Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-04-06
IS LABOR IN DANGER?
The Relations Of Large Fortunes to the
workingmen Discussed.

Is LABOR IN DANGER.
The Relations Of Large Fortunes to the
workngmen Discussed.
HOW THE DISPARITY IN THE POSSESSION OF
WEALTH CAME ABoUT-LARaE LANDED OR
PERSONAL POSSESSIONS WILL PROBABLY BE
DIssIPArEp THE NEXT GENERATION.
Richard H. McDonaId tr in the California MAGAZINE.
1t could not be otherwise than that the i'm
mense fortunes acquired in the last thirty years
by few men in this country should be the sub
iect Of serious reflection as to the future effect
upon the mass OF the people and upon the
character of our institutions. There are those
who express alarm at the immense chasm
! which separates the very opuent from the vast
majority of the population. and a fear that as a
nation shall drift into a government. aristo-
cratic in form and which will be controlled by
the monetary power. In the old world both
monarchy and aristocracy are based upon
wealth. A poor duke, lord or count in Europe
may nominally have a social status correspond
ing to his rank. but among the wealthy the
impecunIous duke. lord count Is regarded
by his class very much as the poor
whites Of the south were looked upon
by the slaves There can be no doubt that the
immense disparity which exists i'll this country
in the possession Of wealth is unfavorable 10
the future welfare and happiness OF the mass
Of the people. and that under favorable condl-
tions there might be danger that popular lib
erty would be overthrow. The pesslmIst Is
liable to take a lugubrious view OF the subject,
while the optimist discovers only the roseate
side of the picture. Neither is likely to take n
rational and just view Of the situation. 1t is
well ~ inquire how the disparity in the posses
sion of wealth came about and whether it is
probable that it will continue to the extent
that it now exists. 1t is well to inquire also
whether there are not influences at work which
will cause a redistribution and produce a more
general equality of conditions.
The laws OF this country assure the greatest
liberty in the exertion of the powers with which
men are endowed by nature to acquire dominion
over the things of the earth. consistent with the
common welfare. The opportunities for &C
quiring wealth have been without parallel. more
especially within the last third of a century.
The country possessed vast natural resources.
and the freedom and energy of the people con-
tibuted to the development of wealth more
rapidly than ever before known in the history
of mankind. Increase of population naturally
appreciates values. Before the passage of the
homestead law the public domain could be ac-
Guired at merely nominal cost. and large bodies
were purchased by individuals who only had to
hold on and wait TO !: come wealthy. Through
this method the basis of considerable fortunes
was at first laid. the greatest of which were
acquired bv those who were fortunate
enough to locate on what became city
and town sites. Railways were in
vented. and their construction not only
was profitable to the builders. but enhanced
values Immensely. especially at terminal points.
The war of the reb allion ensured. creating high
prices for the products OF the farm and fac tory
and The inevitable initiation of the circulating
medium engendered the spirit of speculation;
and though the war was immensely destructive
of men and materials it stimulated enterprise.
and our tremendous development gave impetus
, to foreign immigration. The mania for rail-
! way building after the war became greater than
ever before. because NOT only the needs of the
country. but the liberaity of the people super
induced il. Large fortunes were made in con-
strucrion. and the vast quantities of securities
OF the nation. states. municipalities and cor
porations which were on the market afforded
! opportunity for the most gigantic speculation.
/ In this speculation large numbers Of people
participated and lost through the manipulation
! OF inside operators. who amassed immense
wealth.
! In various ways land monopoly. to an extent.
became fastened upon the country. Large
/ bodies were acquired before the homestead law
was enacted and are vet held to consider
: able extent. The great plantations in tine south
/ have survived slavery. The public lands of
Texas sold off in considerable bodies
under the laws OF that state. and in the acquisi
ton from Mexico under the treaty of Guada-
loupe Hidalgo our government stipulated to re-
spect the rights of properly in the territory ac-
qured as they existed under Mexican law, and
hence became bound to recognize the immense
grants OF land that had been made by the Span
ish and Mexican governments. These are the
chief ways in which ponderous fortunes have
been acquired. Those of lesser magnitude have
been achieved IN manufac turing and traffic, and
B to some extent by the exercise of the stronger
powers with which some have been favored by
/ nature, AID the greater thrift and prudence with
which earnings and acquisitions have bee2
| husbanded. The same or similar opportunities
: can never again present themselves. There are
4 hfI lie
! covered or new regions to be developed Rail-
/ road building in future will be triing COM
! pared with what has been done in the past.
Appreciation of land values " i'll be 9adual. and
comparatively few more cities and towns are to
be founded AID built up. We are not likely to
have another gigantic war, internecine or for
eign. to initiate prices and promote speculation.
I The course of business in all probability will be
natural. and results not excessively prof table.
/ Capital is comparatively abundant that if
competition is permitted to have sway it will
not expect nor seek such inordiuate remunera-
ton in the future as ii has eXacted in the past.
1t is true that it has adopted the plan
| of forming trusts and combinations
to control production and distribution.
but Congress and legislatures have taken
action in many cases to thwart
/ such schemes. and the courts in many parts of
! the country have declared them contra bonos
mores and unlawful. Popular sentiment is SO
aroused that capital finds it much more diff
/ cult 10 De eAactlnS ana oppressive tnan IL mas
been. Capital will only disregard popular in
, tereSts when the people are supine. 1t seems
! in the natural course of events that there will
not be extraordinary opportunities for the few
! TO amass fortunes in future. The serious oues-
! ton is. will those which now exist be continued
| or grow larger through mere accretion?
| The perpetuation OF the great estates in the
| old world has been through the instrumentality
of law-the law of primogeniture 1t has not
: been in force In this country for more than a
century. and superseded by law govern
ing the descent and distribution of property,
: which has had the effect to break estates into
1 fragments on the decease of their pos
SCISSORS. When the life of each generation
terminates the property Of the country
passes into new and more numerous hands.
! None of the immense concessions made by the
kings of England and Holland to the colonists
within the limits of what constitute the United
States have been maintained; they have been
subdivided into small parcels and are now
owned and occupied by large numbers of peo-
pie. In the same way the existing great landed
estates will be subdvded on the decease of the
| present posseSsors. Very few of the estates of
this country. whether consisting of realty or
personally. have passed Unimpaired to the Sec
ond generation from the acduisitors. More
than 30 per cent of the wealthy men of the
! nation have acquired what they possess, ard