CORPORATIONS in the “Gilded Age”

“The Corporation is a convenient cloak for the rascality of the individual. It is also his protection. His share in the Profits has no limits...”

“These Corporations are the Federal Barons of this Century. Their Directors live in lordly Palaces and Castles. Their Yachts are on the sea, their Parlour Cars on the rails. They spread feasts that would feed a starving factory town. They throw away on the decorations on a Ball Room enough to clothe the children of a City.

(Corporations)...They keep bans of Militia to do their fighting. In Pennsylvania, it is called the “Coal and Iron Police”. In New York and Illinois it is called the “Pinkerton Detective Agency”. At the word of command, the hireling assassins will shoot down men, women and children. Time and again they have made the streets run red with the blood of innocent people. The Murderers are never punished. They are spirited away on the trains.”

“Not only do the Corporations keep armed Retainers: they keep oily and and servile Courtiers to do their bidding in other walks of life. Their paid Lobby bribes the Voter. Their paid Editor feeds the Public with lies. Their corrupt Lawyers and Judges peddle out Justice to the highest bidder. Their Attorneys go on the bench, or into Senates to vote the will of their Masters.”

“To restore the Liberties of the People, the rule of the People, the equal rights of the People is our Purpose; the Revolution of the old system must be complete...”

Written in 1892 by Tom E. Watson (a Populist Party leader)