The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1906-09-08
NUMBER IS.

q large scale may be admitted, but
because a million yards of cloth can be.
produced in one factory at lower.
price per yard than 100000 wards can
be produced in the same. factory. f
does not follow that cloth would be
produced at still lower price per yard
II all the cloth consumed in the United
States was produced in one factory or
under one management There Is .
point beyond which the economic adj
vantage of large Production ceases.
The moment an industry approaches
the position Of a monopoly. IL begins 10
lose in economic efsi7iency for q
monopoly discourages invention. I'M
vites deterioration in quality and de-
stroys most potent factor in produce
ton. viz: individual ambition.
Eut the political objections 10 trust.
overconies any economic advantages
which 1t can possibly have.
NO economic advantage can jus
tffy an Industrial despotism or com-
pensate nation for the loss of inde.
pendence among its producers. POLITE
cal liberty could not long endure under
an industrial system which permitted
rev powerful snagnates to control tho
means OF the livelihood of the rest Of
the people. Landlordism the curse OF
Europe. Is an innocent institution in
comparison with the trust. when the
trust Is carried to its logical conclu-
sion The man who argues that there
: ~ an economic advantage in private
monopoly is aiding socialism. The So
ciaIist. asserting the economic SUPERIOR
lily 81 the monopoly. insists that its
penefits shall accrue to the whole peo-
pie and his conclusion can not be de-
nied II the superiority of monopoly -
admitted The Democratic party. II (
understand its position. denies the
economic as well as the political adj
vantage OF private monopoly and prom.
lses TO oppose IL wherever IL manffestS
itself. 1t offers as an alternative. com
petition where comp stit.on is possible
and public monopoly wherever circum-
stances are such as too prevent compe-
ution.
Socialism presents consistent the
DRY. but a theory which In may judy
ment does not take human nature int0
account Its strength is in us attack
upon evils. the existence OF which u
confessed. Its weakness is that Il
would substitute new disease--if not
q worse one-for the disease from
which we suffer. The socialist is hon.
est IN the. belief that he has found a
remedy for human ills and he must be-
answered with argume t. not with
abuse. The best way to oppose social
ism u to remedy the. abuses which
nave grown up under. indiyidualism.
but which are not necessary part Ut
tndtvidualism and the sooner the REM
coy ~ applied. the better As I was
leaving home set forth my reasons for
opposing the socialist doctrine. that the
government should own and operate an
tne means OF production and transport
sation; my observations during the
past year have strengthened my con-
victions on that subject Because am
anxious to preserve indivtduaIism am
earnest In my desire TO see the trusts
RXfAfmfn0 ted nd -
door OF opportunity may be open to
every American citizen.
On another occasion I shall cali at
tentiop TO the rapidly growing expendi<
lures OF the Federal government II Is
natural that those who look upon taxa
ticn as a blessing should View over
grown approprfa tons with complni-
cency, yet even the desire 10 find ways
OF spending the revenues. brought into
the treasury by high tariff. cannot
wholly account for the reckless extrav-
lagence OF recent congresses.
But at this time desire to center
your thoughts upon the overshadowinG
evil OF the day--the trust--wtth the
piutocracy tendencies that result from
the reform, 1t demands remedy and
the people are prepared to administer
heroic treatment. The Democrats
party offers a solution which Is both
reasonable and adequate: a solution In
WHICH tlUle- IOHOIEu DTlnCiDIo8 are Az
piled to new conditions.
The Democratic party Is not the ene-
my OF the property or OF property
Fights; II Is on the contrary the best
defender of both. because II defends
human rights. and human rights are
the only foundation upon which prop
erty and property rights can rest
securely. The Democratic party does
not menace single dollar legitimately
accumuiated on the contrary 1t insists
upon the protection OF rich and poor
alike In the enjoyment of that which
they have honestly earned The Demo-
cratic party does not discourage thrift,
but on the contrary stimulates each
individual to the highest endeavor by
assuring him that he will not be de-
prfved Of the fruits OF his toll. II we
can but repeal the laws which enable
men TO reap where they have not sown.
laws which enable them to garner into
their Overlooking barns the harvest
that belong to others: no one will be-
able to accumulate enough to make
his fortune dangerous 10 the country.
Special privilege and the use Of the
taxing power for private gain--thcse
are the twin pillars upon which piutoc-
racy rests. To take away these sup
ports and to elevate the beneficiarieS
Of special legislation to the path Of
honest effort ought to be the purpose
OF our party.
And who can suffer injury by JUST
taxation impartial laws and the APP
plication Of the Jeffersonian doctrine
of equal rights to all and special pr1yf-
leges to none? Only those who accu-
mutations are stained with dishonesty
and whose immoral methods have given
them distorted view of business. So
ciety and government. accommodating by
iconscious fraud more money than they
can profitabIy use upon themselves.
wisely distribute or safely leave to
their children. these denounce az pub
Tic enemies all who oppose their meth
DDS or throw q light upon their crimes.
Plutocracy Is abhorrenf TO republic,
II Il more despotic than monarchy.
more heartless than aristocracy. n1ore
selfish than bureaucracy. IL preys upon
the nation in time OF peace and con-
spires against II In the hour of it's ca
lamity. Constituencies. compa onless.
and devoid OF wisdom. II eurayeIs ito
votaries. while 1t impoverishes its VIC
times. II Is already sapping the
strength of the nation; rulgarixfnx
social life and making a mockery of
morals. The time Is ripe for its over
throw. Let us attack II boldly. making
our appeal to the awakened conscience
Of the nation In the name OF the count
ing-room which II has defiled. in the
name OF business honor which II has
sullIed; In the name, OF the people