Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-09-04

fear of the more radical remedy OF
government ownership, and nothing
will so restrain the rlilroad magnates
from attempting to capture the inter-
state commerce commission as the
same fear. The high handed manner
In which they have violated law and
Ignored authority, together with the
corruption discovered In high places
has done more to create sentiment In
favor of public ownership than all the
speeches and arguments Of the oppo-
nents of private ownership.
Just word more In regard to the
trusts. Some defend them on the
ground that they are an economic de-
velopment and that they cannot be
prevented without great injury to ouT
industrial system. This may be an
swered in two ways: First, trusts are
a political development rather than
an economic one; and, second, the
trust system cannot be permitted to
continue even though 1t did result In
a net economic gain. 1t is political be-
cause 1t rests upon the corporation,
and the corporation rests upon stat
utory foundation. The trust, instead
Of Icing a natural development, Is a
form of legalized larceny and can ex-
ist only so long as the law permits Ii
to exist. That there is an economic
advantage in production on a large
scale may be admitted, but there is a
point beyond which the economic ad-
vantage of large production ceases.
The moment an industry approaches
the position of a monopoly II begins to
lose In economic efficiency, for mon
opoly discourages invention, invites de-
terioration in quality, and destroys a
most potent factor In production, viz:
individual ambition.
But the political objections to a trust
overcome any economic advantage
which 1t can possibly have. No eco
nomic advantage can justify an indus
trial despotism or compensate a nation
for the loss of independence among It's
producers. Political liberty could not
long endure under an Industrial syst, m
which permitted few powerful mag
mates to control the means of livelihood
Of the rest Of the people.
Landlordism, the curse of Europe,
Is an innocent institution in compari-
son with the trust, when the trust is
carried to It's logical conclusion. The
man who argues that there Is an eco
nomic advantage in private monopoly
Is aiding socialism. The Socialist. as
serting the economic superiority OF
the monopoly, insists that Its benefits
shall accrue to the whole people, and
his conclusion cannot be denied II the
superiority Of monopoly Is admitted.
The Democratic party, IL understand
its position, denies the economic as
well as the political advantage Of pri-
vate monopoly and promises to oppose
1t wherever II manifests itself. 1t of
fers as an alternative, competition,
where competition Is possible and
public monopoly wherever circum-
stances are such as to prevent compe.
tition.
Socialism presents consistent the
ory, but q theory which, In my judg.
ment, does not take human nature in
to account. It's strength Is In its at
tack upon evils, the existence Of which
is confessed. Its weakness Is that II
would substitute a new disease-if not
"a worse one-for the disease from
which we suffer. The Socialist Is
honest In the belief that he has found
a remedy for human ills, and he must
be answered with argument, not with
abuse. The best way to oppose social
ism is to remedy the abuses which
have grown up under individualism,
but which are not necessary part OF
indiyidualism, and the sooner the rem
edy Is applied the better. AS was
leaving home, ] set forth my reasons
for opposing the socialist doctrine,
that the government should own and
operate all the means of production
and transportation; my observations
during the past year have strengthen
ed my convictions on the subject. Be-
cause l am anxious to preserve indi-
vidualism, / am earnest In my desire
to see the trusts exterminated root
and branch, that the door of oppor-
tunity may be open to every American
citizen.
On another occasion shall call at
tention to the rapidly growing expen-
ditures of the Federal government,
but at this time desire to center your
thoughts upon the overshadowlng evil
Of the day-the trust-with the plu-
tc,cracy tendencies that result there
from. It's demands are immediate,
and the people are preparing to ad-
minister heroic treatment. The Dem
ocratic party offers a solution which
Is both reasonable and adequate, q So
luton in which time honored prihci-
Piles are applied to new conditions.
The Democratic party Is not the en-
emy of property or Of property rights;
it is, on the contrary, the best de-
fender Of both because 1t defends hu-
man rights, and human rights are the
only foundation upon which property
and property rights can rest securely.
The Democratic party does not men
ace a single dollar legitimately accu-
mulated; on the contrary, 1t insists
upon the protection Of rich and poor
alike in the enjoyment Of that which
they have honestly earned. The DEM
ocratic party does not discourage
thrift, but, on the contrary, stimulates
each individual to the highest en-,
deavor by assuring him that he Will
not be deprived Of the fruits OF his
toll. If we can but repeal the laws
which enable men to reap where they
have not sown-laws which enable
them to garner into their overfowlne
barns the harvests that belong to 9TH
ers-no one will be able to accumu-
late enough to make his fortune dan
gerous to the country. Special priVl-
leges and the use of the taxing power
for private gain-these are the twin
pillars upon which plutocracy rests.
To take away these supports and to
elevate the beneficiaries Of special leg
islation to the path Of honest effort
ought to be the purpose Of our party.
And who can suffer injury by just
taxation, imrartial laws and the ap-
plication Of the Jeffersonian doctrine
of equal rights to all and special priv
Ic6eS " oiby ttoSS S~
Fcumulations are stained with dishon-
esty and whose immoral methods have
given them a distorted view Of busi-
ness, society and government. Accu-
mulating by conscious fraud more
money than they can profitably use
upon themselves, wisely distribute or
safely leave to their children, these
denounce as public enemies all who
question their methods or throw light
upon their crimes.
Plutocracy Is abhorrent as repub-
lie; it is more despotic than anarchy,
more heartless than aristocracy, more
selfish than bureaucracy. 1t prays
upon the nation in time Of peace and
conspires against ic in the hour OF Its
calamity Conscienceless, compassion
less and devoid Of wisdom, 1t ener-
Yates it's votaries while 1t impoverish-
es it's victims. 1t Is already sapping
the strength Of the nation, vulgarizing
social life and making a mockery OF
morals The time is ripe for Its over
throw. Let us attack 1t boldly, MAX
ing our appeal to the awakened con-
science of the nation in the name of
the counting room which 1t has def1l-
ed, in the name Of business honor
which it has sullied, in the name OF
the people 1t has oppressed, In the
name of the homes which 1t has des-
poiled, and in the name OF religion,
upon which it has placed the stigma