The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-07-21

40
has need of Radicals Better even 70 ai
sometimes ffom excess OF zeal, than TO have
faith that the past contains the all-possible
the future nothing. Conservatism Is not
creed for Christians. Inc woriG ,anos 10
wards something Gar beyond its present vision
The path Is beset with obstacles; good ant
evil struggle for mastery, but progress is still
perceptible.
Let us not be misunderstood. Far be Il
irom us 70 praise unreservedly the measure,
OF all extremists. Nor do we imply that In
the vital questions Of the day we approve
all ultra measures. We accord to Radical
ism priority over Conservatism; for good In.
tention, even when the motive of msdirected
action, takes precedence Of no intention at all
The jUste milieU. the happy mean, is never
exactly the middle. Absolute Conservatism
isretrogcssion, for nothing stands IN morally.
| Whatever ls beyond Conservatism is termed
by II Radicallsm. Yet each corrects the in
! furious tendency Of the other. Both are con
sequently elements Of Progress. In the
excess of either lies destruction to the IN
terests Of mankind. Yet surely Radicalism
may claim precedence as the motive power
| for good In human affairs.
| THE sUNBURY AND ERIE RAILROAD.
II was, long ago, the remark of an eminent
fnancier and ar-sighted political economist,
that a railway which would connect the tide
waters Of the ocean at Philadelphia with those
of the lakes at Erie, would do more than any
other one thing to develop the material wealth
and build up and establish the commercial
prosperity Of this State. In pursuance of
that sagaclous opinion, our people invested
millions Of dollars in accomplishing the work
which the late Mr.. NICHOLAS BIDDLE sug-
gested.
II Is but a few days ago that the last foot Of
rail required TO finish the enterprise was laid
on the Sunbury and Erie Railroad, and the
idea that was conceived and expressed many
years ago, by citizen who was then con-
sidered to be, In that particular matter, a
visionary enthusiast, stands before us to-day
consummate in its realization. The whole
history Of the project, from its inception
to lts completion Is a signal Illustration of tho
popular incredulity with which grand views of
public improvement are usually received in the
beginning, and the possibility of their ultimate
execution by means Of individual energy, and
perseverance, and corporate enterprise and
munihcence No railway ever protected in
this country, or perhaps In any other, eXpe-
rienced such Vicisstudes of fortune aud yexI-
tious delays In its progress to completion, rs
the Sunbury and Erie Road. Since Il was
first thought of many other works Of the kind,
some Ofwhicb are ofequal geographical extent,
have been proposed and put In operation, and 1t
was at one time seriously doubted whether the
great route which now unites this city with
Lake Erie would be finished by our people,
and controlled entirely In their interest. The
dictatorship of the enterprise was repeatedly
changed; various expedlents, plans, and aids
were enlisted In les behalf from time TO time;
successive disappointments and reverses oc-
CURED in the process of pushing It forward,
step by step and mile by mile, to consumml-
ton; and the public faith in the feasibility of
the whole scheme was, at several periods,
almost worn out.
But at last, State pride and State interest,
assisted by judicious legislation, the co-opera-
tion of the Pennsylvania Central Railroad
Company, and the mastery administrative
ability, business tact, and indomitable perti-
nacity of the present President Of the Sunbury
and Erie Railroad, triumphed over all Ob5ta-
cles and difficulties, and crowned with full
success conception which even antedated the
initiation Of those magnificent highways which
have long connected the city of New York
with the Northern lakes and their fertile
shores, and poured into her lap the wealth
that has mainly contributed to her metropol-
tan greatness.
1t is superfuous, at this late day, to point
out the commercial Importance of the Sun.
bury and Erie Railroad. That subject has
been elaborately discussed for years pas, and
is now thoroughly understood. But tits not too
late TO express congratulations on the fiull and
full achievement Of one Of the grandest ideas
of internal Improvement ever conceived by
human sagao'ty, and to award the Just need of
praise TO the resolute, laboriOns, far-seeing and
public-spirited gentlemen TO whose wisdom and
efforts Pennsylvania owes a work which is of
incalculable value to her present and future
prosperity. While so many excellent citizens
divide among themselves the merit Of having
aided in the enterprise, 1t certainly will not
detract from their deserts TO say that Presi-
dent MoREHEAD enjoys the proud distinction
Of having taken hold of the enterprise when
it was IN an apparently desperate condition,
and carried 1t, through times ofunpreaeleated
adversely and gloom, to a successful issue.
Let him be forever honored accordingly.
CITY INTELLIGENCE.
REPORTERS CONVENTION.
We observe a call for q Convention Of iecil