Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1899-12-15


THEY ARE PUBLIC ENEMIES.
The people Of the United States have
given too many proofs of their capacity
for self-government, of their attach
mens to our political system, aud their
love Of liberty to render doubtful or un-
certain the result Of any controversy
that threatens freedom of the citizen or
independence Of the state.
The greatest monopoly this country.
or perhaps the world, has ever know
was African slavery. A few thousand
capitalists in the South owned four mil
lion negroes, and for nearly q century
controlled the politics, the products and
the foreign and domestic policy of the
nation. They made and unmade Presi-
dents. they ruled Congress. they waged
a war Of conquest for the extension and
consolidation of their dominion, they
degraded free labor, they perverted the
constitution by the DEGREES of corrup-
ted judiciary. Their most arrogant
champion insolently boasted that he
could call the roll Of his slaves in the
shadow Of Bunker Hill.
These supercillous monopolists had
their apologists and defenders in the
North, pusillanimous politicians hungry
for place, traders seeking gain, towards
wanting peace An obsequious and SER
vile clergy found Scriptural warrants
for human slavery. Merchants deprec-
ated agitation, learned college professors
discoursed upon the inevitable tenden-
cies of the epoch, and the incalculable
blessing attending the relation of master
and slave.
No institution ever appeared more
formidadly intrenched and fortified in
prerogative and power.
Itnourished vast international COM
merce, it furnished great fraction Of
many staples indispensable to the COM
fort and welfare of mankind. The
prosperity Of the market of the world
depended apparently on its stability.
The mere money invested and involved
reached thousands of millions, whose
peril would threaten every industry in
in America and shake every Bourse in
Europe, but when the people realized
that the alternative was the loss of self
government and individual liberty they
took the standard that fell from the
hand Of John Brown on the scaffold at
Charlestown and planted it in triumph
at Appomattox.
A few years ago the railroads got very
fresh and gay. Whether or not the
elder Vanderbilt offered the derogatory
observation about the public with which
he is popularity credited, there was am
pie ground in the conduct of railway
corporation for supposing that he might
have done so. Having practical mon
opoly of transportation, they set up q
government of their own. It was Gus
pected that they bought the Legislat.
ure and occasionally sold them. They
exerted extraordinary influence over
judges and juries: They gave favored
shippers secret rates, they disseminated
against localities, they invented the re-
bate, the long and short haul, and va
rious other devices not favorable to the
equal laws.
When these burdens became int oler-
able the people concluded to take fall
out of the railroads. The contest was
animated, but the Interstate Commerce
Commission was created.
The railroads submitted to the curb
with docility rather too abusive to be
entirely genuine, and while their re-
lations to the public are not yet ideal,
they are under control and recognize
their responsibility to the public will.
These two exam pies, out of many
that might be cited, should encourage
the Jeremiahs, and Cassandras, the
Howling Dervishes of our politics, who
predict the downfall of liberty before
the tyranous encroachment of capital.
They should also serve to warn those
who uphold or defend any combin-
ations that threaten the prerogatives of
a people determined to be free.
The issue is SO simple, and plain, and
clear, that the wayfaring man, though
a fool, may not err therein. In the
deep and troubled unrest Of these times
there is no hostility to wealth honestly
acquired and honorably enjoyed, for all
are striving to better their own condi-
tion. Neither is there any hatred Of
They are recognized as
the ministers and agents imperatively
demanded by our new civilization. All
this empty chatter about the antiquity
Of trnsts and their benefcence in cheap
ening production deceives no one. In
one breath we are told they have exist
cd for many centuries, and in the next