The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1892-08-17
Demagogues and Business.
From .Di1ie, atlanta, Ga.

curse OF politics, is the spirit OF the DEM
agogue.
The great business interests of the
country, enwrapping the welfare of the
whole people, are dependent for their per-
manency and prosperity upon wise cool
and conservative legislation. Itnot only
involves the paralysiss Of trade, but it is a
menace against the life of representative
government, when tnp'penny statesmen
are suffered to run riot with their blatant
prejudices, through economic issues, and
to sacrifice sound material policies to their
selfish and unscrupulous scrambles after
Office.
It is lamentable to see distinct ele-
ment in Southern politics drifting to-
wards this tremendous evil. This is a Pc
riod of unusual stir and activity among
the masses moving honestly to the attain
ment Of great ends. through the accom-
plishment of essential reforms. And pe-
riods like this are ever the harvest and
the jubilee of petty politicians. The
wants and desires of the multitude are
played upon to prejudice their brains and
their ballot against every condition of life
superior in comfort to their own, and the
very capital, which is the ultimate of am
bition and desire among the masses, is
painted and pictured to their hatred in
such flaming oolors that the mad bull Of
popular sentiment is goaded to the frenzy
of rushing upon the money power to tear
with its horns and tra pie with its feet
This mania is not Inherent in the people.
It is due to the medicine fed to them out
of the small brsins and large expectations
OF the demagogues who, for the hope of
office, would not hesitate to disrupt socie-
ty and preoipitate revolution.
In the material conditions of our pres
ent time, demagogy is doing no baser
work than in the obstinate antagonism
which it is sowing everywhere among
the people against all forms of corporate
mate condemnation Of combined capital,
in unreasoning opposition to all aggrega-
tions Of money, and in wholesale and
totally senseless clamor against the name
and the existence of corporations. It is
true that in many instances trusts and
combines have united to levy tyrannical
tribute upon the hard earnings of the
people, and against this organized robbery
wherever 1t exists, Dirie, as the friend Of
truth, and right, and real development, is
ready to join brain and hand to the cause
of the oppressed and shiver its best lance
against the tyrant Of trade. But nothing
short Of brutal selishness or frenzied
prejudice between the few monstrous ini-
quities Of combination that vex our in
dustrial life, and theagreat multitude of
helpful and beneicent corporations that
have builded nine-tenths Of the monu-
ments of our material progress, and are
to-day furnishing food and sustenance to
hundreds of thousands of the people who
are bamboozled into protest against their
existence. Where there is one iniquitous
and hurtful "trust," there are ten thou
sand helpful and honest corporations le-
gitimate in method and benifcent in re-
suits. But the very shibboleth OF the po-
litical jayhawker is an unconditional op-
position to corporate capital. No matter
how money offers itself for investment
there will be found in every popular as
sembly battalion Of jayhawkers ready
to denounce 1t as public enemy, and to
hamper with onerous restrictions every
step Of its progress toward the welfare Of
the State. Everywhere in the South the
drift Of current demagogy is towards the
imposition Of severe, and in many cases,
totally unnecessary restrictions upon the
enterprises operated by organized capital.
To such an extent has this spirit of un-
wholesome antagonism been carried in
several of our State legislatures that the
initial fall of the speakers gavel rings
like fire alarm on the ear of apprehen-
sive capital, and every honest enterprise
breathes freer when the final adjournment
is announced.
And yet this whole Southern country is
waiting and working and praying for
capital to come 10 the development Of its
resources, the enhancement of its values
and increase Of it's general andindividual
prosperity. Sagaoious capital, timid,
cautious, discreet and thoroughly inde-
pendent capital, with tho whole world of
Investment before it, is invited and ex-
pected to plant its helpful powers in
territory where hayseed legislators, hun
cry for reelection. and scurvy politicians
with the lust of office, have already dem
onstrated their willingness, and too often
their capacity to restrict the life out of ev-
cry enterprise it may bring into existence.
We do not need to look far for the cause
of hard times and tight money and stag
nation in growth, while this hybrid of
craftsmanship stands in every legislature
with his little bill, cooked and primed for
a spread eagle Grafton on the wrongs of
the "dear people," and the "insolent ava
rice of remorselesss capital" We need
not expect the restoration of confidence
and the re-establishment of easy money
until fearless press and patriotic pub
lie sentiment unite to smother the cheap
demagogy that is depressing securities
and depreciating bonds and multiplying
receivers and intimidatIng the money
that is ready and willing to come wher-
ever there is promise Of fair treatment
and reasonable returns.