The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1903-01-17
PRESIDENT INGALLS,.
WattsrsSn Lauds Head Of the Big
-Four Railway.
Eutract from an EaitorinR Article In
= Recent NumBer of the Louis
Vile Cnurier-JOurnaIs

nal, is 81 suggestive, and draWn upon
lines so Jeffersonian, as to invite the
serious attention Of intelligent readers
and to Justify more thanpassing com
ment. Mr.. Ingalls, is a democrat.
Born, like so many successful Amer
leans, a farmers boy, he has merged.
the man of affairs enough with the
man of books to evolve in n and the
same personality both the thinker and
the actor upon the stage Of real life.
Whatever he says is weighty because
it springs from a mind richly endowed
and highly trained, and fortified by
varied experience,
In this latest contribution to the res
ervoir of contemporary thought, Mr..
Ingalls, recognizes the revolutionized
elements no less than the mo-
mentous problems with which we have
to deal. Upon the very threshold Of
the new century, as he clearly points
out, political events and business con-
ditions are crowding each other so fast
that we stop and wonder what is to
happen next. New developments, new
methods, new conditions, new obliga-
tions, are upon us. To many theclouds
in the horizon have an angry look and
they fear for the future Of the nation.
While optimists, like Mr. ingalls,, may
not share their fears, they agree that
the national safety depends upon the
virtue and integrity Of u citizens,
and it is just as well to look the sit
uation over and make up our minds
as to what should be done to meet the
danger, if there be any. In fact, there
is nothing better for an individual or
a community than to stop and think.
We rush along in our mad race, heed
less of the future. To manypeople the
close of the nineteenth century and
the opening Of the twentieth is not
full of promise for the higher ideals
Of life; it seems TO them that every
thing is being sacrificed to the desire
of getting rich; that religion, con-
science, truth and virtue VI at a dis
count, and the world only thinks Of
who will win in the race of piling mp
millions. It is certainly a time for
serious thought. Heretofore we have
been a nation in isolation, a law unto
ourselves, but fast ships, cables, the
intercourse of people, the demands Of
commerce, circumstances Over which
we had no control, have forced usf rom
this position and we stand forth to-
day full grown and compelled to take
our share Of the responsibilities of the
world.
The crisis, as Mr.. Ingalls, shows, is
upon us. Our fleets and armies are in
the orient; we are in possession of
new lands and countries; we stand, as
it were, sponsor for all the republics
and nations of North and South Amer
lea. When President Cleveland took
his stand IN the Venezuela case and the
country supported him we were com
mitted to certain duties and response
bilities in reference to all neigh
bors, and we cannot get away from
them. The Spanish war and subse-
quent negotiations placed on us the
burden of controlling and developing
other countries.
In connection with these imminent
and overwhelming internatio issues
as Mr. Ingalls, proceeds to show, we
are confronted with a further serious
question, which is continually raised
and which must be considered-the
struggle between capital and labor
The organization of the most immense
trusts or corporations ever known has
brought this to the front. Certainly
there are grave issues to be settled by
US as a people and as a nation. Are
we prepared to assume all these re
sponsibilities and can we successfully
manage them and still maintain our
republic, still preserve "a government
of the people, for the people and by th'
people?"
We quote the following:
as there danger in the future from tn,
great business combinations that are nov
being made-from the trusts? You hear 1
on every street corner, At every gathering
men are inuuiring and discussing it. Ha
the struggle between capital and labo
actually commenced, and is the confiic
irrepressible? Ny observation in the las
3 years has been that labor has steadll!
won, and capital lost In the struggle Whicl
always exists more or less. The compen
fsaton Of labor has constantly risen, tn
cost OF the necessities Of life has de
creased. On the other hand, the earning
Of capital have grown less and less eac
year, and the responsibility and trouble q
keeping 1t employed has increased. TIL
rate Of interest in this country Is only abou
one-half what 1t was rs years citize
who retired from business then and de
cided to live on his income is to-day in com
paratively poor circumstances. In othe
words, If he has stood still he has see
the interest upon his capital cut IN tW'
while his expenses ave at the best stOo
; stu.
Capital has been able to exist and IN
rease only when It has been actively en-
~Tt0yed, and If 1t has been active, It he
had to employ labor in order to exist. on
law of equal distribution Of estates ar
the prevention Of entails scatters wealth
About the only large estate in this couI
try to-day that I recall which viii not /
separated and divided among heirs Is CA
negie's, and 1t looks as though he mlgl
divide that up himself. It is rarely thu
b large estates last long IN a republic, Chi
dren left with large wealth soon dlsslpa'
It The saying that It is only three gener'
lions from the millionaire TO the clerk
sbirt sleeves IS generally true, ana II
well for society and for the nation that
Is true.
'eHas the danger to labor increased
the organization Of the vast combination
~ to-davP The trust is no new DANCE
+ Is an aggregation OF capital nnaer g Is
ame. II may be a greater one, put