AND SUBORDINATION. 77 



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

 is the prize for which 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 

 d oes not know th at the love of power is natural to man , and 

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

 Man is naturallv a selfish bein g. Men do not change their 

 nature when they combine their efforts and becomfe 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 the y confer benefits onJ hgiiflCi- 

 m unity is not dgnied- 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 re£uire_to be looked after, and 

 that a little occasional prunijog^of them j^uld be^_a^£uW 

 beneBt? 



l^fo man, or bod y of men can get jmjjchahead in any 

 pursuit without retarding the prog ress of othe rs in the same 

 ratio. Every man who^mmences business in a small way 

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

 petitorr~~S!nThe is quite right. Cust omers 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, bo w the ir 

 necks to tyrants, andjkiss 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, i nequality of c ond ition , once 

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



