The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1893-01-13
Government Control of Natural
Monopolies.

There is one false belief drilled into the
public mind by political frauds more inlur-
icus than most other false opinions. This is
the prevailing potion that it would be very
dangerous thing for the government to
control natural monopolies, or to own them
outright and manage all such mediums OF
business in the interest OF the whole people.
The common belief is that such power in the
hands of government officials would create a
patronage so great as to endaIger the liber-
ties Of the people and corrupt every avenue
of government. This "belief" is no
belief at all on the part of this I'M
reasoning portion of the public, but only
an echo of the artful demagogue and polite
ian, who is a part and parcel ofthe machine
politics of our day, used by the monopoly
and exploiting class to deceive the public.
Do persons who reason this wise ever seri-
ously consider they are part of that gov
eminent they assume TO fear, and have
misgivings of its power and integrity Such
doubts and fears place them in the position
of dependents and subjects Of supreme
power; in place of that of citizens OF
popular government of which they compose
a part. Such ideas are erroneous and serve
to lower the dignity of American citizenship
in the estimation Of those whose proudest
boast should be they are American citizens.
When the citizen begins 10 fear the power
of his own government, ne is either APP
preaching condition which is fitting him
to become the vassal of an aristocracy or
some other form of class government, or be
tears his government is becoming the COR
rupL tool of political parties in which he
has fallen to he mere cipher. We believe
il is latent feeling of the latter kind which
creates these misgiylngs and doubts in the
minds of large portion of the public that
it would be fraught with great danger 10 the
peoples liberties TO assume such power as
government control or ownership of rail
roads, lelegraphs, etc. They say the great
number of offices it would place at the dis
posal of the President and other govern
ment functionaries would be great danger!
And then they shudder al this dangerous
ghost their imaginations copjure up.
Does it ever occur 10 these optimists that
the President of the United States is in
their, the peoples, hands? That congress
is in their hands to make and remake every
four and two years, if they do their duty as
citizens? That they would be, in fact,
controlling the roads, telegraphs and other
great natural monopolies, and that the
President, if they do their duty as citizens,
is but servant placed in very respon-
sible position? The very large number of
employees engaged in conducting these i'm
mense lines of business would serve the
very opposite as power for evil or an
undue control in public affairs. Persons
employed in railroad and telegraph work
are necessarily above The average in intel
ligence and natural abilities. All would
have TO pass civil service examination and
the demands of the public service would
require their continuance in the service
whatever party changes might occur. Such
q large body of men and women too-for
there would be many Of the latter sex
employed-of superior intelligence and
mental power in control of these important
sinews OF trade, transportation and trans
mission of intelligence, would redouble the
safeguards of popular government. Who
Al Sc
intelligent people with their hands on the
safety valves of the machinery of govern
ment, would permit even an attempt at
usurpation of power by an ambitious, aristo-
cratic class?
On the contrary it is these great natural
rnouGpolies which we foolishly and dan
gerouIy permit 10 remain in the hands of
class of greedy, usurping persons, ghich
constitute our chief danger. This class has
useo every means that money can command
TO corrupt legislatures, put their tools into
both houses of congress, influence courts to
outrage justice by placing base, immoral
Judges on the bench, and corrupting the
ballot in every large city. All of these
natural monopolies are now in the hands OF
those who threaten the republic with most
imminent danger. The President often has
felt of late years that he owed his position
in large measure to these giant corpora.
iions. In addition TO political dangers,
those monopolies have robbed the people
out of countless millions and are going on to
reduce their systems of plumber to more
complete and perfect methods.
Another consideration above all these
named is the fact that the business of the
railroad and the telegraph wholly belongs
TO the public, and of such nature that no
individual has right TO stand at toll gate
aud demand tribute from all the people.
AL such gains above expense of manage
uaent should go into a common treasury TO
be used for the public benefit. Thousands
of millions are taken from the people by
these natural monopolies which now go to
create an idle, lIcentious, PREDICATE class,
which will grow slIll more rotten with age
as it has in old world countries. that should
either be left in the pockets of the people or
go to The general government fund to eslab-
lish institutions for the benefit of all classes
The fact is, in place of taking possession OF
these natural monopolies by government
nroyiny a public detriment. the very reverse