The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-12-25

WASH anOuuL Vi Sell-COucelt Ill OuT
heads.
It was decreed from an early date in
the history Of the earth that man
should earn his bread in the sweat of
his brow. And a less inspired writer
has said that idleness is the DEVILS
workshop.
What has any politician in petit
coats, or otherwise, done to elevate the
morals, to increase education or to i'm
prove the physical culture or the finan-
cial condition of the people? Let him
answer who can.
In the warfare against factories what
has the whole tribe of officious women
and cross-road politicians done to place
their names among the States benefac-
tors?
Any man who has builta cotton mill
and exercised proper care for bis peo-
pie has done more for humanity
and more for the prosperity Of the
state than all the howling mob that
ever bayed his footsteps.
Has any man who deserves the title
of statesman ever eapoused the cause
of the unjust warfare against the
poor and against the best in
terests Of the State? I venture to
suggest that the names of opponents Of
cotton mills, are not written in very
large letters on the scroll Of fame and
that the whole job lot, individually and
collectively, have not been as much
distinguished for their subscriptions to
the capital stock of any public enter
prise, as they have been to besmirch
the patriotic efforts OF their neighbors.
Have they not shown a greater de-
termination to tear down than to
build up? Tublic spirited citizens
seek the welfare of tn" people and
labor to promote the prosperity of the
State and city in which they live.
Politicians may be said to have no
higher ambition than to take
care of themselves, letting the devil
catch the hindmost.
The popular political clamor against
persons or corporations Who are doing
q great work in the material develop
ment of the country is always led by
say, two-by-four, and certainly not
larger than eight-by-ten politicians.
A few years ago the clamor was
against railroads. But these great cor
porations are still the most important
factors In the development Of the ma
teriai interests of the country.
If the Legislature appointed a s., 600
politician to look after vulnerable
places of attack on the railroads, the
contest was an uneven one when con-
fronted by a $40, 900 practical business
man.
The great railroad corporations have
done everything for commerce and
travel, and If their enemies have done
anything along the same line, our at.
tention has not been called to 1t.
When we had score Of short rail-
roads where we now have single one,
travel was expensive, slow and diff1-
cult. ..
Thirty years ago it took as much time
and it cost as much money to 60 to
Charleston as it now takes to 60 to
Washington or New York. -.
Thirty years ago three months were
required to 60 by, private conveyance
over dangerous and expensive routes
from New Orleans to San Francisco.
Now the journey is safely made in
palatial cars in six days, at the cheap
est rate.
The railroads have given new i'm
pulse to all business and quicken
ed commerce in all the arteries OF
trade. Thousands of men receive
almost princely salaries who could
scarcely make comfortable living In
other employment, even if they could
find a job in other pursuits.
Corporations and trusts are the
friends of ability, integrity, and fdeli-
Unlike rich and influential indi-
viduals, they have no degenerate or
poor kinsmen to provide for. Trusts
and corporations recognize character,
worth, ability and fidelity, wherever
found. They have no friends to re-
ward and they have no enemies to pun
ish.
When they give employment
their requirement is efficiency of pur-
pose and fidelity to duty. The poor
boy in whose breast beats as noble a
heart as ever palpitated beneath the
breast of the highest bred~boy in the
land, has an equal chance with the
rich and the powerful corporations.
In the trusts and in the great cor
porations the poor boy finds his best
friend on earth. They recognize worth,
and all the poor boy wants Is an op-
to prove his merits.
But, Notwithstanding the fact that
these trusts and these corporations
open the broadest door to the most In
viting fields of usefulness, and pay the
highest price for ability and fidelity, 1t
occurs that the masses who
are more benefited and less injured
by their presence, are led into hostility
to those who offer to them the pos
sibilities of success in life.
Rich men and rich corporations de-
serve the friendship and goodwill-not
the enmity-of the mechanic and the
laboring man.
Trusts and corporations are the poor
mans best friends. And they can 90
him most good, while it is not in their
power to do him much harm.
They give the best pay to all classes
Of employees, from president to attor-
ney, and from the best mechanic to
the least skilled laborer, their promise
is liberal and their pay Is certain:
They give the public better service and
at less cost than can be had from the
smaller corporations, or from poorer
persons, and therefore these corpora
tions benefit all classes.
If these things be true, and / believe
they are, is it not strange that any
man of ability, integrity and ambition
should be opposed to corporations-to
the people who give employment to
the best alent and the best skill 10 be
found in the market?
If anybody fears a monopoly in any
line of business let him not forget that