Which shall rule -- wealth or man?

[BoyNextDoor]

"The enterprises of the country are aggregating vast corporate combinations of unexampled capital, boldly marching, not for economic conquests only, but for political power. The question will arise, and arise in your day, though perhaps not fully in mine: Which shall rule -- wealth or man; which shall lead -- money or intellect; who shall fill public stations -- educated and patriotic free men, or the feudal serfs of corporate capital?"

-- Edward G. Ryan, chief justice of Wisconsin Supreme Court, address to graduating class at University of Wisconsin, 1873.

Well I believe it is safe to say wealth is ruling and all public stations are staffed with the the feudal serfs of corporate capital.

 

[sr71plt]

Serfs, almost by definition, don't rule anything, so the quote seems muddled. I think it's pretty much men of wealth who rule, so that doesn't go well with the quote or the question either.

 

[Sean Renaud]

If you believe our politicians are bought and paid for then the 'serfs' are 'ruling' though obviously the word choice is less than ideal.

 

[BoyNextDoor]

"The feudal serfs of corporate capital" seems to me to be an almost prophetic description of the 21st century lobbyist.

He was not literally talking about a serf. He was using "serf" as metaphor for rhetorical effect.