The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1903-03-04

ciOo' LII lts SredJesI purify IL
means simply equal rights to all /;
special privileges to none" A de-
mocracy is state of society, there
fore, where men actually have
guaranteed to them both equality
and freedom. Equality in the sense
that the social and political rights
are equal before the law; freedom
in the sense that none are fettered
or limited in their social life for
the benefit of others. Unless these
conditions exist, then real democ-
cracy, is not present.
AS said before, man inherently
seeks to crafty his desires with the
least exertion, and he does this
quite naturally by taking advant-
age of those conditions which in
volve the least resistance. In a
free state of society, such as is
found in a truly democratic realm,
where every mans opportunity is
primarily equal, competition serves
to retain equality between the pro-
duction and the consumption of
wealth, and also to greatly further
the general development of pro
gress. We find, however, in our
own country, and in fact in all civ
ilized lands, that in the develop
ment of modern industry point is
quickly reached where competition
itself becomes so keen that disaster
follows; and then a new factor,
combination. sets in, and elimi-
mates competition.
Now why is it that competition
grows so keen in modern time that
it ends in disaster? Why is it that
"overproduction" ensues, with pow
erty and depression in its train, if
(as is always true) there
are thousands upon thousands of
men ready and waiting TO cx-
change their labor for their needs
or their wishes2 Why is it that
so many men are trying with their
hands and head to exchange their
labor for its equivalent and yet are
unable to do so? Surely it would
seem illogical that there should be
such a thing as "over-production"
as long as there are men standing
idle and waiting for chance to
give their wealth (that is, their la
bor), in exchange for the products
of others. Why should consump-
tion ever fall behind production in
a condition of society where prob
ably 70 per cent. of the community
are living from hand to mouth and
are never able to store up their Ia
Dor or accumulate wealth In any
degree; where, in fact, they all con-
sumo as fast as they produce, and
where there is always. the keenest
competition to consume even more?
In the answer to this question
will be found the kernel of the
whole modern social and industrial
problem.
AS we come to examine modern
industrial condition closely we find
that there is an outside element
which enters into and affects the
social being of us all. We find
that some men enjoy advantages
which others do not. l do not
mean merely the differences or ad-
vantages of hand and brain, or
even association. These are natur-
q :naa I'll, III. acTcr 10 apart frlvm
man. Such difference are more
largely inherent and part of the
man himself. 1t is these that give
him his individuality, and, of course.
without such there could be no
progress. But there are certain
outside, artificial advantages which
some enjoy to the exclusion OF
others. There are many of them,
but they may all be summoned up
under one head-that of privilege,
or monopoly.
Monopoly consists in the exclu-
sive possession by some of certain
legal or other rights, privileges and
advantages which are not accessi
bile to all Tn other words If ia the