Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-06-13
not on the NYrong. TrnIn.

How many people start ri on the wrong
train The consequences attending such
mistake frequently arc annoyance, vexation
and xpense-sometlmes distress The
young man who starts out on course OF
folly, dissipation, extravaganza or gam
bling, may be said to have taken the wrong
train, and If he shall not leave 1t betimes, he
will terminate his journey ignObly and dis
honorably.
The other day an cqupntance had occa-
sion to take a northward "trip. He desired
to arrive at his destination within given
time; but by mistake he took the wrong
train, which, instead of taking him north
ward, was soon rapidly whirling him east
ward. Discovering the fact that he was on
thelwrong train, he had the good sense to get
off Of it at the first station where he could
take train to connect with the road over
which he should in the first instance have
taken passage. Delay resulted and expense
was incurred threeiold what 1t would have
been had he at first taken the right train !;
but vet he got off eheaply comparatively
by getting off the train when he did.
In 1850, through the persuasive influence
OF "higher law" politicians, majority OF
the voters got on the wrong train. Its des-
tination was said to be exemption from
slavery agitation, rigid economy, big wages,
low prices. moderate taxation, land for the
landess, homes for the homeless, aud un-
bounded prosperity. Price of through orin-
termediate tickets, vote for the Republic
tracked road run by the Democracy was
measurably deserted. The tempting in
ducements held out by its rival, with its
single track, secured the majority of the
passengers, and away they whirled. 1t was
not long before they came in collision at
Secessionville, when hdbeas corpus was sus-
pended, a fight Iinaugurated, and volun-
teers were called to fight. 1t was merely a
trifing affair, and would speedily be put
down, cried the conductor; more volun-
fight; and more volunteers were called
for; as a stimulus, big bounties were
offered and given, and when volunteers
could not be got in this way conscription
was resorted to. Then the country was
suddenly overspread with Provost Marshals.
A suggestion that the fight was being
bunglingly or corruptly conducted, secured
for the suggestor a place In some military
prison, or trial before trumped up COM
mission that paid as much respect TO law or
constitutions as is paid by necessity. Then
there broke upon the vision United States
Revenue Assessors aud Collectors, and
deputies innumerable, to whom comfortable
salaries were paid. Unaccountably, men
grew suddenly rich on salaries that seemed
moderate compared with the costliness of
living. To speak disrespectfully of the
conductor or of any of his subordinates,
even though their honesty was not above
suspicion, was held to be criminal and de-
servedly punishable with the EXTREMIST Sc
verify.
The train, however, has not yet, reached
exemption from Negro agitation, rigid
economy, big wages and low prices, mod
crate taxation, land for the landless, and
homes for the homeless, or general prosper
ity; and from present appearances, there is
not much likelihood that it will reach either
of these stations. Wisdom would seem to
urge the necessity to the passengers Of
abandoning the train, and taking passage
on train that will remove them as lar as
possible from the scene of their collision
and disaster. Six years of experience on
the wrong road, along which are strewn
thousands ofvictims, attesting bad manage
ment and the inevitable fatality that at
tends passage over the road, in all con-
science ought to be sufficient.