The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-04-30

to the ha nds OF a few irresponsible men.
the control OF whom Is generally found 10
be centred in that modern babylon by
the Thames OF vast Importance from
the economin side. the danger is deadly
from the governmental standpoint. by
the vast number of their employees, the
great numbers of the press and OF the
bar whom they retain. and their READY
power of concentration Of influences upon
pivotal points, they have a prepondering
weight which can endanger the main
tenance of popular government.
The suggested remedy Of government
ownership OF railroads IS untried here
and Is fraught with prophesied evils. The
remedy sought to be applied in many
States Of control by means Of railroad
commissions has too often resulted in
the railroads electing the commissioners
and simply adding the commissions 10
their assets. The question must needs
be solved. but It's solution has not yet
been found. 1t is the old riddle Of the
Sphynx. To fail TO answer il is death.
There are still other matters which need
not be discussed now. Who shall win
the victory remains 10 be seen. But
that the inevitable conflict is at hand
and that its results will be lasting and
| VIII lfdAt lis main ~ EJA2hiAuhA'A'~'
changes is beyond question.
It should not be lost sight Of that In
this struggle for the possession Of the
governing powcr. there is no faint OF an
agrarian spirlt. There is no apprecia-
BILE element OF the American people who
are opposed to property rights. II Is
not opposition 20 property. but 10 its com
bination in vast masses for political pur-
poses, that IT may control legislation and
the machinery Of government I'm the in
terest of the combination and against
the property rights OF others. II was
Senator McDdfie who said that legisla-
ton could be the most powerful and ex-
acting Of plunderers
There Is no hatred OF corporations as
such. They are essential IN the service
of civilized life. nay indispensable. Nor
even against railroad corporations. so far
as they keep within the legitimate du-
ties of their creation. but IL Is VIXEN
they seek TO use their enormous power
Of wealth and organization for the undue
emOlument Of their owners and by enter
ing the political arena seek 10 control
legislation and public policy that the col
lision becomes inevitable. The opposi-
ton is not TO them as servants OF the
public. but as would-be masters Of the
people.
lndi We nave AlltNhe iH'o'N ~ 49,
ger-line as TO the aggregation OF wealth
will be seen from this summary from re-
liable resources: Egypt. Persia, and other
great Empires fell when less than 10 per
cent. OF the people had secured nine
tenths of the accumulated wealth OF those
empires. The glories OF imperial Rome
orumbled into dust before the Drawn
arms Of the h~alf-naked harbarians OF the
northern forests. when l.SoO families had
garnered the mass Of its wealth. Al
| ready to-day. one-half OF one per cent.
of the people OF this country own over
one-half OF It's entire wealth. and nine
per cent. Of It's people " seyenty-hVe
per cent. OF its property.
This condition tends rapidly to agra
vate itself. To-day. in Europe, forty per
cent. of the householders are tenants In
this grand young republic already seven
tv per cent. OF the householders nearly
double the European ratio, do not own,
but rent their homes.
This condition Of things has not acct
d~entally happened. II has been brought
about by the great corporations and COM
bination Of capital.
MANY WARNING VOICES.
Already may warning voices have teen
raised. ! will mention only two-and
they are leaders in the two most constr
yative professions in the world. In an
address before the American Bar Asso-
citation. at Milwaukee. In 1893. hr.-gms-
tice Brown. Of the Supreme Court of the
United States. the holder Of a post which
Is a guarantee Of his conservatism, and
speaking to the most conservative body
in the country-the leaders of the bar
pointing out the evils OF this rapid con-
centration OF wealth into a few hands
suggested that without interfering with
ones accumulations in his lifetime. three
vast estates whose continuance Is a ne
mace 10 our form Of government could
be efsectually broken mp by repeating our
! Statute Of Wills and Statutes OF Descent
and providing that at any ones death
all above n certain limited amount 10
each child should be otherwise distribut-
ed or go into the Golfers OF the State.
He pointed out what every lawyer knows.
though It is contrary to our habits OF
thought. that no man. after he passes
beyond this vale Of tears" has the right
10 dictate what shall become OF his prop
erty.
If he could of right control II for one
generation he could for many genera
| lions, which the laws. years ago, found
il necessary to prohibit. The present
\ condition OF things imperatively demands
| some Limitation upon the transmissal from
i hand to hand or lNtSt tOlJH&hi estates.
The public welfare is the supreme law.
The promotion Of the public welfare is
named I'm the preamble TO the constitu-
ton of the United States as one Of the
motives for that instrument. Salus pep
uli suprema lex. The same reason re-
qulre5 the breaking up Of the great es-
tates accumulated by trusts and which
in turn create and give a motive for the
formation Of trusts.
Without taking further time I will quote
a single phrase from the words OF one
who is bett r known 10 fame by the desig-
nation Of Ian McLaren." a conservative
OF a most conservative church, the Kirk
OF Scotland.
In his late work. Words Of the Mas
ter" ne saws. "A millionaire is now al
most worshipped. but II the signs OF the
times are not at fault the day IL not far
distant when 10 die possessed OF great
wealth will be 10 stamp one as a SEMI
criminal"
These quotations might be greatly ex-
tended. but when We reflect that these
u~tterances are from leaders OF thought
I'm the two most conservative professions
OF the world-for your " great profess
sion has now become enc OF the most
progressive on the planet. a very Edison
among the professions-when such speech
comes from such men we know that we
are face 10 face with the great evil Of the
dav. and thet the public welfare demands
its abatement.
7 will add Just here one other quota
tjon. In h,s message 70 Congress, De-
,eoc praeiifpt Clevetond uSa1