126 AMERICA!^ FARMS. 



must largely depend, it is a dangerous position to occupy. 

 As men gain power, they are apt to feel power ; and be- 

 come infused with the idea that power is safest with 

 them and may be increased with profit to all. If they 

 escape this themselves, there is always risk of their 

 associates becoming subject to this influence. 



The nature of trusts and combines is to encourage the 

 impulse which seeks gain at the expense of others. This 

 is an impulse which, for many reasons, the rural classes 

 have a most decided interest in checking in every possi- 

 ble way. The effect of a trust that succeeds, is to crush 

 all who are not inclined to come under its manage- 

 ment. This is decidedly against the permanent welfare 

 of the masses engaged in agriculture. The trust also 

 forces terms upon the weakest members, and the weak 

 become subject to the strong ; a condition which the true 

 friend of the typical American farmer would avoid as 

 the danger of the future — real enthronement of wealth. 

 The trust causes business to pass over to the hands of 

 a directorate ; thus it brings the majority of its members 

 into a practical slavery. Its tendency is to stop the 

 growth of individuality. 



Completeness, individuality, self-dependence, is the 

 ideal life which the country should stimulate — a state so 

 desirable for the really developed man. The growth of 

 sentiments and customs of a slavish character develops 

 slavery. It is necessary, that the rural classes may 

 retain their individuality, that they exercise it in all 

 their institutions. In the stimulating of this individual 

 development, there is the greatest actual bond of union. 

 " Throughout our solar system, harmony of movement — 

 interdependence — is a result of that local attraction 

 which preserves a perfect independence. So, too, is it 



