The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1900-02-17

| 0 i'S N'' "''' NhI'l IN lSt- 1Wl~
| perlaIlsm moves on new lines, IS
inspired by foreign ideals, wrench
es us from our past, plnngcs US
INTO entanglements, and commits
us to enteruriscs which it has
been our highest wisdom as we'll
as our constant aim hitherto 10
avoid. In no possible view of it
does imperialism seem to me
tolerabIe or less than munstrous
alostaSv.
Trusts are surely a great issue
If, on one slde, they are nn inevi
table economic development, or
another side they bring the gravcst
dangers. | question whether they
are normal economic result.
Their foster another is the tariff.
But for the tariff it seems To me
doubtful if trusts would ever have
come into wide vogue. The ne
cuniary advantage to individuals
of controlling or .'cornerin""
commodities, or productions, or
facilities needed by the whole
people, was as obvious so, or 100,
or 500 years ago as it is now.
Such combination as we now
call 81 trust Is no new idea: hut
our artificial restraints of trade;
our Chinese walls of protection,
have furnished the opportunities,
opened wide the doors, and set
out the temptations to all our
foremost trusts, and the example
has been contagious. Remove
these artificial defences and SUP
ports of trusts, and | do, ht much
if the greater part of the evil will
not no removed.
But in any case, whether trusts
are or are not a mere economic
growth, the evils and dangers that
come with them are obvious. In
either case and under either view
the Republican part Is their M
tural and actual ally. Its sordid
spirit, it's sordid leadership, it's
sordid methods, ali that gives it
present power and vitality, make
ii the purity OF trusts Not QUO
ray of hope, only the thick dark
ness of despair, lies in that direc-
ton.
On the other hand, the Demo-
cratic party has long "fatieued
the Indignation by It's tupendous
follles and its chronic incapacity.
But now, as always, the independ-
ent's question lis, which of these
two is least dangerous, or, possi-
bly,, which of these two stands
truest on present issues To me
the answer is easy. The Demo,
cratic party is the party which can
alone be looked to for anv real %
position to imperialism or to
trusts; and by opposition to trusts
| mean their prevention, If need
he, or IN any case their proper
regulation. Mr. Bryan | consider
better than his party. No one
questions his personal character;
no one would think of ranking
him below McKinle in ability,
and | should rank him many do.
grees above. His political integ-
rity, his fidelity to the principles
he avows, | think, is as well as.
sured as that of any politician now
in sight. | deem it, therefore,
fortunate that Mr. Bryan is to-day
the undisputed leader OF his party.
His continued advocacy of 16 to !
is harmless. That question has
become academic and need alarm
no one; while on both the vital is
sues he is outspoken, sound and
determined, and has been so from
the start. | look upon him as,
on the whole, and in spite of his
past and present advocacy of what
was once a huge financial folly
and crime, the one man in the
whole country who may save us
from disasters almost, if not quite,
as great as the one from which his