Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1898-03-24
OUR AMERICAN KINGS.
COMPARED TO THE RoBBER
BARONS OF EUROPE.
The Railway Kings, More Powerful Than
the RObber BarOns of old, Levy Trib-
ute at WIN on all our Vast Industries
and own the Great Highways.

| nelu compared our modern railway
kings to the robber barons Of Europe
during the middle ages, and said:
"The modern barons, more power
full than their military prototypes,
own our greatest highways, and levy
tribute at will upon all our vast indus
tries And as the old feudalism was
finally controlled and subordinated
only by the combined efforts of the
kings and the people of the free cities
and towns, so, our modern feudalism
can be subordinated to the public good
only by the great body of the people,
acting through their governments by
wise and just laws"
The oppressed people of Illinois in
the early seventies, every where in the
public m ceilings likened the railway
corporations, to "the feudal barons"
of the middle ages. And, even so learn
ed and prudent writer as Charles
Francis Adams alluded to the course of
the railway kings toward each other,
as the "Robroy plan"
Now let us examine this matter. Is
there any similarity between the med
iaeval robber barons and our modern
railway king?
The great barons and chiefs of the
middle ages in Europe lived by rob.
berry, rapine and general spoliation.
They took possession of the highways
and the great thoroughfares; they
built castles and strongholds in the
mountain ' passes and other strategic
points, where travellers and the com.
merce of the country were compelled
to pass, and, levied tribute on them,
all the travel and commerce could
bear.
In order to enforce their policy the
barons surrounded themselves with
retaiuers and dependents, were ready
at all times to take the field in the
service of their masters. When a
foray for plumber was intended the
great baron at the head of his forces
was aided by scouts and outriders;
and, in the craggy Businesses of the
mountains, and, among the impractic-
able marshes, there were footmen and
even dogs to aid in the hunt for hui
man game and booty. Men and boys
on foot with the dogs were, in Scot
land, called "gilly wet feet" and these
wild highland forces in general, were
called 'caterans.
Our modern barons have, in like
manner, taken possession of our great
est highways, and, as stated by Mr.
Garfield, are levying tribute at will on
all our vast industries. To enforce
this robber policy when opposed or
criticised, they have surrounded them
selves with retainers and dependents,
in the form of well paid attorneys, and
subsidized newspapers, and, even with
public officials of easy political virtue.
They have their scouts and outriders
in every considerable town, with free
passes in ;heir pockets. And, also,
their insignificant gilly wet feet, and
human dogs, to snap and snarl at he
friends of the people through the local
newspapers and on the stump. The
parity or similarity of the medieval
and modern barons seems to be very
perfect indeed, even to the numbering
of men by over work and otherwise.
When President Ripley found him
self involved in serious newspaper dis
cussions, he issued his reply of Janu-
airy 9Th, in circular form for use in the
plutocratic press. 1t instantly aroused
the baronical retainers of the CONT
nent, like howl from the Pyrannes
TO the Rhine, and from Normandy to
Vienna, when caravan of travelling
merchants was to be overhauled and
rich tribute collected. 1t was like the
slogan of Ulainy Mcpherson among his
wild caterans, when the lowlanders
were intent on recovering from him
their missing herds.
In hundred plutocratic newspapers
the Ripley "reply" found place and ia
vorable notice. The New York Herald
was prominent IN the east and quoted
in the west. Other great organs mn
swered echo to echo in the remotcst
parts of the land. Tn local press
the gilly wet-feet or DDS trainers of
the great Fergus Mac-Ivor-caught
up the familiar chorus and repeated
from each other the words and sen.
fences placed in their hands Some
thought they ought to discuss the rail-
road subject, in opposition to govern
ment ownership. Others, in their ig-
norance, discussed John Davis. Each
made the noise and blew the horn
which he hoped might best please the
highway chieftain whom he served
The jargon was both amusing and
harmless. 1t was, in fact, beneficial
by. calling attention to the discussion,
and thus causing the truth to be more
widely known.
Among the more candid of the Rip