New-York tribune., 1899-07-12
DEMOCRATIC CAMPAIGN CRY.

The belief of the Democrats that they can win
on the trust issue is plainly sincere. IL accounts
for much in their acts and plans that would
otherwise'seem sheer madness. Moreover that
belief is plainly growing. Day by day Democrats
OF more or less prominence come TO the front
with the boast that they Will win, not by leav-
ing or hiding the silver issue, not by frank sup
port either of the Government or its foes In the
Philippines. but by furious outcry against "the
trusts" Each day shows more clearly that they
do not mean TO find out what trust is. or to
tell anybody else After the style Of Pingree's
Michigan bill, they will call every combination
of capital which does anything that man has
right 10 do with his own property, and decides
10 sell or not as II chooses. n wicked trust and
grinding monopoly against which all free men
ought to fight with no sort of care what means
may be taken to break 1t down. The more
vague and loose the statement OF purpose the
better. these men reckon. They want no clear
limitations Of the objects Of attack nor Of the
modes OF destruction to be used The widest
abuse the most frantic disregard for all consti-
tutional rights will best suit their plans.
This kind of war has seemed contemplate
TO sober men. They strive in good faith to find
out how far new industrial methods do harm
and in what way their abuses can be practically
checked or stopped. counting that nothing can be
done which the Constitution forbids To them
crazy outcry against the bad and the good alike,
and for steps which can nowhere be taken with
effect until the Constitution has been over
thrown, has seemed sure to rouse the anger Of
sane and practical people. But that is in part
because they are trying to do some good, while
the Democrats are only trying to fool the people
down TO the casting of the ballots
One thing 10 be remembered Is that all the
harm that trusts have ever done or tried TO do
can be paraded before voters as proof Of the
evil tendency of every industrial corporation,
whether In any sense a trust or not TO the
minds OF great many men the root Of all evil is
the limitation OF competition. Any and every
aggregation of capital for the purpose OF him
dering a compulsory auction sale of all things
produced. except on the farms not 10 the high
est but 10 the lowest bidder, is a conspiracy
against the public 1t is literally true that there
are some millions of farmers who count 1t
sacred right for them 10 form alliances for the
purpose Of raising as far as they can the prices
OF farm products and also millions Of working
men who count IL their sacred right TO demand
through unions the highest wages they can get,
but all these hold 1t no less than q crime for
men 10 combine or agree who have any other
be reckoned with and It is unreasoning enough
"a care nothing for proof that combinations only
invite competition and never live unless they
serve the public
One other thing has to be considered. The
prejudice against capital employed in trade or
lending. manufactures or mining, is more extern
slve than many realize, and is widely associated
with Socalstc theories which promise the mil
lennium rs a sure result Of placing all capital
and the employment of all labor and the con-
troll Of all agencies OF production in the hands Of
the Government. This country has received from
other countries millions Of men who brought
with them passions and prejudices begotten in
lands where neither labor nor capital can be
free. Much Of the loose thinking and bitter
feeling Of the day has It's root in the notion that
somehow n constitution ought TO be overthrown
which prevents coniscation Of all the wealth
and means Of production by Society" for the