, HONESTLY ACQUIRED, IS COM
MENDABLE.
The acquision of wealth by honest
methods, legitimate means and fair
dealing, is honorable as well as desir-
able, and the more so where motives
for it's requirement have behind them
the purpose to bestow it upon elee-
mosynary and benefcient institutions
or otherwise for the benefit of human
ity. But, what are the great monopoz
listic millionaires doing in this most
commendable line? Nothing to com
pensate for the spoliations they are in
ficting on the great body Of the people
while they are boarding up their enor-
nous piles.
Then again, see how unfairly are the
few benefactions millionaires are max
ing They rob the great mass of the
rural producers and toilers to erect in
the cities and towns palatial hospitals,
sumptuous almshouses, magnificent
churches and memorial colleges for
the benefit, mainly, of the city people,
and thus the country is continually
robbed by men living. and after death,
to increase the comfort, wealth and
splendor of the cities.
DIsPROPORTIoNATE INCREASE OF CITY
POPULATION.
The eleventh census shows the rapid |