The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1911-02-03


system. II is right to assume tina
this function should be extended I,
eleven pounds, from the same mode 0
reasoning why should there be limi
in weight or amount Of merchandise tt
be carried by the government. In othel
words, il it is right for the government
to engage in the transportation Of small
merchandise why is it not right for the
government to become a common car
rier in the transportation Of all kinds Of
freight. II the parcels post is right
government ownership or control is
right, and il government ownership OF
control is right then the logic Of Bryan s
theory was correct.
But with the premises we do not
agree-neither government ownership
or control nor the parcels post. But it
would not be so embarrassing to us as
to the National Monthly to acknowledge
the force OF Bryan's reasoning
There is no socialism in pure democ-
racy. 1t is a rule Of the survival.oi the
fittest. There is no argument on earth
to justify the ground that the people
should not have merchandise as cheap
as they can get it. But this condition
should exist through healthy, legiti-
mate commerce, and fair and honest
rivalry connot exist between the big
dealer and the rural dealer when the
government undertakes to carry the
big Dealers merchandise to the con-
sumner at rate Of transportation which
would be burdensome expense and an
increase Of the tariff duties to maintain
it. More than this, the government
would thereby become common car
rier coming in contact with the small
dealer and concomitant interests in the
rural communities, sitting rural COM
merce and revoIutionizing the mercantile
interests at the sacrifice OF the small
merchant and municipality. There is
no equity in this. The rural dealer is
crushed not by an honest rival, but by
sp unjust government. II seems to us
that the government is violating its sol
emn pledges when it undertakes to de-
stroy the principles Of equal and exact
justice in distributing its fayors. 1t is
neither the principle of Democracy nor
Republicanism. If the factories and
big dealers should devise some means
of reducing charges and facilitating
without the aid OF the
government then the rivalry in business
would no doubt be normal and just.
But government aid means government
expenditure, and to tax the public to
maintain the parcels post (no man can
deny that it will take mill
Iions) means that the public which is in
Tended to be benefited receives practi-
.ally no benefit, while the factories and
big dealers are enriched and the rural
lealer is reduced or forced to close his
loor.
The establishment of the parcels post
system in the United States would mean
Millions for additional government ser
employees, buildings, delivery
equipment all over the country. 1t
would cost millions more than the reve-
Tue derived from it and thereby become
factor in fostering the great Republic
an protective tariff. 1t would there
ore increase the cost of manufactured
rticles and merchandise Of all kinds, so !
hat the consumer would receive practi-
ally no benefit, If there be any benefit \
all in buying from the mail order
ouse. 7
The parcels post would be no more
or less than class legislation and po- 7
teal blow to the sovereignty Of the
eople.
The parcels post may be partially, If
OF wholly, success in a country like
ermany with strong centralized gov !
where trade is practically all =
a. a