The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-08-10

monopolies created and protected by law
ike those of the Tariff Barons. They are
not such so-called monopolies in business
az man may create and establish by his
own inventive genius, honest dealing and
tireless energy. Whatever such monopoly
ba NAV acquire by the exercise of these
Qualities are held 10y him only until some
other man or concern Of superior ability
and energy or resources chooses to engage in
the business. aud this will inevitably be the
case as soon as the profits OF the business
are sufficient iuducement and the law will
favor and protect each alike. The law Of
eoualitv wants 20 see every man thrive IN
hrs business. and whilst he uses no means
that do no. infringe on his neighoor's legal
rights. it pats him or the back and elories
in his success. The law is devoid OF envy
or jealousy. and 50 long as the successful
merchant confines himself to lawful pro-
oedure in acquiring control OF business
and heapinc up wealth 10 himself the law
savs 10 him that he is really benefactor 10
his kind and none the less so as be grows
still richer.
The laws throw the avenues OF business
wide open 10 all, and all may enter into the
known avenues; all may create new avenues
and any one may 80 effectually occupy any
ono Of the old avenues, or any one OF the
avenues he may discover, as to be called, as
the word is now used. monopoiist, and
such monopoly will be entirely lawful. pro-
yided always the monopolist resorts to no
unlawful procedure to aid him in his strug-
giles and relics alone upon his own Thrift
and enterprise.
What is that which the Tobacconist calls
monopoly in q business but the property
which man has acquired by the exercise OF
energetic thrift and honest dealing
Mr.. George Schen has monopoly o. the
business of selling mineral waters and cigars
at the corner of Main and Eleventh streets
in the city Of Richmond. His mo-
nopoly has been acquired by years of
thorough attention 10 his business
and by course Of life which has secured 10
him the confidence of those who deal with
him. Why is not the control which ne has
staolished over MS business as much his
property as the bricks and mortar OF the
house he dwells in could be: And why is it
not perfectly lawful and right in Mr.. SohPn
to protect his property. i. e., his exclusive
control over his business, by encouraging
those who deal with him TO deal in his goods
alone and in refusing to deal in those OF his
rivals? Moreover. Is there anything very
unusual in manufacturing insisting that his
agents shall sell his goods alone and not those
of his rivals? The right to protect his prop
erty is the correlatiye of the right to have
and hold property.
And on what principle is his right 70
protect bis property TO be abridged because
it has made him worth one million Of dol
lars or fifty millions of dollars?
If our neighbor will revise its opinions II
will see that its doctrine leads to anarchy.
If the citizen is to be allowed to acquire and
hold property at all, he must be allowed to
hold as much as he can acquire by lawful
means. And. if he directs his energies 10.
wards embodying his property in the form
or control of business he must be protected
in such control Of that business as he has
ACQUIRED by the exercise of his own talents.
thrift and industry. The law can make no
war upon this without first giving up the
principle that it is good for man to OH
property.