The Saint Paul globe., 1896-12-09
HAVE AT THEM.

The most vital part of the presidents
message is the brief paragraph relat-
ing to trusts. It is the habit Of those
in active politics to glance lightly over
new and dangerous issues, while they
devote their main attention to the
stock subjects that have held the po-
litical boards for a generation. The
truth is that the people Of this coun-
try think and feel more deeply at this
moment on the subject Of these gigan-
tic combinations Of capital than they
do about the tariff, the currency, our
foreign affairs, or any other policy of
act connected with our government.
Behind the mighty convulsions that
shook the nation but few weeks ago,
and threatened to topple the edifce of
orderly government into the gulf. there
was something more than the mere
frenzy of fiatism, there was an impulse
toward liberty that sprang from the
eternal right. There was the rebellion
Of the people, their righteous and over
whelming wrath against the men who
manipulate prices and offer to or with
hold from the average individual the
right to life, liberty and the pursuit of
happiness.
1t was this strong mutiny against the
tendencies of our times toward the rule
Of people by combinations of capital
that gave to the forces behind Mr..
Bryan all their intensity of purpose
and all their fieeting hope of victory.
The free coinage racket was only the
beating of tin pans. The real thought
of the people was to protect and re-
store individual liberty. On that issue
they are bound to win. For once has it
happened this year that the adoption Of
a foolishly false and futile money pol
icy could bring to nothing the efforts
of those who have larger views and
deeper concern for their country But
by one hand or another the trust must
and will be throttled. No administra-
ton has yet attempted it. No congress
has approached the issue in good faith
The Sherman bill is a mockery and
probably was intended as such Diff
ferent attorneys general have failed.
from whatever cause may be, to reach
the trust. This failure cannot continue
indefinitely. If there are any wise men
among those who are to be intrusted
with power for the next four years.
and if they can free themselves from
the mighty influences with which they
are SO closely bound up, they will take
up first of all the suggestion of Mr..
Cleveland, and, if they do no more,
make trial of the remedy limited at in
his message, which is to exclude from
interstate commerce commodities
whose production is controlled by
trusts.
If this is not done. If the policy Of
non-interference of the past is followed
for the future, then let it be under
stood by men of all parties that the op-
position to the trust will carry this
country. 1t will carry it not only on
the basis Of hostility to such combina-
tions, not merely for the purpose of
securing freedom Of manufacture and
of trade, but there will be bound up
with it, just as there were in the last
campaign, lot Of less tolerable and
more extreme and violent propositions
that will catch the public ear. 1t is the
old problem Of reform by moderation
or by revolution. The trust must go.
Shall it go by the orderly act Of men
who love liberty well enough to punish
the oppressor. though he be found in
high places, or shall it go by popular
uprising that will sweep away with it
much Of that which we value and per-
haps transform our institutions into
shapes that we would not recognize?
That is the practical aspect of the
greatest question before the American
people today. 1t is to be, we are con-
vinced, one thing or the other Re-
form must come. The liberty of oppor-
tunity must be secured and maintained
Neither the tyranny of capital nor the
tyranny of labor can be allowed to pre-
vail. But if the new day come through
the operation of law or the overthrow
OF law, it is not only as a matter of
patriotism, not merely as a matter of
public policy, but as a matter of self