New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-09-17
ARE THE PEOPLE BLED?
PRESENT CONDITIONS or UNREST ASSIGNED TO
CORPORATION RAPACrTY

PRESENT CONDITIONS or UNREST ASSIGNED TO
CORPORATION RAPACITY
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR desire through the columns or Inc lrio-
me TO call attention the Other side OF the que%
,ion ~ our social and political and Industrial con-
ditons There must be some underlying cause TOT
our feverish. disturbed condition which brings
about the upheavals and lamentations. not 70 say
nnammations in the great body polite. Ihere
must be some fire whore there Is 80 much SMOKE
some foundation for this perpetual outbreak OF I'M
rest. what il II?
Are the people enjoying their inalicnable rights
~ NE liberty and the pursuit OF happiness, or
- there not some mlsdIrection OF public anairs'
some evil some great wrong fastened upon the
people OF which they have a right 10 complain
II is said that the Nation is enormously prosper
GUS or was UP the bursting OF the Dupbie IN
1929; that the country Is or was, enormously
rich having the greatest National wealth-sone
go 600 10000 OF National wealth. But was this
prosperity the prosperity Of the people was II
not the unjust increment OF the few? Is this great
National wealth blessing. or is 1t a curse?
The prosperity Of the Nation was not the great
Increase ~ wealth by the farmer; the laborer mad
a good living. but he had no great dividends. II
lions. the waterei stock or glgahtlc fnonotol,.s,
a Just rate for transporting IT TO market The
laborer had to pay so much more Tor MS PROV
nous overvalucs for his drygoods TO meet the un,
iust dividends upon waterci stock or coInpined
corporations and monopolies II the people are
Obliged To pay overvaluations upon service ana
produce to give great dividends to this SlO~peoVU
~ railway shares this t25 00eoOovl OF wealth or
corporations. more than half OF all or whlch IS
fictitious Is not this great boosted wealth cursor
Is not this great boosted prosperity which gives
existence and dividends to these monopolles rather
an evil9 Have not the people reason FOR their
complaints and their unrest? Have the National
highways with their special privileges a right 70
bond the people to pay dividends upon watered
stock OF ten times IN" actual cash OF the roads!
The net annual income OF the Lake SHORE ana
Michigan Southern Railroad Is sufficient TO re
build that road each year from Chicago TO Bur
falo. ,,, . ..
Why should corporation be allowed TO extor ,t
10 . To - per cent Income upon Its shares. when
money loaned upon bond and mortgage Is restrict
cd 10 "A legal rate OF interest Have these Ma
tional highways. these gigantic combines, cor
uorations and monopoes got the great American
Rcnublic by the throat. gaRged. handcuNed. throt-
tlel their gold dagger thrust 10 Its heart 70 me
hin and coolly drawing It's life blood. and no
voice to cry murder -,
Tho people may BE- taking foolish. Illegal means
IN combat these wrongs they are not able 10 pay
tho host legal talent salaries of SOlN a year 10
,~u them how 10 get their cause before the SUI
irene court OF the Nation. We have TO put down
The mohs the riots. the strikes. shoot n few, but
we pity these poor. ignorant struggles against
evil which bind the chains OF slavery SUI closer
and STRONGER. ~ LAS NJ E' 40
shelby Miss Sept. g. 1884