The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-02-23
THE RIcI1MoND VIRGINIA N-sUNDAY, FEBRUAR % 1913
'RIVU EGE ALARMS
homas Nelson Page, Analysing Classes, Declares Money
Power The Difficult Problem Of American People

Therefore we cannot expect that they
will be able to assist us in adjusting
the arrogance of the privileged class
SO soon. Neither do believe In the
polygiot advice Of the reformer which
is a patchwork OF odds and ends he
has picked up In books Of political
| economy.
Nor Is this matter OF the money
power in this country to be cured by
the idealist. Socialism may have the
right purpose, butts economical
Ia only one thing we are positive about
and that 10 that the liberty of the
citizens must be restored to him.
Years ago when Patrick Henry
down in my State wrote on the fy1eaf
OF his law books the first draft OF
resolutions for Legislative liberty all
these problems that we are now con-
| sidering and worrying about were
discussed. Those men gave the
American people the spirit and feel
ing of this great republic. There Ia
no need OF new laws; there are no
laws better than the laws which those
men gave US. The constitution OF the
United States Ia the salt OF liberty
and should be the will of the people.
THE sinister side Of American poll
| tics may not be universally known.
| In various rumors. and through some
disgracefui evidence. revelations Of
! political betrayal have been made.
but the skill with which the money
| power exerts It's control over leEisla-
tive enactments lie only guessed at.
! Some years ago II was more bold than
| 1t Is now, since diplomatic skill has
! improved the method. It was quite
/ customary at one time for the repre-
sentative of a big corporation to come
to Washington and entertain use
| ful senator or congressman and so
befriend him. After that. II he hap
| pencd to be lawyer which Is
quite usual, this willy representative of
the money power would seek to en-
gage his legal services In some case
for which he would receive a large
retainer. Since the days OF railroad
passes have gone by transportation
favors no longer figure in political
values. Still bribery and graft go
welded to the common cause Of po-
iitical trickery.
I'm spite of the pessimism which
aflicts the American character to-
| day. however, fundamentally your
real American fs conservative. He may
not be able to prevent these violations
OF private rights at once, but in the
shuttle OF years he manages to get
his bearings and he manages finally
1
| the nation. And this In spite of the
money power which generously con-
| tyfbuted to the last campaign and car
! ried only two States. Utah and YER
mont
| All these disturbing upheavals of
| today. the high cost OF living. poiiti-
cal bribery. business treachery. graft.
the purity OF the ballot. In fact. all
the present interferencss with the
1 ~ ~ Ao
| by the men who framed the consti-
tuition OF the United States. The L.
cues wers not % large. OF course.
| nor was tho evidences 10 clear ~ It
| ID now. but the question OF constitu-
f1onal liberty was thoroughly studied
by these wtss ancestors Of ours- They
had one great advantage over III. and
that was the splendid unseifish spirit
OF loyalty In their hearts to the cause
of liberty.
The attitude OF tho investigating
committee towards Mr.. Morgan was q
proof OF his national standing m an
authority Of finance rather than his
reputation az = money maker. still the
army OF counselors and lawyers went
Doubtless he had only q general
knowledge OF the working Of the Inn
mense interests his name represent
ed. and he needed to consult these le-
gal representatives OF the different
business organizations under his con-
troll. This was perfectly fair ex-
cuse. and It is not to be supposed
that Mr.. Morgan or any other man
would be able to keep I'm his mind
al the details
Mr.. Morgan Ia not usual type
OF the privileged class. He In q
unique exception, because his object
has not been like the rest. private
wealth at the expense OF the people.
/ When I WAS young man I was an
fndividualist. Perhaps that Is Mr.. Nor
1 cams exceptional character. OF course
/ he Ia money power. but he does not
| seem to seek the power of money for
/ himself. Hia financial activities have
1 been those OF an adjuster of finance
/ without criticising New York 1t
can be said OF this wonderful city,
4 however. that II il one Of the clear
/ expressions OF the character Of trust
/ systems From New York IL has per-
meated the other large cities OF the
/ United States and nxed upon our ma
/ tional reputation the stigma Of sell
| hshness: that Ii to say. money selfish
/ ness. greed for accommodating mon
ey. The business opportunity OF
combination has made II possible for
4 men to think OF nothing else but
| money. They have forgotten the ideals
=
/ States.
The individual right OF a man to
improve his property. to prosper In
/ his business for the henefit OF his
family, Is indisputahle, but the au-
i thority by new laws which the prf-
viieged class have created for them
selves. in violation OF the Constitu-
tionaI rights Of the people. IL a very
serious national danger. It has In
voived the integrity OF the United
States Government. to say nothing Of
the widespread injury II has done to
the public interests
Under the direction OF the Repub-
lican party. to which the privileged
class contributed 50 many thousands
Of dollars, the Government seems to
have been powerless to cope with the
problem. In spite OF energetic effort
for the recall. the referendum. the ini-
tiative and other remedial proposals
the system grows stronger and big
ger, ever more defiant, ever more sell
fish and Indifferent to the peoples
cause. Like huge tapeworm, no
matter where you cut 1t in two. it
n @nfy tn~ ~ a.