The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-05-26

compel him TO become a purchaser. and
where there is but one seller the purchaser
is completely at the mercy OF the seller
Where there is competition between pro-
ducers the purchaser is sure 10 obtain what
he wants at a reasonable price Nhen com,
petition is limited the price is controlled
not by reason, but by the greed OF the one
who possesses the monopoly.
1T has been said that the power to tax
is q power TO destroy. A monopoly possess
es the power to tax and levy such assess
ments IL will upon the purchaser, and
we can no more afford to permit such a
power TO be exercised by private individ-
ualS than we could AFFORD 10 authorize
private individual to use the machinery or
taxation in order to enrich himself at the
expense of his fellows.
THE government would be guilty of gross
neglect If ii permitted an individual TO Sc
assistance. but Il is still more cuipable if
by legislative act, Ii furnishes the means
by which monopoly is secured. The cor
poration is the means now employed by
those who seek to secure a monopoly. Since
the corporation is q fictitious person, cre-
ated by law. the power that creates can
that the government is impotent TO pre-
vent the organization OF trusts is TO say
that 1t has called into existence ficti-
tious person and that the fictitious person
created has become greater than the crea-
tor.
lone OF the difficulties which has been
trust hides behind M pii the federal constitution
when attacked by state legislation, and
shields itself behind its state charter
when attacked in the federal courts. No
extensive with the federal government.
IL the extinguishment of the trusts is left
be victimized as long as a single State will
furnish a robbers roost, where the spoils
collected in other States can be divided.
Just now people are startled by the
principle of monopoly as il manfests itself
in the industrial trust, and well may they
be startled. The principle, however, is the
same as that which manifests itself in the
effort of the national lankers that secure
a monopoly Of the issue of paper money.
The greenback is a rival of the bank note,
and its presence is a constant menace TO
evils that flow from a soap trust, seem
Indifferent to the dangers that attend the
formation of a paper-money trust.
THE principle of monopoly not only lies
at the foundation of the attempt 10 destroy
the greenbacks, but 1T is the controlling
principle that underlies the crusade against
silver as standard money. Between 1850
and 1860, when the production of gold was
increasing and the production of silver was
small, three nations demonetiZed gold and
gave TO silver monopoly of mint privileges.
Early in the seventies the financiers became
alarmed at the increase in the production
of silver, and conspired TO destroy silver
as a standard money and gave monopoly
to gold, the production of which at that
time was stationary The standard-money
trust is not only the parent trust, but Is In
the hands of foreigners.
1.-The Republican party is impotent to de-
stroy the trust. 1t is controlled by those
who are interested in trusts and its cam
piled by the trusts. The policies for which
1t now stands disregard the interests OF the
a consideration which is denied to the in
dividual. Abraham Lincoln, in the very be-
ginning of his presidential career, warned
the country against the threatened attempt
to put capital above labor in the structure
os the government. Modern Republicanism
is fulfilling the prophesy made by Lincoln,
it is putting the dollar above the man.
THE Democratic party is opposed TO the
principle of monopoly wherever Ii manifests
itself. 1t has declared war on the trusts.
Not little trust only, but big trust as
we'll Not against one kind of trust only,
but against all trusts.
Mr.. Bryan, although he devoted the great
er part Of his address to the trusts. touched
briefly upon the silver question, declaring
that it was an issue that must be met. The
Republicans being pledged TO the gold
standard, he said, were opposed to silver
because it meant the giving up OF the stand
ard which they had adopted. He then re-
turned to the attack on trusts, which he ac-
cused of lack of good faith towards the
people. "a rich man." he declared, 'who
paws his taxes is as much of a patriot as
any man who swims river or who climbed
up San Juan hill"
Following Mr.. Bryan came o. III. p. Bel
mont, of New York, who in the opening
sentence of his speech declared himself as
in favor of the selection of Bryan as the
Democratic nominee in 1899. He then re-
turned to the foe Of the evening-the trusts
and hunted them vigorously, declaring
them the offshoot of the policy pursued by
the Republican party during the last TWEEN.
ty years
Ex-Governor John p. Altgeld. of Illinois
was the next speaker. He dwelt a consider
able lei 9Th of time on the principles Of the
Chicago platform, declaring that con
tinued adherence to them by the Demo
cratic party would mean a great success in
the future.
There were loud calls for Ex-Governor
William j. Stone, but he declined to make
a speech.
An overflow meeting was held in the audi
torium of Music Hall. Nearly 1000 people
thronged the hall, and short addresses Were
made by Mr.. Bryan. Coin" Harvey, Con
gresham Dockery, of Missouri. Chaml
Clark and a number of others.