Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1891-05-21
Y 81.

getneT iof the purposes OF defense. The
fact that such unequal factors are devel-
oped in our political life goes far to dis
turb our confidence in a written consti-
tuition as a guarantee OF civil liberty
be filled with amazement at the way that
| document has been construed-construc
tions, in many instances rendered neces-
sary by our phenomenal growth as peo-
pie; in others, the result of progress in
the sciences and consequent changes in
habits of life and thought
In this country we find that the most
mark ed class distinction is between the
rich and the not rich. Wealth in our time
is being sought after with an unexampled
| eacerness. Our abnormal increase in
population, and the wonderful advance
ment of the physic sciences. have made
possible enterprises of magnitude uu-
dreamed of by our ancestors, and the
burden of which no private individual
| could venture to assume. For this reason.
large aggregations of capital have been
called into being and consolidated by acts
of incorporation. welding immense pow
er. By this means cur whole business
system has been revolutionized in the
last century. Think of the changes in
our system of transportation in that time.
Then, the avenue of commerce was the
wagon controlled by the private individu-
al. Now, the whole carrying trade of
country is practically in theahands of
few men, who, instead of dealing with
it as a great public trust, (Which it un-
doubtedly is; for the prosperity of whole
communities are in their hands), use the
power they have, in many instances.
usurped, as if it were only matter of
their own private concern. Inlay we
not do what we like with our own?" they
say to the merchant whose business they
are purposly running, or to the city which
they are fencing up. ''Certainly; but
what is yoar own?'' is the counter-query
with which they are being met. And
the great manufacturing and mining
companies are very often bound up with.
and controlled by, the transportation
companies, thus expanding and intensi-
~ liIp tHtlI JoNCI- DcCblc Il llICil po"
er, these men, with every opportunity to
indulge their propensities, either animal
or intelectual-witht the mental training
thai naturally follows from the coItrol of
extended and varied business combina-
tiens-come only TO regard some general
| result which they desire to attain, and to
look upon their employ es as the chessmen
| in Il game. whose tastes, feelings, and at
| tections are of no mOmenC to them. This
regarding men as puppets-as blocks
has hardening effect. AS we think of
it, the lines OF Tennyson's Lotos- eaters
float before the mind, vague aid shad-
owy picture: yet how true OF our great
milionaires, who
Live and lie reclined
| On the hills like gods together, ,icareless Of
| mankind;
| For they lie beside their nectar, and the
| bolts are hurled
Far below them in the valleys, and the
| clouds are lightly cured
Round their golden houses, girdled with the
| cleaning world,
| Where they smile in secret, looking oyer
wasted lands -
| Blight and famine, plague and earthquake,
| roaring deeps and fiery sands,
| C1aLging fights and flaming towns, and
sinking ships and praying hands;
| But they smile: they find music centered in
doleful song,
| Steamng up a lamentation and an ancient
| tale of wrong,
| Like a tale of little meaning, though the
words are strong,
| Chanted by an ill-used race of men that
cleaye the soil,
| Sow the seed, and reap the harvest with en-
during toll:
Storing yearly little dues Of wheat and
wine and oil,
It'll they perish-some, 'tis whispered, down
in hell"