456 THE GROUNBSWELL. 



opinion ; and this is evidence of encouraging progress. But 

 if the people rest secure in easy confidence of victory, they 

 may yet find their foe, as many a wily fox has been found 

 before, strong again in its fastness, from which it &quot; can 

 neither be frightened, drowned, nor smoked out.&quot; 



The present stronghold of monoply is the corruption of 

 public men, culminating in demoralization as shameful as 

 has ever disgraced the officials of any country. This de 

 moralization is one reason why it seems impossible to secure 

 the passage of any law by our Legislatures that shall be 

 simple in construction, go straight to the intended point, 

 and discourage litigation. The honest men in the Legisla 

 tures are overborne and beaten down by the majority, 

 who are promised either power or money for their votes. 



The various Legislatures may legislate to all eternity 

 upon the maximum rate that common carriers shall charge 

 within the borders of their States, and the result will 

 always be a conflicting of interests that can not be identical 

 to cripple not only the carriers, but the people. If an 

 honest Congress should pass general and simple laws to gov 

 ern all the States, and the Supreme Court should decide in 

 the same spirit what was right and just, as between the 

 people of a State and the transporter (whether railroad or 

 otherwise) carrying long distances, there might be some 

 hope of ultimately reaching a solution of the difficulty. 



&quot;Will this ever be done ? Yes ; when the several dominant 

 interests of the nation elect men to represent them who are 

 not only honest, but united in interest with those whose votes 

 give them their places. How may this be brought about ? 

 By a consolidation of the industrial classes, as against the 

 consolidated monopolies, who use their power against the 

 true interests of the nation ; by using the voting power 

 direct, to secure the end sought. 



