IX: Benevolence, or Justice? explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Monopoly and Special Interests

  Wilson argues that Roosevelt's plan to regulate trusts accepts monopoly as inevitable, effectively creating a partnership between government and special interests rather than dissolving it.

• Government Trusteeship vs. Democracy

  Wilson contrasts Roosevelt's vision of government as a board of directors managing trusts with his own ideal of direct popular control, rejecting the notion of being governed by benevolent masters.

• The Common Man and Popular Wisdom

  Wilson insists that justice must come from the people themselves, not from trusts or a paternalistic government, emphasizing the capacity of ordinary citizens to govern.

• Transparency and Public Counsel

  Wilson acknowledges the need for publicity and fairness in trust operations but argues that mere regulation without breaking monopoly power is insufficient.

Characters to notice

• Mr. Roosevelt

  Wilson critiques Roosevelt's trust plank, which accepts monopoly and proposes regulation by a commission, arguing it perpetuates control by special interests.

• Mr. Carnegie

  Mentioned indirectly via reference to Mr. George W. Perkins, organizer of the Steel Trust and Harvester Trust, who aided Roosevelt's campaign.

• Mr. McKinley

  Not explicitly mentioned in excerpts; no direct reference found.

• Mr. Aldrich

  Not explicitly mentioned in excerpts; no direct reference found.

• Jefferson

  Not explicitly mentioned in excerpts; no direct reference found.

• Lincoln

  Not explicitly mentioned in excerpts; no direct reference found.

• Tom

  Not explicitly mentioned in excerpts; no direct reference found.

• Alice

  Not explicitly mentioned in excerpts; no direct reference found.

• Pat

  Not explicitly mentioned in excerpts; no direct reference found.

• Jack

  Not explicitly mentioned in excerpts; no direct reference found.

• Mr. U'Ren

  Not explicitly mentioned in excerpts; no direct reference found.

Key passages

• “The doctrine that monopoly is inevitable and that the only course open to the people of the United States is to submit to and regulate it found a champion during the campaign of 1912 in the new party, or branch of the Republican party, founded under the leadership of Mr. Roosevelt.”

  Roosevelt's Progressive Party advocated accepting monopoly as unavoidable and merely regulating it, a position Wilson opposes.

  Wilson sets up the central conflict of the chapter: regulation vs. dissolution of monopolies.

• “I do not want to see the special interests of the United States take care of the workingmen, women, and children. I want to see justice, righteousness, fairness and humanity displayed in all the laws of the United States, and I do not want any power to intervene between the people and their government.”

  Wilson rejects benevolent oversight by trusts in favor of direct justice through law, without intermediaries.

  Highlights Wilson's core argument for justice over benevolence.

• “Benevolence never developed a man or a nation. We do not want a benevolent government. We want a free and a just government.”

  Paternalistic kindness does not foster growth; only freedom and justice do.

  Summarizes the chapter's title and thesis.

• “Are you going to own your own premises, or are you not? That is your choice. Are you going to say: 'You didn’t get into the house the right way, but you are in there, God bless you; we will stand out here in the cold and you can hand us out something once in a while?'”

  Wilson asks whether Americans will reclaim their government from entrenched monopolies or accept a subordinate role.

  Powerful metaphor for the choice between self-governance and submission.