The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-10-07
AGERmAN's VIEW OF OUR CONDITION

Or. Stoecker, who is described in the
Press as having been untn recently
Court Chaplain for the Emperor
of Germany, has been recently
in this country on a visit TO the
Worlds Fair. In an interview with a
reporter of the New York World, he
is thus quoted by that paper:
zone OF the most noticeable things to
me here in America is the liberality of
your rich men I'm making gifts for the
benefit OF the public. In Chicago there is
a great university and Presbyterian
Seminary founded by private gifts In
Cambridge there Is great University
founded and supported in the same way.
1t seems TO me that such gifts have
quieting effect on social discomfort. On the
other hand your monopolies are a menace
TO the State. The VanderbiIts own half
OF the railroads east Of Chicago half a
dozen men control the ell in the coun-
try; another cluster Of men control the
telegraph system. 1t is dangerous poll
cy."
Now this is pretty formidable way
of stating the case. 1t IS rather startling 70
be told that one family owns one half
OF the railroads east OF Chicago. and
that six men control all the oil of the
country. Yet, until the cheap silver dol
lar undermined confidence and paralysed
trade. the country was getting on most
admirably in the face Of the supposed
danger Freight rates and passenger rates
were coming down all the time, and oil
had fallen In twenty years from seventy
I'VE cents a gallon TO twelve and a half
cents gallon. This was under a state OF
OF laws which permitted every man TO
use his brain and energies freely and TO
the best advantage according to his judg-
ment OF those Advantages and that
secured him possession and enjoyment Of
whatever he was able to accumulate In
the struggles of life. If then experience
is worth anything as a teacher. fright at
this state OF things would seem to be a
good deal like the terror inspired in King
Richards soul by shadows.
But what is the reverse side Of the
picture which Or. Stoecker suggests?
He means. of course that we should
so adjust matters that the Vanderbilts
should no longer own all the railroads
and the six men should no longer control
all the oil. He would not, of course. give
them TO another set OF individuals He
would have them taken possession Of
by the government In other words we
must continue In our present state, under
which we were prospecting and going
ahead with prodigious bounds until free
silver laid its blighting hand upon the
country. or we must accept the theory
OF the socialists and convert the govern
ment into vast eleemosynary establish
ment, upon which the great bulk OF the
population would be seeking TO fasten
itself for support. Is not our present
experience of fatherly government
enough for US? is not the scramble for
government Offices that we see going on
every day before our eyes. enough to
make us turn with disgust from any sug-
gestion to create another enormous num-
Der OF government Offices? We see the
lazy and the idle occupying their minds
incessantly. now, with schemes and plans
to live without work by securing gov
eminent appointments. The one hundred
thousand offices that the government
now has for distribution operate as an
enormous demoralizer. and converts
many men into idle Office seekers. who
would be compelled 10 take part in the
busting struggles OF life 10 get bread.
clothes and shelter. II there were no Of
fees to be doled out. II the government
should become owner OF all railroads. and
teiegraphs. and telephones, and oil wells
and elevators. and ferries. and hotels
and canals. and what not, the number
OF Offices would be Infinitely increased
and the number Of Office seekers at the
same time. Ten times the number OF
the population. which the offices now con-