The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-02-03
Legislature and Corporations.

The Times has not given much attention
to this subject of late. but some time
: back It discussed it very freely. The text
OF our discussion was that whatever one
man could prop.rly do when acting alone,
two men could do when acting in concert:
and that whatever two men might do act
ing in concert. any number 81 men coulu
do when acting together.
These have always seemed TO Tbs Times
to be fundamental propositions, and pro-
positions that were so fundamental that
If there were any attempt MADE 10 III
fringe them tie literty Ct the citizen would
be interfered with most unWarrantaDty
and indeed, his liberty wouldNbe SO far
taken away from HIM that he could no
longer be said to be 4 freeman at all
Richmond Times.
1t has been a long time since the above
propositions We're enunciated seriously IN
this region, though in the first OF the as
cuSsions of trusts and similar combines
they were frequently and freely enunciat-
ed from the same quarter. 1t needs bat a
little examination to expose the utter
faliacy of such pretenSions. From gthet
earliest days of the common law, any
man could freely do what at once became
a crime if done or attempted by combl-
nation or conspiracy of two or more per-
sons: and that is still the law, common
or statute in many things to this day,
both civil and criminal.
Eut the above quoted pala graphs are m
tended TO vindcate corporations. that are
so different from natural persons. takei!
individually, that it has been SAID mat
they have no bodies to be kicked, nor
souls to be damned. ~ man is. :esponsible
for his acts, but the members of cor
porate body may be individually free from
all personal liability, and answerable only
as a part of the corporation Man is per-
sonally mortal and limited in many par
ticnlars: but q corporation, with perpetual
succession Of stockholders. may be manor
tai and practically unlimited in various
particulars History tells us that most OF
the nations of Europe have been compelled
at one time or another TO eXpel or destroy
civic. military and religious orders, or as
scciatcns that had grown so r:ch ana
powerful as TO menace the safety OF the
state: and there is no civilized nation
wherein the laws do not limit and regula.e
corporations or associations of all KINDS.
The most of these laws are the teaching
of dear and painful experience: and wc
are nov, being taught that even Ill TINS
free co ntry we must be vigilant and Jeal-
Gus to guard our liberties. our interests
and our very industries from the encroacl-
ments OF corporate or combined power ana
CAPITAL! This very existence OF some az
uregations of wealth and 1niiuc;ice IS daii-
cero:s ana threatening, and they should
governments no matter what their alleged
purposes may be, or really are
The liberty of the citizen often depends
11pon the restraint OF the corporation: ana
the arrogant airs of superiority, IL not OF
supremacy, taken even by the servants
and petty officers of great corporations
are everywhere so evident and offensive
to the average man that he needs no ar
sifment to persuade or convince MN that
i?uman lberty-aye. even human HES uii-
assfa in the very decree that special priVi-
leces or even common privileges ito Which
we are all accustcneD are granted cor
porations. trust and combines, W.thout
strict, safeguards
The idea that an artificial body, or per-
son. created by law. has inherent rShts
is preposterous although. as we Know,
SOLEMN tribunals have so held Wlthoul
IN the least lcSsen!ng the preposterotlsLess
thereby-increasng. or accentuallhS ~, III
fAct The corporation has no more IMAM
&c Given If by its creators. and II leglsla-
tors (or judges, under general law ue
d,ly careful in scrl:tinizinS and guarding
thes,ct If corporat.on there need BE no
lawful trust. or combine, that cannot be
crechi,d or destroyed the moment It Pc
comes injurious or dangerous None put
fools hold that all corporations ana COM
binations should be revoked ana no more
allowed Some are absolutely necessary;
many are useful, and none need pc
,nenacin. if their legislative creators De
wise and careful in properly limiting aho
checking thc,n with p!enary powers OF
s,nery;sion and revocation Reserved 10 the
stato Emf the wildcat brood of New
Iersey is n vicious sort that should be eX-
terminated Norfolk Virgintan-Pllot-