588 THE IMPENDING REVOLUTION. 



on stocks that have never been paid for, while their indebt- 

 edness to the government has yearly grown larger? 



u Yet Congress has never moved in the matter. The 

 robbery in this way has been public, shameful and 

 scandalous. The patriots of both parties who have been 

 crying out against monopolies, rings, combinations, etc., 

 from the stump have not raised a finger or uttered a pro- 

 test against this steal of $150,000,000 or more. 



' ' They have been as dumb as oysters about it. Can 

 the explanations be found in the generous contributions of 

 the 'Big Four' in the way of 'expenses?' Is there any 

 clue to the trouble in the fact that most of the outside 

 parties mentioned in the Huntington bill of 'expenses' 

 were ex-senators or ex-congressmen? 



"Even the President, who, through his Secretary of 

 the Interior, if not through the public press, must have 

 learned of the wholesale roguery, has hardly alluded to the 

 disgraceful state of affairs, and has not suggested a remedy. 

 He has not even urged investigation, and he has refused to 

 institute suits against the syndicates when they palpably 

 violated the law, as in the Pacific Mail Steamship Com- 

 pany case. 



1 ' The investigation now to be undertaken will not and 

 should not end the matter. If honest, capable men are 

 appointed on the Commission, the rottenness of the last six 

 years will be as thoroughly exposed as the rottenness of the 

 ten preceding years has been by Mr. French. But the 

 matter can not be allowed to rest at exposure. There must 

 be legislation as well. The plunderers must be made to 

 disgorge some of the stolen goods at least. They must be 

 driven from the control of the roads. The original law 

 makes ample provision for legislation which would force 

 the corporations into bankruptcy, when the government 

 could become the purchaser for the protection of its own 

 interests. If such a purchase should be made the govern- 



