l8o AMERICAN FARMS. 



Our political systems give to our legislators most 

 tempting opportunities, by effecting slight changes, to 

 put thousands into the hands of the monopolist and the 

 treasury at the expense of the people ; while the manu- 

 facturer in return will put his hundreds into the poli- 

 tician's election fund, and make a good bargain by this 

 exchange of services. The politician has but to support 

 the aims of the monopolist, and the monopolist will stand 

 by the politician. 



So apparently irresistible are the toils of our various 

 politico-fiscal systems that even some of our best men 

 are unable to escape their pernicious influence. Have 

 we not recently seen our most earnest, able, high-minded, 

 and experienced statesmen, who, from their first entry 

 into the political arena, have stood by the masses, finally 

 advocating the cause of the oppressor as a last recourse 

 for a return to power ? The results, of course, are a 

 greater victory for capital and the loss of champions for 

 the interests of the people. 



Many of our laws are made, not in the interest of the 

 masses, but for the selfish ends of the few, and very often 

 for the direct benefit of the selfish politicians who make 

 them. A goodly number of our people know all this ; 

 they feel that its corrupting and demoralizing influence 

 has permeated through our whole social life ; but we, in 

 effect, have decided that party despotism must be main- 

 tained. 



How appropriate are these words of Bastiat : " What ! 

 the law is no longer the refuge of the oppressed, but the 

 arm of the oppressor ! The law is no longer a shield, 

 but a sword ! The law no longer holds in her august 

 hands a scale, but false weights and measures ! And you 

 wish to have society well regulated ! Your system has 



