Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1899-05-19
Candor in Criticising Public
Affairs.


1t is easy to find fault. 1t is easy to
point out evils, but difficult to suggest
remedy. The physician who simply
tells You that the patient is very sick
and ought to he cured should he pushed
aside to give place to one who has plan
and purpose, and is ready to understand
ingly go to work applying "A remedy.
During the late civil war the government
was bitterly criticised for the manner in
which it raised funds and paying CAPT
talistS such large rates of interest. But
such fault finders We're Silenced when
asked what better it could have done.
We are scolding about trusts" and
like the sick man if nothing is being done
those interested should stir round and
have something done. The country is
evidently Indifferent to the dangers from
the power of wealth slillfully handled to
make prices high one day and low the
next; to make commodities plenty now
and then scarce at the will of manipula-
tors. Joseph bought corn when it was
plenty and his prudence and foresight
was blessing which extended even be-
yond the borders of Egypt. That good
old Nermonter who refused to take more
than the regular price for corn when the
cold summer of 1916 created famine
was a chief of natures noblemcn. but
the men who create faminpS to impose
on the needy the necessity of paying ex-
orbitant prices are double dyed villains.
Nothing but praises for the former and
odium for the latter. Praise and con.
demnation are easily applied. But re-
straint of the condemned is not so easy
One man under the present rules and
laws Of the country has a right to buy as
much as he is capable Of paying for and
what one man can do in this respect a
corporation of men can do, l. r., what one
man can do individually men can dc
collectively. The law places no limit on
how much goods material or products OF
country one man is permitted to pur
chase or how few or how many are EN-
gagged in it. Competition is beneficial
when it keeps prices down to fair profit
but when it eXhauStS profits it becomes
destructive. But where is the line to be
drawn and how is it to be regulated b,
law? a good speculation may exist il
a community and there mavnot be NOR,
than ten men, perhaps no more than one
of sufficient ability to purchase the mean
therefore it may be said in the abstrac
that the ten men should not be permit
ted to purchase because of a want of cen
eral competition, the one should not be
cause his privilege would be exclusive
But who would think of restraining tn
one or the ten? No rule of law can b
laid down dependent upon the magni
tude Of an enterprise or the number O
men engaged in it. But the law ca
regulate the means and methods b
which such business is conducted. lik
coercion of workmen, unlawful and III
just schemes to affect the price of labo
and i'll a multitude of other particular
including unjust and oppressive mean
for the destruction of less powerful +
walls. Therefore the people should ne
, hastily condemn any administration
Legislative power or party for not /
once formulating a code that will imm
diately regulate conditions which fro,
their very nature are incapable of bein
limited by any fixed rules. But can
| people be censured for asking that ii
: fundamental laws of the country be a.
| justed so as to give the greatest oppo
tunity for the regulation of the working
2 of those monStrous and dangerous 'col
e bines ?"