The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-05-26

the purchaser Ia sure to obtain what he
wants at a reasonable price. When com.
petition is eliminated the price Is con-
trolled not by reason, but by the greed OF
the one who possesses the monopoy:
The government would be guilty OF
gross neg lect IL IL permitted an individual
to secure monopoly even without leRis-
lative assistance, but y Is still more cul-
psble, II by legislative act II furnishes
the means by which q monopoly is ee-
cured. The corporation Is the means now
employed BY those who seek TO secure
M monopoly. Since the corporation ID
ctitious person, created oy law, the pow
es that creates can regulate, restrain OF
anDihilate. To say that the government
Is impotent to prevent the organization
of trusts il to say that 1t has called INTO
existence a fictitious person and that tne
fictitious pc: s sbn 'eated has become 8reae-
err than the CIeator.
One of the difficulties which has been
encountered in opposing trusts Is that
the trust hides behind the federal oonsti'
tuition when attacked by state Legislation
and shields Itself behind its state char
ter when attacked in the federal courts.
No remedy will be complete that Is nob
co-extensiye with the federal government.
II the extinguishment OF the trusts Is
left to state legislation, the public at
large will be victimized AS long as
single state will furnish q robbers roost
where the spoils collected in other states
can be divided. just now the people are
startled by the principle OF monopoly as
it manifests itself in the Industrial
trust, and well may they Re startled.
The principle, however, is the same as
TINT which manifests itself in the effort
of the national banks to secure mo-
nouoly of the issue of paper money.
The Republican party Is impotent to
destroy the trusts. 1t is controlled by
i,to t,I frt -ta nj
it's campaign funds and siDews of war
are supplied by the trusts. The policies
for which 1t now stands disregarded the
interests of the producers of wealth and
gives to money a consideration which Is
denied to the individual.
Abraham Lincoln, in the very Begin
ming of his Presidential career. warned
the country against the threatened at.
tempt to put capital above labor In the
structure of the government. Modern
Republioanism is fulfilling the prophecy
made by Lincoln; it is putting the dollar
above the man.
The Democratic party is opposed to the
principle of monopoly where ever 1t man
| ifests itself. 1t has declared war on che
trusts. Not little trust only, but a big
trust, as we'll. Not against ono kind OF
trust only, but against all trusts.
Mr.. Bryan touched briefly upon the
silver question, declaring that 1t was an
| issue that must be met. he tnen re :
turned to the attack on the trusts which
he accused Of lack of good faith toward
the people.
Following Mr.. BRYAN came 0. II. p.
| Belmont of New YorK, who declared
himself as in favor of the election of
Mr.. Bryan in 1900. He then spoke
against the trusts, declaring them the OF
shoot OF the policy pursued by the Repub
| lican party the last 20 years,
Ex-Gov. John T.. AItgeld of Illinois
the next speaker. dwelt upon the princi
pies of the Chicago platform, declaring
that a continued adherence to them by
the Democratic party would mean great
| success in the future.
An overflow meeting was held in tht
auditorium OF Music hall. Nearly 40Ot
people thronged the hall and addresses
were made by MIR. Bryan, Coin" Harvey
| Congressman Dookery of Missouri
Champ Clark and a number OF others.