The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-04-14

abroad magnates that they have a
light to determine arbitrarily and
without appeal the rate to be
charged for the transportation of
passengers or freight. What an OPP
oortunity the present contest would
give him for the arraignment of hui
man greed and for the defense of hu-
nan rights
That Jefferson's utterances support
egislation necessary for the complete
equation of transportation lines is
certain, and he expressly declared
against national Incorporation
hing now desired by the great cor
)Orations. Whether his arguments
,ould be quoted in favor of the pub
ic ownership of railroads would de-
pend somewhat upon the extent to
which competition is possible under
private ownership, and experience
seems to show that effective competi-
lion between railroad lines is scarce
y to be expected. While / have beer
quick to endorse the Presidents eff
sort to secure railroad rate regulation,
[ believe that regulation will ultimate
Y lead to public ownership, and, la
order to avoid the danger of centrali-
:atiOn, l would prefer to see the
.runk lines only owned by the Fed
eral government, and the local lines
On the subject of private monopoly,
Jefferson has spoken with no uBCer-
tain sound. So detestable to him was
The thought of monopoly that it was
with reluctance that he consented to
L patent, for, while he recognized the
justice of allowing o temporary
monopoly of the product as q re-
ward for invention, he so feared he
evil effects of the establishment of
the principle, that he insisted upon
the strictest limitations. His fears
have been justified, and we are =
ginning to understand the dangers
that he so clearly fOresaW.
There are three arguments made by
him which are now being used by
the advocates of monopoly to defeat
the application to modern problems
Of the principles enunciated by him.
"Legislate as little as possible and
leave the rest TO the energies OF 4
free people," said Jefferson, and The
benefciaries of monopoly now invoke
this sentiment against restraining leg
slation. 1t is a mockery of Jeffer-
son to first violate his injunction 10y
the granting OF special rights and
privileges to favored few, and then
attempt to use his words in opposi-
ton to restraining legislation.
It is true that Jefferson was opposed
to legislation which would hamper
the individual in the developments of
his powers; but no man pointed out
more clearly than Jefferson that one
mans rights end where the rights of
another begin. No one has q right
% injure another in his person or III
his property, and, according to JEFF
ferson's philosopy, government is
organized by the people to protect
each individual in the enjoyment Of
his natural rights, and q government
founded upon Jeffersonian prinCi-
pies and administered according to
the maxims of Jefferson, could
never tolerate private mo-
nopoly such as we know to-
lay While Jefferson believed that
legislation might be carried so far
is to discourage rather than encour-
1ge individual effort, he always in
sisted that it should be carried far
enough to restrain an hand uplifted
for neighbours injury.
Another Jeffersonian doctrine
which is being misinterpreted today
is his nrotest against paternalsm. He
favored the encouragement of indi-
yidual effort and opposed the under
taking by the government of work
which the individual could do better
His words have been invoked against
what is described as public ownership.
In applying any mans language to
conditions arising after his death, it
is necessary to know, not only what
he said, but the reasons for what he
said. Nothing is more unfair than
to employ words in such way as
to defeat the reasons which lie back
of the words. Jeffersons aim was to
protect the rights of the individual
and to give him the maxim of stimu-
IIe A priyate nOnODOIy /. silch as
public ownership is intended to pre-
vent does not enlarge the sphere of
the individual or inspire him to high
endeavor. The actual effect of a
private monopoly is just the reverse.
and wherever the principle of private
monopoly enters the government must