The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-09-11
HERE AND THERE.
Some Imaginary Evils, and the Rene
dies the Peoples Party Would Apply.

by the Republican party that either pre-
vented or checked the people from pursuing
their respective occupations in peace and hap
piness, so often do we receive the stereoty ped
reply. mortgage" as If mortgaging ones prop
ersy was co usl TO pestilsnca Grant, however.
that a mortgage on ones home is undesirable.
The more money We put in circulation and the
easier We make il for people to borrow IL the
heavier will the mortgages be. and consequently
30 much more cause Tor complaint
To resume, however, at Macauiay's rule OF
government, let US assume that o grievance
does exist; let us see how far the innovation
proposed in the various platforms OF the Peoples
party will remove that grievance
The money plank OF the platform adopted at
Omaha has been discussed in these columns on
August g. The railroad plank of that platform
ought also to be dismissed from further consid-
GRAFTON, for that plank desires the government
to own and operate all railroads, telegraphs and
telephonea Whatever merits that plank may
have, 1t has been concl usively proved that such
system would SO enlarge the powers OF the
government, and would necessitate the estab-
Ashment OF such q vast standing army
to practically annihilate our republic. At any
rate how would the government ownership of
railroads remove any grievance that 10 now
complained Of? Mr.. Rogers, addressing . Peo-
pies party meeting last Sunday, consumed
great deal OF his time in telling that the past
ID the only source from which we can derive
knowledge, and by whose experien we must
b guided. Not that agree with that noted
pessimist, but since am addressing myself to
Peoples party followers, 1t would, perhaps, not
be amiss to reason for a moment on the lines
that he lays down. What does the past teach
usf Nearly every mile OF railroad through the
vast empire OF Russia has been built and 10
operated by the government large
number OF railroads in Germany, Aus
tria and Switzerland are owned and
NV
the rates Of transportation are lower In this
country than anywhere else. True, there
passenger rates in some sections of Europe
lower than American rates, but that applies
only to fourth class fares, and that means in
Russia open cars with no seats provided; in
Germany covered cars, but also no seats, and in
Austria cars provided with narrow wooden
benches, but attached to freight trains, and
travelling at q rate of speed not over ten miles
an hour. Iquestion II there 10 an American to-
day who would like to exchange our palatal
mode of railroad travelling for that OF Europe as
described above
The provision inserted In that plank that
the service shall be placed under civil service
regulation of the most rigid character 90 as to
prevent an increase OF power of the national ad-
ministration by the use of such additional gov
ernment employees" hardly deserves any COM
ment, for as long a. governments are composed
OF human beings, and a. long as human beings
seek to strengthen its position with the aid of
those to whom 1t gives employment. What folly
for the Peoples party to tell Us that they would
enact civil service regulations and would hire
and discharge employees solely upon their
inertia When, as q matter of fact, even
today, before tho Peoples party has power
or any reasonable hopes of getting it,
it Is already convinced that none but it own fol-
lowers are good men and deserve to be entrusted
with the power OF government Is it unreason-
able to expect that party having power to give
employment to nearly 100000 persons would
not utilize their votes to perpetuate itself in
power? And why not7 No party ever held the
reins of government but what believed that it
was doing the very best for the people. History
fails to disclose a single instance where the
party iu power did not claim to be right Is it
not proper for . man or body of men to employ
every means obtainable to maintain Q position
that 1t believes right and honorable?
Many earnest Peoples party adherefs In advo-
eating and defending paternal system Of gov
ernment, cite the postofiics a. an example. We
are told If the government can carry a letter
across the continent and carry IL cheaply aud
safely, why not also . passenger or a ton of
freight have shown once the error that peo-
pie often commit in believing that because q
little Is good. plenty would be better. Let us,
however, look at the postofice Have not the
"outs" always charged the Gins" with utilizing
the vast patronage OF the postal system for
political purposes. Has not Stevenson, the man
now running for vice president on the Demo-
cratic ticket, gained q reputation by discharging
Republican postmasters aud filling their posi-.
lions with Democrstsf Were no. like charges
made against Clarksonf And is there
an honest Peoples party man who will
claim that In the event of his party obtaining
power 1t would retain either Democrat or Re-
publican in the employ OF the government
Give to any party the employment Of one.sixth
vnfi inc IaSf NS
States and Is it not thus placed in position TO
perpetuate its power everlastinglyf Is that not
true In the old country7 People seem to forget
that there are elections in Germany and Aus
tria; that the franchise there IL almost as uni.
versal a. here. Bismarck never failed to utili ze
that power for the purpose of electing a reich.
stag favorable to his pet schemes Nor was
Graf Andrasy at all backward in forcing every
government employe to vote for such members
OF the Austrian diet as he favored.
Reason as may, looking at the matter of gov.
ernment ownership of railroads earnestly and
honestly. fail to perceive in what possible way
that would remove the grievance, III grievances
there be- 1t would not cheaper transportation,
for it has been proven that in countries where
railroads are owned by the government trans.
portatlon rates are higher than here. Competi-
ton Is the only factor that can cheaper trans
portation and check the tyrannicaI powers Of
monopoly, snd here 10 where the bone of con
s~A'AoA A'S1 AAussS Sissous CUIupcIltiOu, anu
II therefore behooves as TO pass laws that
will prevent trusts. The Republican party saw
the necessity OF the passage OF such laws, and
has already taken steps in the right direction by
the passage of shsrman's antitrust law and the
interstate commerce law. These bills may not
reach to the full extent desired, but that in
Itself gives as no cause for the enactment of a
radical system OF legislation. can see and con-
cede that when one law has not fully rem owed
the grievance complained OF another should bs
passed that viii further check the formation OF
trusts and the grip OF monopoly, but fail to
see why In order TO cure the body polite from a
sore afhctton We should indict upon IL n dis
ease from which it can never recover. For
marx; rs sure a. the sun will shine tomorrow
TX NOT ooscured by clouds, SO sure you NAV ba
that IL the government 10 authori xed To nur-
chase or build and operate q complete system of
railroads, telegraph and telephones In this
country, 30 soon will you have given the death
blow TO our republican form of government
The land plank 10 equally frivolous and Mt
terry devoid OF either justice or reason. The
frat part OF that plank provides that ~land
should not be monopolized for speculative pur
poses, and alien ownership of land rhould be
prohibited" This certainly il puerile nro
vision to say the least, for the Republican party
has long since enacted law that forbids alien
ownershipof land. And all parties deplors the
holding OF land by any one for speculative pur.
poses Yet no one has yet devised q plan
Whereby We can prevent Q andhoider f,em
specuiating upon his land any more than we
can prevent the farmer from specializing unon
his wheat SO long We recognize individual
ownership OF land 50 long can We not preyent