The Louisiana populist., 1895-10-11
A GLANCE AT AFFAIRS.
A CONSERVATIVE REVIEW OF
THE SITUATION.



aud illusions to ''aristocracy, .'plu-
tocracy' and corruption in high and
low places" might be Opportune at
this time. il not instructive.
That ''perpetuities and monopolies
are contrary to the genius OF free
government" is doubtless endorsed
by large majority of the people of
the United States, yet they exist and
flourish through the length and
breadth OF the country.
Attention is directed first to the
land which is said to be rapidly con-
centrating in the hands of the few,
while the army of tenants are rapidly
increasing. In many OF the western
states large bodies OF agricultural and
pastoral lands are held by alien and
domestic syndicstes, not to mention
the extensive holdings of individ uals.
In Texas. for illustration. one COM
pany owns 5000. 900 acres in body,
while one railroad company in this
state was granted, by Democratic
legislature, an amount of land which,
If in one body, would be one mile wide
and nearly 5000 miles long, or nearly
5.120, 900 acres, free from all taxa
tion for twenty-five years from the
date Of the grant.
IL may not be out OF place just here
TO state that the total area of land in
the United States is 2,297, ,OS6, ,5i7
acres. Ofthis 1,002.997, III acres are
not available. leaving 1888, ,OS9, $40
acres available, divided in 1890 as
follows:
Acres.
In farms ......... 6s7 eo5 375
owned by railroads. ........ ..l72 $4,000
Owned by aliens. ......... 81, 90
owned by spectators ................ 2l500,5Oo
Total ............ .... .... s5S, l2s,s,5
A simple calculation will show that
ct that date We had only 335, ,696, 995
acres OF available land remaining.
1t would be well 10 note mere that the
railroads, aliens, and spectators then
owned 22,526,00 acres, most, il not
all OF which was then and is now held
for speculative purposes; and, it
might be added, that the desire among
those who have large sums of money
at their command to acquire land in
creases Win passing years.
Under existing systems the English,
Scotch and German aliens, with sur
plus capital. seek secure investments
that promise return to them or their
posterity. Naturally they look to the
United States as being the best field
for such investments, as there 10 little
lett In Europe or Asia that oan be 80
easily acquired and at such reasonable
figures, promising at the same time
such large returns.
Again, the millions of acres owned
by the railroads might with propriety
be classed with the holdings OF aliens,
rs the English. Scotch and German,
with few American capitalists, hold
our IS, 579. 292, 613 OF railroad bonds,
hence indirectly own the railways
and their lands.
But there are other monopolies,
among which may be mentioned the
oil. meat, grain. telegraph, banking.
whisky. leather. coal. iron, clothing.
glass. sugar. twine, Q monopoly of
the gold mines, as also q monopoly of |
the silver mines, and thousand or |
more not necessary to enumerate. A
corporation may be, under certain
circumstances, necessity, but 1t is |
generally conceded that q monopoly
or trust (Which Is several monopolies |
combined) Is . curse. There was
time when even q retail merchant
was considered gentleman, bene-
factor in his community, q freeman;
but all this is changed. as under the
system inaugurated by the trusts. he
is simply an agent for them. q kind of
toll collector. In some lines OF mer-
chandise the trusts 60 90 far rs to
even fix the price at which he shall |
retail their products. aud refusing to
obey their orders he is boycotted or
blacklisted. and cannot handle their
products again. The banker is the
merchants other boss.
The transportation problem should
not escape notice here, for it is of
direct Interest to all. By organiza-
tion the various railway msnagements
are gradually obliterating competi-
ton. q factor that has ever been rec
ognized ss the life OF trade. in the in
terest OF the people; aud therefore, If
they have not already, are rapidly
perfecting most powerful, exacting
and oppressive monopoly. In
deed. it is asserted that
those lines of railway which
have no competition now charge
all that the traffic will BEAR" and.
unlike fares that one may dodge by
remaining At home. all freights must
be paid in the end by the consumer.
While it is true that the freight on .
stock OF merchandise, when appor-
toned. is comparatively light on each
consumer. yet In the aggregate it
foots up millions of dollars in years
transactions, the greater part OF which
goes to pay extravagant salaries and
interest on watered stock and bonds.
1t is boldly asserted by many that !