The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1902-07-26

vate corporations can monopolize the
mighty industries of the nation for
the enrichment OF a few, why can not
the government, as public corpora
tion, control them for the good of all?
II few men, for example, can CON-
bine the railroads into trust and
monopolize the stupendous transpor-
tation interests Of the country, why
should not the people own the rail-
roads, and manage them through
public agencies of their own? The
trust Is sword in the hands Of the
socialist, and is his strongest answer
to those who oppose him. l do not
believe in socialism, or in communism,
or in government pateruallsm;
adhere to the old democratic idea Of
government, with man as the unit,
and l stand for an industrial system
which depends upon individual effort
and achievement. But the trusts
are undermining democracy and are
making socialism possible, if not
desirable. If the trusts are to prevail,
most people will conclude that it
would be better to have the govern
ment own the trusts than to have the
trusts own the government.
But II the trust is not ia good thing,
it Is a bad thing. The democratic
party In national convention con.
demned it as dangerous, indefensible
and intolerable; the Indiana democ-
rae "a state convention condemns iis
and loyal democrats everywhere, and
OF every degree, without exception,
individually and collectively, condemn
it. Upon this point the democrats Of
the nation are unit. If one man
can be pointed to as an exception to
this rule, you may be sure he is man
with questionable party record, and
probably has upon his garments the
taint OF party treason. Is the demo-
cratic party right? II l did not
believe that great majority Of the
American people believe as we do on
this subject l would lose faith aud |
hope in the perpetuity OF our institu-
tons. To say that the people can
look complacenlly, much less with
favor, upon this work OF plutocracy;
to say that the people Gao stand un-
concerned while these giant monop-
olies are rising among them, defiant |
of law and sc0lnful Of public policy,
would be to lower the standard of |
American manhood and patriotism to
a depth to which hope it has not |
yet fallen, and devoutly pray may
never fall But condemnation alone |
does not arrest or relieve; mere
philippe is fustian; inactive oppasi.
tion is ineffective opposition, TO
destroy an evil like this you must |
move against it and strike,
strike mercilessly and continuously, |
until it is uprooted and extirpated.
But you can not move against it
through the agencies Of gov
eminent; you can not strike except
with the sword Of public authority
Trust-breeding and trust-fosterIng
laws must be repealed, for it is idle to
talk Of destroying trusts while you
have laws productive Of trusts. You
cannot get rid Of the thistles as long
as you sow the seed. Do this, and
then wage war. II the antitrust
laws now on the statute books are
insufficient, amend them, add to
them, so as to make them sufficient.
But aoove all things the law must be
enforced rlgidly mercilessly, en-
forced both ciylly and criminally;
but especially must It's criminal
be enforced. Injunctions
and other civil processes, dragged
through months and years Of litiga-
lion, accomplish little; but the sharp
edge of terminal prosecutioo draws
blood from the start A civil judg-
ment may have no terror, but She
haaghtiest criminal pales at The
prison door BIT to do these things,
tie inst umentalilies Of government
must be put into the hands VI mem
who viii emp'oy 'hem-employ an Of
thrm to The utmost llmii without /
tesr favor or delay Itis utter folly !