The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1870-03-19
Democracy OPPOSED TO RA1LRoAps.

DEMOCRACY OPPOSED TO RAILROADS.
The following plain statement of facts
we find in the Oregonian's washington
Letter:
For several years the Democracy has
been stealthily and laboriously hunting
around, partly after the style of bur-
glar trying to break Jail, and then again
in imitation of the owl, hunting in the
glare of midday sun, for some hollow
log in which to poke its muddled head,
for platform on which to go before the
people. Opposition to the war against
the rebels was tried until Democracy and
rebellion became almost synonymous
terms. Then, after the rebels were
soundly thrashed, Democracy valiantly
raised its arms against the right of col
ored men to hold and enjoy civil and po-
litical rights and was again defeated.
Then they went back on the old maxim,
that ''honesty is the best policy" and
proposed to repudiate the national debt,
and have been defeated on that; and
now they have proposed another
OPPOSITION TO RAILROADS IN THE WEST.
This new platform was announced in
| the United States Senate by Senators
Thurman and Casserly, who were evi-
dently put forward as representatives OF
the Democracy, in the debate over lit
tie railroad bill to aid the west side road
in your State. The specious reason as
signed for the new platform, is, that the
Democracy desires to preserve the public
land for the actual settlers ; and they go
on to argue the question as if a railroad
land grant actually wiped off the face OF
the globe SO much land. Their charge
that such a grant takes from the settlers
even any land, is not only positively false,
but on the contrary, the railroad grants
secure the land to the settlers, by taking
it out of the hands of speculators and
military warrants, agricultural scrip, and
other means to cover vast areas of good
lands. All railroad lands must now be
sold to actual settlers, in quantities moi
more than one quarter section, at two
} dollars and half per acre; and yet tht
Democracy would prohibit actual settlers
the privilege of paying that price pei
acre uith a railroad improvement, ane
then invite him to go on the same lands
for homesteads, and starve ,rtthout ans
road to get to nearhet. Every man desir
ing a home, or farm, or land, will repu
l diate this pretended friendship of thu
Democracy, which invites settlers into ;
. wilderness, and to the comforts of Snak,
Indian.
The land grant system was fairly in
augurated in 1850, and though often as
s sailed, the wisdom of the policy ha
o been repeatedly vindicated by over
I whelming votes in both houses of Con
gress by all parties.
But whence comes this new, this dem
! agocic love for the settler? From tn
: Democracy from the same party whicl
! opposed the passage of the homestea
J law, to secure free homes to the landless
Il If honest men, Thurman and Casserl
o ought TO hang their heads in shame a
: this onslaught on the rights and claims
the hardy pioneers who push out alon
the railroads, and plant schools, churche:
civilization and national glory and pro:
y perity in the departing footsteps of sa,
W ages and barbarism.
n Thus we again see this Democrat
;. party arraying itself against the progres
of the age, the development Of the Wes
and rights of the pioneers.