New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-02-12
RAILROADS AS A POWER IN SOCIETY.

RAILROADS AS A POWER IN SOCIETY.
10 the Editor Of TIE " Y. Tribune
SIR:-In the general crush and financial disaster
recently sweeping over the counryn the depreciation
of all kinds of immoveable and movable property
the railroad stocks and routes from various quar-
tiers assaed in their intrinsic social value and utility
The outcry bears principally against their number
against what are called the unproduc.ive lines. 1t IS
alleged that such, spreading unnecessarily, compete
with each other, and occasion the depreciation OF
stocks. and. in one word, manifold reproaches are
hesped upon these fruits OF what are considered to be
sp excess Of speculation.
Railroads considered, however from an aspect SUI
peror 10 that Of fnapcering and specuatng-are the
mos, powerfu modern agencies Tor material culture,
a. we az for higher social civilization. Such above
all they prove to be in this country. The various
benefits derived from them-even from the shortest
interior connecting lnes-are striking and so with
in the reach xpeence and the observation OF every
one as 10 render their enumeration almost needless
line undervaued object of monetary speculation,
has nevertheless, intrinsic value social stimuli
latng agency. Ii brings the smallest hamlet other
wise stagnant in darkness within the range of i'm
prOvement and of civilization. Railroads form the
partial incarnation of a higher social conception.
They facilitate not only the forwarding Of goods and
poduce but the personal intercourse of men, the
gOcc exchange of notions thus smoothing asperites
and dIssovng preudices. Arteries for movement and
circulation, they forces emancipating matter and
mind and therefore, cowOrkers for liberty for higher
mental and moral ameGOratiOn. In the philosophical
and humane comprehension of social relations, the
culture and prosperity OF poor hamlet has as much
il not more weight than the hourlshlng state OF the
large cities and centers wherein cOngOnerate masses
of men and their yariegated interests.
The nresent epoch is emnently If not even prl-
mOrdially, commercial and financial one. Such Is
now the paramount character and interest OF society
here as in the Old World that railroads form therein
cardinal outstanding element and feature. Even as
stimulus of material activity and productlveness-
same az all other extensive financial, commercial or
industrial observation-disclosures deeply inertwined
with the social development OF men. SO railroads, 10
the same way as industry commerce, hnance ana
speculation count among the forces and powers lnlu"
encing and regulating social destines. AS such they
are Influenced by the laws revealed by history as
ruling over individuals and nations, deciding their
fate, directing and shaping out human events
Preemnent among such historical laws IS that that
the initiatOr--call him creator or inventor, as you
plesse-mOsty if not always, perishes Is sacrltced
Tor the sake Of or by the initiated. This law extend
over the mental aud social well as over the natella
world. Almost every intiator OF men or society 10
hipher life every redeemer from an existing evil
well As many and many inventors OF new physical AMI
mechanical proceedings and applications pays, either
by life or by personal well-beng, the penalty OF
being lOtily inspired, or possessing IN one way VI
another certain superior intellectual powers.
Mythology, Christianity the history OF empires, of
revolutions of various beneficial Inventions, teen
with evidences Of this. Almost every step of,prog'
ress is bought by suferngs, losses, saerhce In the
in that of Osiris and Isis ON the Nlle the divine nita
tors perish or suffer for having initiated morals to
puTer social state culture Ceres suffers after nav
ing instructed men in the cultivation OF grains Prone
theus for having brought to them the divine lire;
Hercules the purifier Of earth from monsters and i'm
purities perishes at the stake DOnysus IL torn by
the Bacchantes; Moses Gberates the Hebrews I'LL.
tates them 10 what considered to be the laws oil
God but does not reach the promised land being pun
ished for sin committed for the sake Of and out of love
for the despairing tribes. ROmulus is destroyed oy
those for whom he founded Rome; finally Christ re-
deems-intates humanity to truth, cruclhed Tor II,
and 80 are his disciples. Then look at the fate O Co
lumbus at that of The navgators OF the May Flower
perishng in cold, in want, hunger and misery but
initiating in a world higher social orders Full
ton dies poor but increases to an unlimited extent
the power of man over nature. The majority o! the
first pioneers and settlers naugurating the wilderness
TO cultivation, implanting there society and smooth
ing the path for succeeding generations, become dis
eased succumb to the deadly exhalations from the
virgin soil.
Embracing railroads among social civilzing ele-
ments and agencies their stockholders represent the
intiaOrs. The works of God as well as the works OF
man, all things existing, have their good and bad
features PoisOns even have their utility. Human
actions have always nearly simultaneously their
bright and dark sides. Whatever exists Is as two
edged sword The same rule applies TO railroads, the
same fate is that of the stockholders carrying them
on. We do not put them on a pedestal as heroes
or redeemers, far from il; but at any rate, IN the
recent connection they were the martyrs the sufferers
al the various nitiators have been. They are un-
der the influence of an apowerful historical law as
well under that of financial pressure. 1t is 10
contestabe that in taking shares in such or such
line, the stockholders looked to their individual
interests and gain. When they agreed to trace and
carry ont new line they expected to make therein
good investment and to large benefits and divi-
dends; but notwithstanding this they have been I'M
conscious but powerful executors Of higher social
idea and aim They Unlisted space and the men and
localities scattered thereon to general results of civil
ization; they penetrated soudes rendered them ac.
cessible and bestowed a living and prosperity upon
the poorest in society. Stockholders osere above
all on the smaller, less frequented lines; bat the
blessings resulting from these great and small central
Ta,ops and times to come. Thus they are--thouc Oh
even uncopscious-nevertheless provdental benefsc-
tors OF their country and their countrymen, and as
initiators they suffer martyrdom and penalty accord
iug to the measure and the character oil the times
by depreciation Of their stocks reduction OF their
fortune and incomes, SUSPENSION BANKRUPTCY OF hnau,
cisl decapration. If the Exchange does not give
them what they justly deserve, philosophy ana MS
tory record gratefully their sacrifices. t.