Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1895-04-18
N T O question is of more vital i'm
IN portance to every man and wom-
Il an than that of the DerDetuity


inent public men, assumed to be best
qualified to answer them:
First-Will our present republican
form of government last one hundred
years longer?
Second-If not, why not?
Third-What is it's greatest peril?
FOurth-1s there any danger that
aliens may so buy up the land and for
eign syndicates so buy up the business
enterprises as to obtain control of our
country and eventually change it's
form of government?
The answers received, which COM
prise most interesting symposium,
will be found below.
Cardinal Gibbons-To the first ques
ton l reply that l not only fervently
pray and trust but also firmly believe
that it will In view of my answer to
your first question your second one re-
quires no answer. It's greatest peril
lies in departure from those Christian
principles upon which our very laws
and institutions are based. To the
fourth query | reply that in my judg-
ment we need have no fear of foreign
capitalists and foreign syndicates.
Those who invest in our public lands
and our business enterprises will natu-
ally be brought into closer acquaintance
with our present republican form of
government, and there is little doubt
that our institutions and our laws
will gain upon them upon closer ac-
Quaintance, and finally win their COM
plete respect and loyal support.
Senator Dolph-To the first question
, amended, changes in form may occur;
but our republican government will
endure for all time. My answer to the
first question renders it unnecessary
to give one to the second. / will not
undertake to answer categorically the
third question. The maintenance of q
government by the people is possible
only when the masses are independent,
intelligent and virtuous. The danger
to our republican form of government
arises from the ignorant, the vicious
and venal classes, controlled by de-
signing and corrupt men. l do not
think there is a particle of danger that
| aliens will SO buy up the land and for
eign syndicates SO buy up the business
enterprises as to obtain control of our
country and eventually change it's form
of government.
L. V. Powderly-Our present repub-
lican form of government cannot last
100 years longer and continue to drift
| under the power of monopoly and
| wealth as it is doing now; in fact, the
money power at the present day forms
| an aristocracy or a plutocracy which
entirely nullities every section, clause,
and article in our bill Of rights when
ever they are called in question in be-
half of the people. The greatest peril
| menacing our government is the power
| ty and indifference of our people. The
poor are so oppressed that they are
forced to sell themselves for what they
| can get, and are thus at the mercy of
| the bosses, the plant tools of monopo-
| ly. who forge to the front in our politi-
| cal parties I do not care whether it
! be an alien Or a native syndicate that
| buys up the land or the business enter
prises of the country, for the instinct
| of greed is the same in an American
as an Englishman, and we have, there
fore, as much to fear land stealing in
one form as another.
Ex-senator Edmunds-I most certain
| ly think that our present republican
form of government will last 100 years
longer. The greatest perils to our re-
ioin a11
of the foreign element, and political
corruption. think there is no danger
of any considerable portion of the lands
of the United States falling into for
eign control. nor that any considerable
portion of it's business enterprises will
ever be owned or controlled by for
eigners
Ex-senator Evarts-I cannot possibly
feel any great degree of concern as to
the stability of the noble institutions
which this great, prosperous, and pow
erful country is now in the enjoyment
Of
Wade Hampton-Time alone can give
the answer to the first and second ques-
tons. With regard to what is the
greatest DCIIl VI Jul government, l.
think it is the accumulation of money
in the hands of a few persons and the
INSCRIPTIONS use of wealth. I appre-
bend no danger to republican institu-
tons from foreign capital or immigra-
ton in the way pointed out by your
fourth question, but think that great
harm is done to the country by allow
ing Nihilists. Communists and paupers
of other lands to become citizens Of
ours.
Senator Sherman-I never venture
to prophesy for the future. No one can
answer the questions with any conf
dence, though I hope most earnestly
that our present glorious republican
form of government will last for many
years. The perils of the future cannot
-o1Il6