The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-02-02

terest ana some concern the struggle
of our English cousins with their re-
calcitrant and reactionary House of
Lords, certain gentlemen who have
the nerve to come out In the open
and refsse to help bear the burdens
of the country, which gives them all
their wealth. dignity and Importance.
This Is forcible and pertinent illus-
tration of the indifference to the pub
lie welfare. and even to public neces-
stiles, which engenders itself in the
minds of thSse who so long enjoy
special privileges as to finally be able
to convince themselves that these
privileges and immunfties are theirs
Divine right.
In these dear old United States, we
are facing practically the same con-
dftton, I'm fact, have been facing 1t
for quarter of century. but only
In the last ten years have we come
to realization that 1t was a CON
dition and not a theory that con-
fronts u.s." IN this country the easy
going prosperity of the aYerage man
for many years blinded the eyes of
the mass of the people to what was
happening under the surface OF the
apparently smoothe current of ma
tional life. and when some few sat up
and began TO take notice" and to
sound the alarm. they were cried
down as fools or fanatics Sadly
enough this cry did not come solely
from the henchmen and paid claquers
of the special interests. but it also
came from men who were merely de-
luded. and not at all corrupt; and II
has been the opposition of the de-
Iuded ones to the truth that has pre-
vented real remedial measures from
being applied up to this time.
In the early days OF the sad Civil
War, when government was casting
about for sources OF income with
which 10 prosecute the armed strife
in which It was engaged, two subjects
appeared before the throne, appar-
emily able and willing to bear an
enormous proportion of the burden,
of course. forseeing enormous advan-
tages 10 accrue to them for tt1ts Hpa
parent ability and Willingness. These
subjects We're named Tariff and In
ternal Revenue.
The lords and barons of England
and of Europe, in general, origi-
| mated III special military service,
| much of Ii in causes of doubtful
| Righteousness. Having rendered great
| military services TO ambitious mon
archs, they accepted In payment the
domain that should have been the
common heritage, also special titles.
| honors and immunities. The Ameri-
can House of Lords had its rise in
practically the same circumstances
! Having appeared To supply to the
government the sinews OF war, the
| tariff and liquor barons have claim
| ed ever since the right to run the
| government in their own interests.
and have succeeded in doing this
through their control of the United
| States Senate.
or course, 1t is true that the tariff
and liquor barons have not had an
| exclusive ownership of the Federal
| Senate, this was not Necessary, and
1t was but natural that so expensive
a body of men should be farmed out
to other interests. 80 that the cost
! to each individual baron would be
| smaller. There were land-grabber
barons who were quite willing to help
| pay the bill. IL they could exercise
the right of ownership. and railroad
magnates and coal and oil kings and
trust magnates. and as the interests
of these petty lords did not conflict.
| and as the Senate could sArve all as
we'll as any of them, they all COM
bined and pooled their control of the
| American House of Lords, which has
| dared to defy the American people,
| believing the special interests which
owned them were strong enough to
keep them In their seats despite pub
lie dissatisfaction
The actual voting power of the
| petty barons OF business and special
| interests Ia relatively very small, and
| could not be relied upon to return a
| single Senator to the House of Lords,
nor even a single Congressman to
the House of Commons (Representa-
tives). To make 1t possible to control
the electorate in the interests of the
businss barons. and against the COM
mon people. 1t was necessary that the
honest vote OF the country should
be divided as nearly as possible be-
! tween two great parties. SO that an
| honest vote on one side would be
killed off by an honest vote on the
| other side; this reduced the matter
| Of getting sure results to the science
Of corruption and bribery. and here
was where the liquor barons took the
| matter in hand and guaranteed the
results. Two hundred and fifty thou
sand saloons scattered over nearly the
whole country were able to produce
morally perverted and corrupted
| voters, who could be relied upon with
absolute certainty to vote the wills
OF tnelr cOrrupterS-the SalOOnkeep-
ers. Then, TO carry a national cleo
ton. or to elect a Legislature favor
| able to any particular Senator, 1t was
only necessary for the saloons to get
busy. understanding that, come what
| might, they were to be protected, and
| the trick was done. The senatorial
| representative OF a great State, or the
President of the United States could
be elected with the understanding that
| none OF these special interests should
be disturbed or prevented from run
ming the government. OF course.
! these special interests have preferred
that reasonably reputable and popu-
lar gentlemen should be elected Sem
ators and Presidents reserving only
one point-that the ancient right to
rule should not be disturbed.
For this reason nearly a score of
wears of agitation was necessary be-
fore national pure food bill. very
moderate in Its provisions, could be-
come law; and It's enactment was
largely allowed only to prevent a po-
litical revolution. For this same rea-
son the United States Senate blouse
OF Lords) has for years refused to
pass bill allowing the States that
have adopted general prohibitory laws
the right &c prevent liquor being
| shipped into these States IN contrs :
vasltion to State laws, and even South
| crn Senators-supposec to be be-
lieyers In State's rights---have not
made themselves active in support
or this fundamental Democratic doc