The record-union., 1894-09-24
Jieard when Travelinp,

rounding country was fine.
The land was all taken up in larger or
smaller parcels; there was big amber
manufactory conveniently situated, and
other manufactures were going up.
Laborers were coming in from all quar-
ters, wages were good and the unions
proposed TO keep them so.
The citizens had procured charter for
consolidated county and city govern
uent, and had elected Board of Trus-
tees to manage public affairs.
The first thing needei was apparently
good roads. The Trustees passed an Or
dinance that owners Of property contigu-
Gus to roads and streets must pave such
roads and streets with materials TO be
designated by said Trustees, and under
their supervision, and that bidders for
such work must pay their laborers S2 per
day. and work them only eight hours.
The property-ownerS contiguous to
roads and streets asserted that such work
was for the the benefit OF the public, and
ought to he paid Tor by tax levied on al |
property within the county and city; and
also that the Trustees were in duty bound
to use the funds contributed by the tax
payers tor the best interests of said tax
payers.
They asserted that there were plenty of
men who wanted the work at half the
price which the Trustees were Offering,
benefit of all the work which could be
obtained for the money. The Trustees
asserted that they had been elected 10y a
majority vote of the community TO man
age public affairs IN accordance with their
best Judgment. and in their opinion, 81
per day was as little as man could sup
port family on decently. That if the
property-o didn't like the way they
managed public affairs, their redress lay
in the ballot-EoX.
The greater proportion of voters were
laboring men, who were taxed very little,
and they applauded vociferously the SEM
timents and policy of the Trustees. One
old gray-headed farmer with benevo-
lent countenance remarked that it ap-
peared to him that the present generation
in Uncle Sans country were getting dis
torted ideas OF what popularlZed gov
ernmenL meant; that while he should
submit to government as they under
stood it. he would like to propose few
maxims of justice and common sense for
their consideration.
First-A populariZed government is
founded on the idea or principle that all
men, high or low, rich or poor, educated
or ignorant, are entitled to equal justice,
and the belief that there is a common
sense of right and wrong so universal
that the people Of mparatively CIV
ilized nation can govern themselves
justly.
Second-The idea of majority rule
under populariZed government is not
the idea that might is right, but is the be-
lief that The majority can be trusted to
respect and guard the rights OF the mi
nority, which are, at all times, equal with
the rght of the maj ority.
Third-The rights of the aggregate peo-
pie OF community are no greater, or
more extensive, than the individual
rights of each member of that COM
munity.
F6urth-The members of community
cannot confer greater power on repre-
sentative, or delegate Tor any purpose,
than they possess as individuals.
Fifth-rhe common sense of right and
wrong is the foundation of ali law in a
popularized government, and all laws
should be made in conformity Herewith.
SiXth-The test of all laws is the COM
mon sense OF right and wrong, which is
inherent in mankind.
Seventh-Whene enforcing the laws be-
tween communities and individuals, the
same rules OF equity and justice should
be Uracticed as are practiced when enfOrc-
ing the laws between individuals.
The old man continued: Three men
out of four constitute q large majority;
and the three men could undoubtedly APP
proprlate what money the one man had
within their reach 10 their own use, but
there is not a man within the sound OF
my voice who would assert that such
action is right.
Even if they return to the one man
one-fourth OF what he had they only
mitigate heinous outrage.
"What difference IS there in principle
between such action and the levying of a
tax on few individuals OF community
to pay for pubic work, simply because
the individuals live contiguous to the
needed work?
"In disbursing the money acquir ed by
any tax, what right have the peoples
representatives TO depart from the ordi-
nary business methods OF nearly ali men,
which is TO procure as much OF needed
arIicle for the money exchanged as the
market offers?
Perhaps it may show Christi an
hearts wnen men desire to pay good
wages. but III this case is not the
Christianity evidently at the expense OF
the taxpayers?
Low prices for any commodity is al
ways benefit 10 the purchaser, and also
to the public, because 1t places the pur-
chaser in condition for more disburse-
ments. And how about the uuem-
ployed? Are half the workmen in the
country to stand idle and starve in order
10 give tue other half chance to obtain
remunerative wages?
The effect OF the differences between
! the supply OF, anu the demand for, any
commodity, is natural law eSsE ;on se-
quence: and competition is also a natural
right, which increases the amount of ex-
changes of products.
High prices for labor, and low prices
for the products OF labor, are both de-
sired, but the constant continuance of
both at the same time is as unattainable
as constant day or constant night.
In my long life | have noticed th at
when things were lett to take their
natural course, IN accordance with natu-
raj laws and natural rights, our country
has been generally prosperous, but when
men have attempted TO set aside these
natural laws. or natural rights, il has
brought trouble to many"
The Trustees replied that they were
acting III accordance with the powers be-
slowed upon them by their constituents
III the usual manner, just as similar Off
GERS In other communities acted,
The ola man said that not being a
precedent worshiper, such assertions
affected his comprehension no more
than would the assertion that robbery is
right because it has been committed
heretofore anu by others.
universal cheer was given by the
crowd, with cries of go il, old man
your head is levelur
This Is one of the curious things which
have noticed in my travels: When a
sentiment is uttered which accords with
the common sense OF right and wrong.
all neu applaud. even those VINO ap-
parently are governed almost wholly by
seihsn motives, seemingly being only
ANXIOUS TO keep within the pale of the
law TO avoid punishment.
OLD CRANK.