The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-07-25

ON the part of France and England, would in
evitably lead to the accomplishment of Napo-
Icons prophecy. and to the final subjugation Of
Europe by the Cossacks.
The Slang liter ON Railroads-The Failure Of
the Legislature to Prevent ie.
The Legislature of this State has adjourned
without enacting any law for the greater secu-
rity ofrailroad travellers. All appeals to them
upon the subject were in vain. Their ears were
deaf that they would not hear. and their eyes
were blind that they would not see the neces-
sity for such law. Faithless and Improbable
servants, so far as concerns this duty, they de-
serve severe censure and condemnation. May
they be haunted by the ghosts Of all who shall
perish through their neglect!
1t is true that we had no great faith in the
efficacy of such bill as that which was brought
before the Assembly, but failed to pass. 1t
was not the thing. What is required is, law
which shall impose a penalty Of five thousand
dollars upon railroad proprietors for every life
destroyed, no matter how, by their engines or
cars, and twenty-five hundred dollars for every
fracture Of a limb or limbs not resulting fatally
Such law, simple and plain, driving right at
the object to be accomplished, by the shortest
and traightest cut could not be eyaded. 1t
would do the work. Pass it, and railroad acct
dents will become very infrequent, if not en-
tirely obsolete.
To appoint commissioners and numerous
inspectors, and to undertake to manage the
business of railroad corporations for them, is
one way; but it is a way that will s.gnally fail
if attempted. They can manage their own
business infinitely better than anybody else can
do it for them. All that is wanted is to make
it absolutely essential to their pecuniary in
terest that they should carry passengers safely.
This would work like magic upon them. In
the first place. it would rouse up the stock
holders. Men are in the habit of looking
pretty closely after their bread and butter;
and the chance of lean dividends or no
dividends would cause the stockholders to be-
stir themselves about election time and the
sleepy old fogies the superannuated million
aires and the gambling spectators, would
alike be excluded from the direction of the
roads: men fit for the place. and competent and
WING w III iSc hiSuly ICSpolAcAUlC uutiVS,
would be put in. Such men would appoint
superintendent. conductors, and other agents,
capable and worthy And not only would
sober cautious, experienced men be sought for
responsible stations. but new precautions
would spring up on every side. Better mate
rails would be employed in construction, and
more reliable tests would be used to prove
their quality. All defects would be looked
after with keen eyed vigilance examinations
for such as are incident to usage and wear,
would become more frequent. regular, and
thorough. New safeguards, unthought of here
toiore. would be invented; for necessity is
the mother Of invention :" and. in brief rail
road travelling would be made. as it can and
should lie, nearly exempt from fatal or serious
accidents
The liability to punishment for murder or
manslaughter. would remain the same as at
present. But it is so very slight that the fear
OF it does not possess railroad officials ct all.
Practically it is OF but little Importance. A
conductor or engineer may be ever so guilty,
ard lie is not then in half The danger of being
convicted that he is Of being struck by light
ming
Having found the recent Legislature callous
TO all arguments and entreaties on this most
important topic. we now appeal directly to the
sovereign power-the people-who are to elect
the next Legislature and we ask them to vote
for no man for representative OF senator who
will not 60 for this law. What question is there
Of more momentous. of more universal import
ance? Every one is deeply interested in it,
To suppose that the MANNED, mangled, torn,
broken, crushed victims of these awful railroad
butcheries are all who suffer from them, or that
the addition of their immediate friends makes
up the sum total Of the sufferers, would be
great mistake. We think it is Cicero who says
at any rate Cicero might have said it-that
he who constantly fears death dies daily. A
man taking the cars now. feels that he incurs
about the same risk that he would in going into
battle. Look at the long trains hourly pour
ing their living cargoes into this city. How
many hearts at home palpitatc with fear lest
those whom they contain should never return
in safety! Could the occasion for all this weary
ing anxiety be removed, or greatly lessened q
deal Of misery would be prevented. AT present.
such anxiety is natural and reasonable. No
man is safe. Let no one say this business does
not concern him. Our city was recently visited
by a man esteemed by many the most fortunate
in the country. He fills the highest elective
Office in the world. lie was received in q man.
ner becoming his high station, amid the roar of
cannon and the shouts Of the populace. How
many envied himl Yet those who observed the
habitral shade of sadness which in their repose,
settled upon his features. could not fail to be
reminded that he would gladly resign all the
honor power and glory, the pride, pomp and
circumstance Of his exalted position could he
in exchange, have restored to him single vic
tim Of one Of those frightful calamities now SO
frequent, but which, under the law that we
urCp wauld scarcely bo known