The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-10-18
The Eastern Situation.
CFrom the Memphis News.

We hear some strange talk coming to us from
the Eastern States just at present which reminds
us of other and by no means better days
From Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, New York,
etc, we read Of violent protests against the Ear
roRance Of monopoly" the anarchy Of pef' and
the criminal conspiracy of the wealthy looking
to the oppression OF the poor and the robbery of
the people The people affected by the anthra-
cite strike contending that necessity knows
no law" we will have coal" they say, peace
ably if we can, forcibly If we must
The president is being advised to take steps
10 seize the coal mines IN order that the govern
ment may operate them in the interest Of the
public And evidence of the troublous and
disquieting conditions prevailing, that faction
Of the democratic party in New York which
has hitherto objected TO the platform OF the
party on the ground that it socialistic and
populiste, has captured the party machinery and
declared Tor the government ownership of coal
mines Practical politicians resorted to this e~-
IRENE measure, and therefore the declaration
may be taken as strong evidence of by no
means ineonsiderabe public sentiment in favor
OF IT,
The situation in Eastern States indicates that
human nature is the same all over the country
Whenever extremely hard conditions confront the
people in any section of the United Statss no
matter whether it is East, West, North South
the disposition to adopt extreme and revolution
airy measures as a remedy for the evils OF the
situation springs up among the masses. 1t was
so in the Southern and Western States in the
period Of hard times from % TO 90. when the
spirit OF discomfort gave birth TO populism and
manifested itself in the wild and needless
vagaries OF the Ocala demands. Now when the
people OF the East find themselves goaded and
oppressed by monopoly, history repeats itself in
different latitude and government ownership
shifts from its inhospitahle environment in the
rich corn fields OF Kansas to the empty coal bins
of Pennsylvania and New York,
Throughout the panic years IN the South and
the West the democratic party stood by the con-
stitution as the ark OF the covenant, which af-
forded safe retreat from the evils Of social
ism and the oppression OF monopoly where the
personal and property rights OF the citizen would
be preserved against the onslaughts of selhshness
or folly.
The way the Eastern papers discuss the coal
strike is revelation. II demonstrates the ten.
denoy of monopoly TO force the people into social
ISM and also shows that those who should be
leaders are too quick to yield to the FIRST i'll con
sidered camor OF public opinion.
There is not SO much need for new ideas as
there is for the strict enforcement of the laws
There is as much warrant for a settlement of dis
putes between capital and labor by tribunals quail
/ fed to handle cases of such magnitude as there
is for the adjustment OF personal quarres which
! interfere with the public peace.
| The right OF the government 70 seize property
! is not 10 be thought OF so long as the govern
ment can without the slightest interference will
/ property rights regulate the use OF property 81
I that It may not become menace to the publ,
welfare.
! The theories Of government promulgated by tn,
J fathers can yet be depended upon in spite o
] changed conditions TO preserve the greatest gooS
| 70 the greatest number
! We do not need a new constitution or al
! amendment OF the old one 1t is good enough a
/ It is But there is need that we should return
10 the constitution and enforce It's spirit and IL
truth Every law that is incompatible with an,
which Is in effect an abrogation Of It should b
repealed Monopoly was hulded upon uneonsti
tutioual las, ana the moth of the trust Is tn
parent Of another Offspring called socialism