AND SUBORDINATION. 77 



it is now a war of industry and all its elements. Property 

 is the prize for whieh all are straining their nerves. 



But commercial power accumulated in the hands of any 

 one man, or body of men, is ever dangerous to liberty. Who 

 does not know that the love of power is natural to man, and 

 that he is apt to abuse the confidence that is reposed in him ? 

 Man is naturally a selfish being. Men do not change their 

 nature when they combine their efforts and become share- 

 holders. Merchant princes are no exception. Personal in- 

 terest is undoubtedly the moving power of the actions of 

 one and all of them. That they confer benefits on the com- 

 munity is not denied. Their canvas is swelling on every 

 sea, and their merchandise is coming to us from every shore! 

 Yet, is the power thus accumulated in the hands of a few 

 used only for the good of the many ? Is it not undeniable 

 that banking and other extensive establishments are not 

 to be trusted ? that they are apt to get a little too much 

 ahead ? And do not you think, reader, that these leading 

 branches in the Social Tree require to be looked after, and 

 that a little occasional pruning of them would be a public 

 benefit ? 



No man, or body of men can get much ahead in any 

 pursuit without retarding the progress of others in the same 

 ratio. Every man who commences business in a small way 

 knows that he has, in the large capitalist, a dangerous com- 

 petitor. And he is quite right. Customers will always go 

 to those places where they can get the cheapest and best 

 goods. They think it is their interest to do so. Hence, 

 they go to the man who has the most money, who can 

 better afford to buy in larger quantities than the small 

 trader, and who is therefore able to accommodate them 

 with better goods at the same or a lower price. It is thus 

 that poor men refuse to stand by each other, bow their 

 necks to tyrants, and kiss the rod of the oppressor. People 

 are attracted to the richly-furnished store ; and, for the 

 sake of a temporary advantage, they take their money to 

 those who have more than enough, and refuse to patronize 

 the small trader. Hence, inequality of condition, once 

 engendered, is very apt to go on increasing, until finally 



