Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-01-21
vIRGTNIAN-PTLor, SATURDAY, JAl

Of the few-a close corporation, with$
absolute power to do as they please.
without competition in its special labor {
material. field. or sale OF commodities.
or their quality. or compensation, for
services rendered or their efficiency.
Religion. politics and government tt
self. If not society and domestic life.
besides all industry, enterprise and bus
mess. becoming subject to trusts, or to
one all-engrossing trust, we should all
Except our trustees") be in n fine sit
uation: no reasonable liberty, no
choice. no opportunity-nothing of our
own. being at the mercy of the "trus-
tees" In everything! That this is not all
a dream-a nightmare OF n disordered
fancy-loolt around and see what has
already happened in all matters and af-
fairs enumerated; and If we have this
In the green tree. what may not be put
upon us In the dry? Especially as the
trust and its advocates and defenders
seem to have no conception of real right
and liberty,-liberty regulated by law,
and so regulated that no mans. nor
any set Of mems, right and liberty
shall deprive any other man of his
right and liberty, or invade them
being adjusted all to all, as the cells
of the honey-comb, or as the orbits or
spheres of the hosts of heaven.
The mistake OF the trustees" and
their defenders is that money is all,
and that everything Is to be considered
solely from the point of profit and
loss, in cash. They wholly ignore the
right and liberty OF other men to fol-
low any business or calling, or their
wish to do so; for they would crush
the natural impulse to compete. They
ignore the right and liberty of labor
to seek higher wages and better terms
and masters. They Ignore the right
and liberty OF the supplers OF ma
terials to seek more remunerative
prices. They Ignore the right and lib
eFty OF purchasers or consumers to
obtain a cheaper, better, or different
article. The mission of the trust is to
deprive men OF these rights and lib
critics (Which are also good, wise and
natural desires) by destroying every
opportunity for their exercise and en-
joyment. What boots it that it is all
for our general welfare? Who believe,
1t! Where were these men born and
bred who have the audacity and self
conceit to ask to be entrusted with
such powers?
And that 1t Is for our good, In a
money-sense. is nothing to the pur-
pose What we want is our right and
liberty TO a fair and equal opportu-
nifty to exercise our faculties. emplov
our means and exert our energies. ev-
cry man for himself, in such honest
and honorable way as We please. What
we desire is that no one man, nor any
set OF men. shah FIX our wages for la
DOR or service. arbitrarily determine
terms and conditions, or be enabled
TO say that we shall serve him. OR
them. or starve. What we demand 10
a free market. open 20 competition TO,
ali we produce. supply and sell. as
well as for all we need. consume or
buy. We shall not consent for govern
ment. or the trusts. 10 close this mar
ket or restrain trade and competition
IN THIS way. or any way unless by a
system OF general socialism or com.
mun!sm. We shall protest against II.
vote against It an6 fight agains: II.
II need be. and opportunity offer.
Thera Is no sense. nor logic. no,
right. nor liberty. nor Justice. nor
honesty In the Trust System, save In
socialistic or communistic Common
wealth. and we want neither.