Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-02-02
TWELVE PAGES
THURSDAY. FEBRUARY 2. 1899
JOHN LAW LACKED NERVE AND
CHEEK FOR THIS!

When Letter, of Chicago. attempted
TO monopolize all the wheat in this coun-
try, by cornering it, engrossing 1t, fore
stalling it, regrating it. and storing it,
he broke all the old laws which our
wise forefathers had found necessary.
by experience. for the regulation of
trade, not only to protect producers
and consumers and keep competition
free. but to defend the individual and
average trader, merchant, or business
man against combinations of others, or
Rggresations of capital. These very
laws. however saved us from the ex-
pcrnnce out of which they grew. and
which justified them: and we. uncon-
scious of this. but kcenly regardful or
the cost and trouble Of these laws.
found them irksome in their restraints.
especially when VIC desired To take adj
vantage of others. or n condition of the
market in relation to some article: and
hence these laws and regulations were
repealed. grew obsolete. or were held
unnecessary. or against public policy.
or incompatible with our free institu-
tions. Any prctcXt to get rid Of them.
We have had n plenty of experience
since then. and are having II. with n
prospect Of n great deal moro than we
desire. We are learning some respect
for 1.-The wisdom of our ancestors" and
We are beginning to understand the
necessity for the laws we discarded so
hastily. We are discovering. as our
fathers did long ago, that "the natur-
al laws OF trade" cannot deal with 1.-The
tricks of trade" and We shall find ere
long that these tricks" will beat us at
every point. unless we resort to some
thing more effective than natural
laws" which are all comprised in four
words: do as Won please" If this brief
code Is to prevail in anything. why not
in all things? Why should special privi-
1eges be granted to one set of people. or
kind OF enterprise, and not to all? II
trade may do as it please, why not have
general anarchy?
But" we shall be told. trade will
enforce IT'S laws" Yes: by gigantic
trusts. combinations. agglomerations Of
capital and power. trade will work its
pleasure, by debating statutes in ac-
cordance Herewith. or defying law even
in the courts. That is what We do not
want We want one supreme power of
common government, where none are
20 rich and powerful as TO be above re-
straint. and none so poor and weak as
TO be beneath protection: that shall
preserve the freedom and Independence
of peanut stand. and strike down the
monopoly OF trust. We are already told
by the moncy-trust that we shall have
only one kind of money, only so much.
and that we must get ii only from its
agents and agencies. on its terms.
There Is n STANDARD money" called
gold; but we do not handle it, nor see
1T; our only currency is to be the ma
tional bank mote: "the substance of
things hoped for. the evidence o..
things not seen" We nave also n sou
called STANDARD OIL" and under the
d!spensation OF trusts we shall soon
have "a standard in all things: in
what we shall eat, what we shall drink.
and what We shall be clothed withal
Don't doubt it; cmbalmed beef viii
hold the markets, putting all local
butchers :" :he sword.
e Ind th"so arc our food-stufts OF
Vegetable kind: they do rot consist or
whoa alone. tust yet: bu: what Letter,
Of Chicago, fSil.d in Will be undertaken