The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1893-07-07
INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY.

INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY.
The subject of Justice Brewers adj
dress at Woodstock, Conn, the 4th was
individual Liberty" He said in part:
ut has been the favored fancy of many,
it is the oft assertion of the enthusiastic
orator, that the ideal of human liberty
has been reached, and that nothing now
remains but to enjoy that which has
been achieved. Something more is
needed. One step further must be taken
before the ideal of human liberty is re-
allied in this country, and that, if may
thus express it. is the actual and un-
questioned independence of each indi-
vidual. While politically 1t is true, and
politically it is right that the majority
rule, we are forgetting as nation the
equal truth that within the limits of or
organic and expressed law each indi-
vidual has n right to do, and to be pro-
tected in doing, as he pleases.
1.-THE most mott cable social fact of to-
day is that of the combination of capital
and the organization of labor. Whatever
may be the causes, and whatever the re-
suits, good or bad, the fact is beyond
dispute that the trend of the 'wo great
industrial forces of capital and labor is
along the line of consolidation and CO.
operation. | am not here to decry this
! tendency. A capital combine may, as is
claimed, produce better, cheaper and
more satisfactory results in manu-
facture, transportation ana general bust
ness, but too often the combine is not
content with the voluntary cooperation
of such as choose to join. 1t grasps at
monopoly, and seeks to crush out all
competition. If any individual prefers
his independent business, however
small, and refuses to JON the combine it
proceeds to assail that business. With
its accumulation of wealth it can afford
for awhile to so largely undersell as to
speedily destroy it. 1t thus brushes or
or swallows the individual, and he is as
saulte6 as though he were an outlaw.
$50 it is with organizations of labor,
the leaders order strike, the organiza-
ton throws down its tools and ceases to
work. No individual member dare say
Il have family to support, prefer to
work, but is forced to go with the gen
eral body Not content with this, the
organization too often attempts by force
to keep away other laborers. 1t stands
with its accumulated power of numbers
| not merely to coerce its individual mem
brrs, but also to threaten any outsiders
who seek to take their places. Where is
the individual laborer who dares assert
his liberty, and act as he pleases in the
matter OF work; where is the individual
contractor or employer who can carry on
| his business as he thinks best?
"The constant Try is that this compul-
| sion of united action will result in in.
creased wages, and thus in added bene-
fits to each individual; and on this plea
of resulting good the individual il
forced TO throw away his own liberty
and surrender to the organization. But
is an improved material condition the
only aim of human effort and the crown
Of human eXistenceP Is servitude to a
single man less of slavery than servitude
to an organization?
$50 long as any single man, the
humblest and the weakest in the land
may not enter into business or engage in
labor such as his means will permit anC
his inclination determine, just so long is
personal liberty an unaccomplished fact
at is true that there is acommendablt
| effort constantly being made to secure
the liberty of the individual; but are we
forever to be calling out the militia tt
protect property from the hands Of
strikers = are the Pinkertons &c
become the constant factor in Oul
civilization? Is it not time thai
the dormant energies of our nation
were aroused and speedy ana summary
stop put to every such trespass on any
mans liberty? Are we going to drift
along until this contest ends in bloody
struggle? Must our children pay, f0l
securing the real liberty of each indi
vidual, the price that the nation paid {
score of years ago to abolish human
slavery? Is Governor Altgeld waiting
to be the Jefferson Davis of tomorrow
81 am drawing no fancy sketch; | only
gather from the columns of the dali.
press the oft told story, and the fact is
as no thoughtful man can doubt, tina
the drift to-day is toward subsection o
the individual to the domination of thu
organization. The business men sre be
coming the slaves of the combine, tn,
laborer of the trades union and Organiza
tions. Through the land the idea i
growing that the individual is nothin!
and that the organization and then til,
State is everything"