l\ \
"Che Conservative
The disease may exist , the remedy may
fail. Capitalists are usually astute and
intelligent ; and the fact that they select
for investment those lines of business
which ultimately possess the element of
a monopoly of lands or its product , is
the best evidence of the truth of his
statement concerning economic tenden
cies. This is the secret of the favor
shown to investments in railroads ; al
though by too far anticipating future de
velopment , and failing properly to con
sider future competition on the same
lines , such investments generally have
not heretofore proved to be profitable.
This , likewise is the secret of the vast
aggregations of corporate capital and
water , which have lately frightened the
public niiiid. Protected by high tariffs
on their flank , they have sought to
obtain full control of the sources of the
mineral products and their transporta
tion , in order to make their monopoly
impregnable.
Nor does the rejection of the single
tax as impracticable , imply the rejection
of other remedies. Under equitable
rules the state could discourage the
speculation in laud even to the extent of
extinguishing future , unearned incre
ments by taxation , because in that case ,
the commercial value of the land would
continue to exist , and no injustice
would be done to the owner. Corporations -
. tions are artificial creatures with special
privileges , created by the state , and
therefore subject to the control of the
state. They could therefore be justly
subjected to a tax upon their franchises.
Their powers could be subjected to limi
tation and restriction both in the state
where they are created and in the state
where they do the business ; and where
they are instruments of commerce be
tween the states , they are subject to the
control of the United States.
But whatever be the remedy proposed
for existing or threatened evils , it can
not be successful unless the evils are
fully understood. Combination alone is
not sufficient to warrant interference.
It is as old as competition , and has often
been instrumental in procuring the
greatest benefits. Injury to public or
private rights must also accompany it.
The remedy must also be adapted to the
purpose , and must be applied with a
view to the conditions of time and
place. Many reforms have failed be-
oause , only , they were premature.
A gun loaded with reform carries a
dangerous explosive. If well considered ,
and adapted to remedy an acknowledged
evil , it may go straight to the mark and
do infinite good. More frequently it
bursts the gun into fragments , and
blows the gunner into oblivion. A
clear instance was the late attempt to
reform the standard of values. Some
old soldiers like myself are trying to
gather up and integrate the fragments
of our party ; but we have a wholesome
fear of the quack , immature , and im
practicable remedies offered to the people
ple as panaceas for the evils and hard
ships of life.
JAMES DENTON HANCOCK.
Franklin , Pa. , Aug. 2nd , 1901.
The editor of THE
ABSENT. CONSERVATIVE has
gone to Colorado
as the guest of his sou , Paul Morton ,
and will be absent one week.
UNCLASSIFIED.
The Rev. H. J. Wood , of Chicago , is
much exercised over the slim church at
tendance. He complains that theatres ,
beer gardens and picnics entice away
their congregations. There is only one
explanation , if the reverend gentleman
states a fact. The picnics , beer gardens
and theatres are giving an entertain
ment better suited to the mass of man
kind. If the theatres and other places
of amusement were giving the same
programme , with the same performers
without a variant , in a hundred years
they would find their box office as
empty as the contribution plate. As
women get a mild form of excitement
in church , by the survey of gowns and
millinery , they are able to maintain
their interest by change of costume.
When she "has nothing to wear" the
great superiority of woman as a church
goer becomes conspicuous by its absence.
Man , having no interest in dress , and the
same in the sermon as his wife , goes to
the summer garden or fishing. Instead
of a constant abuse of the people and
other places of resort , it might be well
for the church to consider themselves
awhile. Instead of complaining of
other places , meeting the changed con
ditions of the world , let them study
what changes are necessary in their own
methods to draw people into the pews.
This is the twentieth century , and the
dogmas of the sixteenth , the droning
of the platitudes of the seventeenth
with hymns of the eighteenth , no mat
ter how adroitly mixed will not be rel
ished by the intellectual palate of today.
If some Rev. "Wood desires to know
just how keenly the public relish an
orthodox sermon let him advertise one
some week day evening with a dime ad
mission. Fifty years ago the churches
had imdisputed possession of Sunday.
Why have they permitted their com
petitors for public favor to pass them in
the race. The church has either failed
in its mission to build up an enlightened ,
public sentiment , or it has failed to keep
pace with the enlightenment it has pro
duced. ( If the reverend gentleman is cor
rect that his congregation prefers thea
tres , picnics and beer gardens. ) Never
having heard the gentleman , the
writer of this religious column is not
prepared to pass upon the taste of his
congregation.
MoOlay's book has only enhanced the
love of the American people for the
hero of Santiago. But , it has also es
tablished the fact that the cowardly
slander was approved by the whole
coterie of waltzing heroes about the
navy department in Washington. The
drivelling excuses of lack of memory
with regard to the "proof sheets" bear
all the ear-marks of the whisky witness
in a dry town. "I called for whisky ,
paid for whisky and drank it for
whisky , but cannot remember at this
distance whether it was whisky or not ,
but rather think not. " Already the
Schley investigation has developed into
an exposure of a "naval ring , " and it
is the ring that today is on trial before
the bar of public opinion. With regard
to Schley , that opinion is fixed beyond
the power of any court. It is the
knowledge of this that has led to the
impotent rage and vile slander by the
Sampson clique. Sampson has shown
himself a "prize money admiral" only.
The character of the man was shown
when , by written letter , he stated that
the ability to waltz and make post
prandial speeches should control in promotions - w
motions instead of bravery and efficient
service.
The adherents of the cause of free
silver can get much comfort from the
fact that Leta , who ruled over Egypt
4,500 years before Christ , wrote a pre
scription for making hair grow on bald
heads. It is said that there are still
followers of Leta. Who knows but
what 6,500 years from now that the
same frantic efforts to create value by
law will prevail , as now to grow hair on
a bald pate ? Next after a man trying
to get an audience to listen to a free sil
ver argument , the most pitiful sight in
life is a bald-headed druggist trying to
sell a hair restorer.
"Dearest Charlie , thou has left us ,
And thy loss wo deeply feel.
It was the oil stocks that bereft us ;
The same would now our sorrows heal. "
Or lament the death of Pettigrew , the
proud , in some such beautiful lines as
these :
Here lies , cut down like unripe fruit ,
That rarest Pop , so gently mute.
Bold Pettigrew , his voice is still ,
Hushed by the Octopus of Hill.
Or this on the recent mysterious dis
appearance of J. K. Jones , of Arkansas ,
into the insatiate maw of the cotton
trust.
Cold is the cheek of our chairman so foxy ;
Cheek that bluffed gold-bug and Hanna
and all ;
We will chuck him in next to our dear old
friend Coxey ,
And give him a tomb-stone some time in
the fall.
But why multiply examples , and har
row-up the feelings of the little band of
survivors by a long list of victims of the
greed of mammon. ?
T. M. S.