The Goodland republic., 1906-01-26
UNDER WHICH KING?
Test Between Constitutional Govern
ment and Standard Oil Government.

Test Between Constitutional Govern
ment and Standard Oil Government.
CBy DR.. Washington GIadden.)
I have been moving about the cOun-
try considerably since the grapple Of
the state Of Missouri in the courts
with the Standard Oil system" and
I hear, quite frequently, the opinion
expressed, that in this case, and in the
following cases in which the federal
government proposes to try cOnclu-
sions with the same dynasty, the gov
eminent will be WOrsted, and that the
system will win out
It is not that the people expressing
their opinion have any doubt that the
government has a good case; they are
clear in their belief that the system
has been a hagrant transgressOr Of
law, and that it ought to be punished
but they do not expect that it viii be.
That 1t will find ways Of defeating the
ends Of justice they have no doubt
Its shrewd lawyers Will entangle the
case in all manner Of technicalities;
and its money viii be used to corrupt
courts, to tamper with witnesses and
jurors and TO prevent any clear decis-
ion
STANDARD Oil is bigger than the
government" men say. You'll see;
they won't be punished; they'll come
out on top
This is not the universal opinion;
there are many who take a more
hopeful view; but, on the whole, this
is, think, a very. common opinion Of
the man in the street,
There is not the slightest doubt
that many OF the representatives Of
the great combination believe them
selves to be stronger than any and all
the powers Of government Mr.. ROg-
ers' replies upon the witness stand
clearly convey this impression His
attitude would be impossible If this
idea Of his superiority to all law did
not lie at the bottom Of his mind.
The disturbing, the appalling, fact
is that so many Of the people Of the
United States are ready, in a supine
and despaiTing way to accept this
view of the matter, and to believe that
the government lacks the power to
compel these people to obey the law
The existence, the prevalence Of such
a feeling as this ought to staTtle and
alarm every man to whom free gov
erument is dear. If the people have
no more faith than this in their laws
and their administrative officers,
where are the foundations Of right
eOus rule?
The first thing to do is to silence this
kind Of talk. Every man -vhO-utters
such a sentiment ought to be made
/ ashamed of it. If the people believe
their government to be imbecile; it
/ it will be imbeciIe; it viii be just what
/ their belief makes it The only force
I that rules in a republic is public Op-
iniOn. If public opinion says that the
nation is too weak to cope with the
I trusts it is too weak. If public Opin-
I ion DEGREES that the trusts shall-Obey
/ the law the trusts will obey the law.
/ And every man is responsible for the
/ creation Of the right public opinion.
/ The first condition of the successful
/ prosecution Of these great offenders
/ is that the people all over the land
/ rouse themselves to believe in it and
to demand it.
It is also true that the existence Of
/ such q pessimistic view Of government
ought to cause our courts and OuI
/ prosecuting officers and our executives
/ to do a good deal Of sober thinking
/ Why is it that so many people have
( lost faith in the possibility of enfOrc-
/ ing the law against these colossal Of
/ tenders? It is because there has beer
so much Of timidity and weakness ii
the attempts OF the government tc
deal with them
The successful prosecution Of the
suits now pending against the greai
commercial and financial lawbreakers
/ would be worth more TO this nation
| in Strengthening the faith Of the peO-
pie in their government, than any
/ victory ever won by its army on land
or sea