The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-23

| and will grow much hetter-for those
interested in them-during the next
four years. Heretofore their evolution
has been too sudden to permit oil
their levying quite universal tribute
| but being now in complete control OF
| the Government they will see TO it
that that evil, is remedied without de-
| lay. The trusts only represent history
| in the act of repeating itself. They can-
not claim originality in purpose organi-
cation. or methods. They are at best hut
successful imitators of the Barbary pi
in medieval days.
These latter were the Rockefe!lers, tlc
| Havemeyers. the Dukes. Carnegies, AM
Hannas of their time. They built ,ncir
castles on the routes of commerce. Oh
highways or commanding navigable
rivers. They threw chains across the
Rhine; not with any idea of obstructiig
or diseouraging trade. but for purpose;
of tribute, and to protect their own in
FAINT industry. Thus, the merchant,
trader. or master OF river craft knew per
fectly well when he started out on any
sainful adventure that he would have TO
pay toll at every cross roads fcrtaiice or
at every bend of the stream. 1t was :his
practice which made baronial existence in
the Middle Ages SO pleasant and hen IA
hle. Every body looked up to the graf or
the freiserr as a superior being. exactly
as III our own day we fall down ard wor
ship the trust magEate as something as
noble as rich.
The parallel runs the whole length Of
Ere story and laps over. Sometimes the
Merchants and traders concluded nat to
longer contribute to the chamnagn fund
and current expenses CT their noble mas
tecs. at the prevailing tariff rates, wolli
simply SPELL ruin. Then perhaps their
h,ats or caravans would be missing .-cE.
their accustomed haunts
In such cases We are told that it was the
habit of the barons to apply sound bust
ness methods to the situation. They would
send one of their emissaries-what would
be called custom house inspector in this
century-to the cities or towns inhabited
by the missing men of commerce. with
polite message to them. TO the effect that
If they did not resume operations by the
cid and reliable lines of travel which for
merly they had affected, 1t would be well
for them to go to confession at once and
make their wills; because it was the pous
determination of whatever baron or barons
CHARGED TO be interested at the moment, to
safeguard the holy principle of protective
tariff. by numbering them out of hand. 1t
usually happened that trade followed the
nag-of the baron.
Principles are Interchangeable. but man.
ners of life have changed in some degree.
since Rudolph the Roaring. and SchweinkofI
Rudiger hunted and raked and robbed in
the 5eauteous Rhincland. occasionally salv-
ing their consciences with the foundation
or endowment of convent or an orphan
asylum. Now, it is doubtful if the same
kind of barons would care to live in the
isolation of their antetypes. Like the lat
ter, they want the highways and water
ways guarded and poiiced for their benefit
But personally they would prefer not to
do the watching, but to flock together in
New York, handy to their favorite preach
ers, Wall Street, the Tenderloin, AMI the
races
This. however. will not interfere with
the erection of trust castles at all con-
renient points. especially at those where
large forces sof the working class are |
They will be syndicate cas-
ties. representing the combination of all |
the trust barons for mutual profit and |
protection. These strongholds will be
by the people. garrisoned by
troops of the nation. and their usefulness
will be great in safeguarding what the
barons have eStorted, and in suppressing
any disconten. that may arise among the
common herd We shall expect what Is
left of the Fifty-sixth Congress to begin
work onkthis problem Of effective fortif-
raticn against labor, during the coming
winter. The Fifty-scyenth Congress may
De counted upon to complete the task. We
nave the barons We must also have the
,astles. the chains across rivers and all
he rest of il The historical unities must
De preserved.