Wisconsin State Agricultural Society. 
481 
ment of those who govern.” It will be necessary to keef> this idea 
in constant remembrance as we proceed in what we have to say, be¬ 
cause monopolies are not unfrequently the creation of government. 
The very word signifies special and peculiar privileges, whether 
granted by government or assumed or usurped by individuals. 
When monopoly rights are granted to individuals or corporations, 
it is not alone for the benefit and advantage of those to whom the 
grant is made, but all such special privileges or monopoly rights 
are, or should be granted for the happiness and advantage of the 
public and not solely or mainly for the advantage and aggrandize¬ 
ment of those to whom the monopoly is granted. 
The word monopoly has various significations. 
(1.) u It is defined as the abuse of free commerce by which one or 
more individuals have procured the advantage of selling alone all 
of a particular kind of merchandise to the detriment of the public.” 
(2.) u All combinations among merchants to raise the price of mer¬ 
chandise to the injury of the public,” 
(3.) u A monopoly is also an institution or allowance by a grant 
from the sovereign power of a state, by commission, letters patent, 
or otherwise, to any person or corporation by which the exclusive 
right, of buying, selling, making, working, or using of anything is 
given.” 
The last definition more nearly describes monopolies as they 
exist in this country by legislation or as the result of legislation, 
and especially what is called the monopoly of the carrying trade, 
although in this state no person or corporation can be invested with 
the exclusive right, of buying, selling, making or raising any¬ 
thing. And under our amended constitution and the laws passed 
in pursuance of it, every body is free to organize a corporation to 
carry on any legitimate business whatever, and if organized to build 
a railroad, the state has invested such corporation with the power 
of eminent domain which enables the company to take and use pri¬ 
vate property, because it is in such case declared to be for the public 
use. This is one instance where for the purpose of establishing a 
civil government it is necessary that individuals should in some de¬ 
gree give up their private, and we may add, their natural right of 
absolute control over their own property, for the public good and 
in part compensation for the protection which Government extends 
to the individual. Although everybody may have a right to build 
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