Dodge City times., 1891-05-08
GENERALIZATION.

1t has always been one of the cardi
nal principles of our government tha
neither paternalism nor centralizatio,
should become part of our policy
Statesmen have warned the peopl,
against allowing the government to dc
what could be done by the states, OF
allowing the state to DO what could be
done by the county, or the county to
do what could be done by the individ,
ual. The aim has been to keep the
government solely within the bounds
OF its original functions-the making
and enforcing of laws to raise Necessary
funds to carry out its provisions and
to defend its honor. 1t was designed
to give the greatest possible freedom
to the individual without conflicting
with his natural rights, or competing
with him in any avocation.
But, as time went forward. aid the
boundless opportunities offered in this
new civilization were developed by the
many, they were absorbed by the few.
The liberal provisions of our govern
ment which allows the strong to reach
the utmost limit of their endeayor.
likewise allows the weak to sink into
the lowest depths. 1t forbids inter-
ference because that would be tyranny
and yet, through its very liberality, it
allows the strong to become tyrants
over the weak. No better i'll
of this fact can be g
position :" ..astratior
.vund than in the
vi the railroads toward the
public. These corporations are abso
lutte tyrants over the people, just a:
much as the car is over all the Rus
sias, and yet, as matters now stand the
government cannot effectively inter
fere. The controversy between Jay
Gould and Grand Master Workman
Pow6erly is still! fresh in the minds Of
the people When the latter charged
Mr.. Gould with being tyrant ovel
the people, Gould merely referred tt
this as being free country and that
an individual had the right to do as he
pleased in business affairs.
The railroads are paying dividends
on millions of dollars that do not rep
resent dollar invested, and every cent
taken from the people in this manner
is on par with the highwayman who
enforces his demands with revolver
at the head of his victim. This wrong
is growing. Its practice takes millions
from the people every year. 1t re-
duces the profit On the farmers pro
ducts and increases the cost of every
thing he buys. 1t is curse to him
and no good comes out of it. He is
compelled to pay return on this stock
that is as mythical as mirage, besides
paying it on the money invested.
True, there have been and are now
railroad commissioners appointed or
elected in different states, but they
have only succeeded in demonstrating
the utter incapacity to right the wrong.
They have adjusted minor grievances.
but this one great evil remains. The
Federal government attempted 10 ad-
just rates and remedy phases Of the
trouble through the interstate com
merce law, but that has proved itself
failure.
There is tu; enc remedy and that is
the government ownership; oi railroads
1t may be a stride toward cen.raiza
tioB, bat :.iat i; pre- cradle II the ex-
isting order o; things. The conserva
tive will dep:crc this leaning toward
governmental Interference in what has
been carried On by the individual; bu!
can the conservative remedy the troub-
lie otherwise? Is there or can there be
any provision IN the laws tiat viii
meet the emergency? Grant that il is
a choice between two evils. no one
who has studied boil, Guc.i!ons can
hesitate in disccri;in- the lesser
Political economists, statesmen, pol
iticians AID the people all feel and ua-
derstand that change is impending.
Things cannot 20 on as they have here
tofore. All recognize it-all feel it.
Just what form the change will take,
none can say, hut few doubt it will be
otherwise than peaceful. The Amerl-
cans are an educated people. They
recognize the power of the ballot.
Whatever is best will survive: and the
people will remain sovereign.
There is quickening sentiment in
favor of government ownership Of rail-
roads and that seems to be their lnevi-
table fate. Whether or not this will