The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-11-03

viduals made rich by legislation, We fear
the results which cave arisen and will
arise from fanlliat izing our citizens with
,he idea that wealth is to be acquired
tn. oush ~, srlneLtal favortism.
THE instant 1t Is ecognized as accept
ed doctrine that the government of the
United States is a dispenser of favors
that instant il Lecomes-I had almost
said the duty of every great combina-
ton of capital to seek to control the
government.
Seeds Were Implanted.
THE seeds of the disease were implant-
ed among us by the undue expansion
of the idea of a protective tariff. The
vicious circle-undue protection that
riches may be fairly acquired, contribu-
ton of riches so acquired that undue
protection may be continued and eX-
tended-became but too soon established.
Contrast this for a moment with the
ideal of a republic and do not wonder
that Imperialism has followed in It's
course.
I'VE have acquired vast diversified
and fertile country. We established there
In a government in which, from the out
set, the shackles were removed from
human effort. We attracted to ourselves
the enterprising, the courageous, the best
of the civilized world and through these
conditions, and from them alone, we have
risen in power and wealth beyond the ex-
perlence of mankind.
mot unnaturally we are menaced by
a great danger-the lack of self-control
And in what alluring form does temp,a-
ton assail us? We are great, we are
strong we are rich. Our mission, the
refuge of the down trodden and the pro-
tector of the oppressed.
Nothing More Natural.
What more natural than that we
shC,.. say we need great revenues, a
great army and a powerful navy that
we may fulfill this mission to which we
have been called. But in all human ex-
perience, to what uses have great reve~
nues great armies and great navies been
put? Have they in fact been ever used
by their possessors to elevate mankind?
IF the country were left alone to de-
eide for itself the questions of today, we
cannot doubt what its decision would be.
But unfortunately there are many inter-
ested for selfish motives in distorting the
point of view, in Disgusting the truth
that great sums should be raised by tariff
taxation is necessary for their selfish
purposes. But great sums when acquired
by a government call for great expendi-
lures, and reasons for making great ex-
penses must in their turn be supplied
if the people are to be lured into acqui-
essence. And so again in their turn great
expenditures call for the raising of still
greater revenues, and thus only can pop
ular clamor be stilled and a reasonable
excuse afforded those who find their profit
in debauching the people.
Moreover, in it's train this great evil
of partial monopolies fostered by the tar
if has brougn. its twin sister, domestic
monopolies, upon the people. 1t seems as
though every day new monopoly is I'M
covered. l need not recte to you the ia
miliar names of the more prominent Of
the trusts. l need not tell you that prop
erly administered the law is sufficient to
control them But l may be pardoned IL
i ask you to contemplate for moment
how they surround us in every direction,
and how we come across their unsuspect-
ed existence at every turn.
Another Trust Comes to Light.
ut was only in this just past month of
October, to cite the last issuance which
has come to my knowledge. that 1t was
developed before the interstate commerce
commission that the fruit growers of some
sections of the United States were bound
hand and foot by a monopoly-were de-
pendent for their profits, dependent for
the reward of their labor, dependent for
their existence, not on their efforts, not
on bounty of nature, not on their pru-
dence, their care, their foresight, but on
the mercy of the private car lines"
There is a still uglier page to the gen
eral story. An example is before us OF
how the effort of the people to free them
selves from burden can be seized upon
by the INSCRIPTIONS and itself made the
agency whereby the burden is bound more
firmly upon their backs.
THE clamor of the people against the
trusts rose tc the point where recognition