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About The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 6, 1901)
r He probably remembered that a general of -the United States army had signed an agreement wherein it was stipulated that in certain territory, where United States sovereignty had been de clared and over hich the United States flag waved, any slave might have the privilege of obtaining his freedom by paying to the master "the usual market price." In that particular case the "usual market price" is said to be about $20. In San Francisco it would seem that the usual market price ranges from $1,700 to $2,500. The difference, however, is purely one of dollars and cents. And if $20 could be designated as the barrier to human freedom in the Sulus, the "heathen Chinee," perhaps, felt justified in rais ing the barrier in California to the extent of a few hundred dollars. Navigation Laws. " An Old. Merchant," writing to a New Tork paper, says: Why ignore the true reason why American mer chant shipping does not grow as fast as Germany's? Mr. Depowjbold the Senate it was because Germany paid big bounties. But Germany pays only $1 in ship subsidies to $3 paid by France. Even Italy pays more for ship subsidies than Germany. Yet Germany's merchant marine is growing faster than either France's or Italy's. Now, why? Because Bismarck gave Germans free trade in ships. They were allowed to go and buy their ships where they could get them cheapest. That brought a fleet of German merchantmen built on the Clyde to German ports, with German registry, and now, having got that start, Germany is building ships for herself and for other nations' too. Repeal our stupid old navigation laws and we shall soon have an American merchant marine. W Railroad Trusts. President Fish, of the Illinois Central Rail road, says: Consolidation is coming. It has been coming for years, and I don't think anything will arise to stop it. It is the result of natural conditions and of com petition. Competition is recognized as a good thing theo retically, but there is nothing so harmful to railroads and to shippers as unrestrained and unlimited compe tition. It is not a great stretch of the imagination to see all the railway lines of the country amalgamated into groups, according to geographical conditions, and each group controlled by one financial interest. Mr. Fish says he fa(,rs the consolidation on the ground that it would be an excellent thing for the public and the railroads. According to Mr. Fish, "consolidation is the only way in which uniformity and. stability in rates can be secured." Ho says it has been proved by the railway history of other countries that consolida tion does bring stability in rates, and Mr. Fish does not believe we will have this condition until consolidation is effected. It is not difficult to see that consolidation would be a good thing for the stockholders of the railroad. But Mr. Fish would find it diffi cult to convince intelligent men that it would be good for the public. The idea that the public is to be benefited by the creation of an immense railroad trust, absolutely controlling the high ways of the nation, is too absurd for discussion. It may be that consolidation is coming; it may be that nothing can stop it. It will not be a great surprise if all the railway lines of the country are amalgamated into one great railroad The Commoner. trust, and nothing will do more than this to give impetus to the movement of government owner: ship of the railroads. The financiers who are giving encouragement to the railroad trust idea do not realize the dan gerous ground upon which they stand. They see only the immense advantages they will derive if they are permitted to continue their gigantic or ganization. They do not believe the people would resent the impositions; they do not know that the people would in short order own and control the railroads of the country, fixing rates in accordance with publio interests. Stone on Party Organization. Ex-Governor Wm. J. Stone, of Missouri, vice-chairman of the democratic national com mittee, took occasion to discuss, in a recent speech, the proposed reorganization of the dem ocratic party. The active part taken by him in the campaigns of 1800 and 1900, his acknowl edged ability and his courageous defense of democratic principles, make his views both weighty and interesting. The following is an extract from his speech: I turn now from these general observations which I have made because they should bo always borne in mind even in the discussion of public ques tions, to the consideration of party interests as thoy relate to the present and the future. Recently wo have heard much talk of party reorganization. It is said that the party should be rejuvenated, recalled from its wanderings, put in bettor hands, and rcdedi cated to true democratic principles and the public welfare. The indictment and the demand arc alike too vague and indefinite to bo of value. It is easy to say that the democratic party, as .now organized, has been undemocratic; but in what respect has it been undemocratic? It is easy to say that the party should return to the true principles of the party; but what arc the principles to which these reorganizers would commit the party? We must have a bill of particu lars before we can pass intelligently upon the merits of the contention. The very fact that these so-called .reorganizers indulge only in general accusation and indefinite assertion, avoiding any specific statement of their own position, subjects them the suspicion of concealing their real designs and of trying to accom plish by covert means vt hat they would not dare to attempt in the open. Their tactics are too much the tactics of those who beat tomtoms in ambush that they may stampede by a mere bewildering confusion of sounds. Besides, I am not over-pleased with the source from which this proposal emanates. It comes from men who deserted, if they did not betray, the party in at least two of the most stupen dous and momentous conflicts in which it has ever engaged, and it contemplates not only "the exaltation into places of party leadership of those who sulked and those who fought openly in the ranks of the enemy, but contemplates also the humiliation and retirement of those who stood loyally by the party flag, took the hazard and bore the brunt of battle, and upon whose swords and garments there are today no stains of party treason or treachery. A proposal of this kind, coming from this quarter, will not, in my opinion, be kindly received, but, .on the contrary, will be treated, as it ought to be, by a great majority of the party with resentment and dis dain. I believe I voice the real and best sentiment of the party when I say that we would welcome the return of those who abandoned us even on the very field of battle if they should return in good faith to aid the party with honest counsel and with an henest purpose to support its conclusions; but I do not believe that the party, as a whole, will or ought either to welcome or receive those who come mouthing con demnations of others who have been always steadfast and true, who trumpet laudatory justifications of their offi apostasy, and who defiantly proclaim a purpose to setae the party organization and direct iU future destiny. For one I am willing, without refer ence to the unfortunate events of the recent past, to discuss party policies with any and every man who , is willing to stand by the party and accept in good faith the final result of its deliberations; but I want nothing to do with those who, for selfish reasons or vaunting vanity, assume to be better and wiser than all who may differ from them, and who, failing to force their conceptions upon the party, stand ready i to desert it in a critical hour. We are not yet willing to admit that wo wore wrong, much less undemo cratic, upon any position we assumod. South America's Growth. European affairs are so attractive that the peo ple of tho United States often overlook interests 1 ing facts within their own bailiwick. Wo know , comparatively little of South America and its re- J markablc progress. The Dallas, Tex., News calls j attention to the fact that South America can boast of one of tho great oities. According to the News, "Buenos Ayres is the greatest city south of the equator. The population is believed to ex- ,. ceed 800,000. It was officially estimated to be over 705,000 at the close of 1890, and tho increase is calculated to be close to 30,000 a year. There fore, Now York, Chicago, and Philadelphia are tho only oitios in tho United States which surpass the Argentine metropolis in tho number of inhabit ants. There are only about ten cities inhabited by white men in all tho world which arc bigger. "Size is not the only notable form of dovolop mont. Tho revenue of tho city is about $8,000,- 000 a year in gold. Its streets and parks are ;- lighted by more than 13,000 gas jets, over 8,000 lamps, and about 1,250 arc lights, of 1,000 to 2,000 candle-power apiece. There are fifteen the aters or smaller places of public amusement, and they have about 1,000,000 spectators every year. Tho street railways carry 110,000,000 passengers , J annually, which means some $5,000,000 income. It (fl one of the most cosmopolitan of all 'the earth's centers. Besides the underlying and still " dominant Spanish element which used to have the Argentine in exclusive possession, there is a large Italian population, fast increasing, and the Ger mans, English, French, Irish, Welsh, Portuguese, Chileans, Poles, Russians, Swiss, and other na tionalities are well represented in the Argentine i Republic, and, to some extent, in its capital. All this is interestiug, but the most important fact is yet to be stated. There is a cleanliness move ment on in Buenos Ayres, and it is said to be a great success. The men in charge of the city are men of intelligence, who know something of tho' importance of sanitary improvements, and are said to be alive to their duties. One of them re-, cently announced the determination of himself and his lieutenants, in spite of many obstacles, to .A make Buenos Ayres the cleanest city in tho world."; 'Once to every man and nation comes the moment to decide, In the Strife of Truth with Falsehood, for the good or evil side; Some great cause, God's new Messiah, offering each the bloom or blight Parts the goats upon the left hand, and the sheep upon the right, And the choice goes on forever between that dark neas and that light." James Russell LowelL Lj