The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-07-04
THE TENDENCIES OF GOVERNMENT.
The Fifth Part Of Mrs. Woodhulrs Disquisiti0n
ON Government-Individual Enterprise
and Its Development as A.
feoted by Government.


street brokeress, continues her essay the ''Ten
denci OF Government which will be concluded in
the next paper:-
Individual enterprise, especially among Amert-
cans, has produced the most wonderful results,
Very much Of the advancement OF the country Is d.
recty attributable TO IT, Great minds have been
Obliged to operate singly and alone to develop their
Inspirations Ideas and conclusions. Thousands
posscdeed OF comprehensive principles III semi
state of application have sunk with them into OBJ
security foi lack OF appreciation and support. In The
any to eaten the idea Of its grand destiny It was not
10 be expected that any great general system OF
people Should be adopted Thsre Was General
fear OF everything that did not 10 promote that
individual freedom winch seeks no harmony Win
the greatest freedom Of the whole while no regard
was paid TO any phlosophic relations OF the indi.
vlduai To the whole number or individuals repre-:
senlcd by the government This was intellectual
individuality, lacking the harmony or wisdom.
1t came after while that the great enterprises de-
country could be conducted By single indivldu-
ais, and numbers OF them combined to carry them
out Rapid means Of transit began TO be developed
winch In many instances redouiied to the pecuni-
AIRY benefit OF the Company prosecuting them, but
always to the general interest OF the whole, both as
a people ana government. on the contrary,
many enterprises which have proved equally bcneI-
cal TO the country have ruined those who projected
them. Thus the general welfare has been promoted
BY the sacrifice Of Individual interests. Especially
has this been true Of the great system OF railroads
that binds the nation together with bonds OF iron,
too powerful 1t seems for any sectional interest ever
TO sever
Internal improvements are elnincntly legitimate
branch Of the general government. They are not
for the benefit Of individuals or sections, but for the
benefit OF he whole. so true Is this that seeming
purely local improvement cannot confine lis DEMENT'S
and uses TO the section II Is located In. It's influence
p"rmeates the very extremes OF the country. a
may be built Al first glance this would be declared
simply and only OF benefit the localities passes
through. But upon close scrutiny variety OF ways
thousands, residing In all parts OF the country, and
TO the government Itsel. 1t therefore conduces to
lfnr
general sense than TO sectional Or local good 1t Is
therefore entitled TO the protection Of the govern
ment whose duty II Is TO look alter and promote the
interest Of the public. Is it entitled 10 anything
more does the fu duty Of the government begin
and cease with simple projections
Continuous RAILROAD connection exists between
Maine ana California; between Minnesota and Louis
lana, which have been built by privste enterprise.
and still maintained and conducted by cOInol-
nations or private enterprise. These with their
connections f0rl net WORK that peneiratcs every
section Of the whole country, all parts OF whicn
system are conducted as neary as possible, con-
siderng Tie variety OF management, with regard
TO the harmonious working OF the whole as gen.
cral railroad system Of the country. Tile represen-
udveS OF the several roads meet and arrange terms
OF transfer and connection, first 10 accommodate
themselves; second, the public which patr0niZes
them; be 1t especially remembered that the public
welfare IL always secondary, and thus Ii that
that which 1t Is maze the duly OF the government
to guard with jealous care Is subserved inter.
est3 OF company o. incorporated individuals,
whose profits drained from the productive interests
OF the country, amount III many starccs TO an cor
nous per cent per annnm upon The original costs
OF the enterprises. This Is not the greatest good
to the greatest number. III B the greatest
good to the smallest number at the expense
OF tho greater number. Inc public is hoodwinked
into federation OF their eXtorlons by fictitious arrays
of figures and by the increase or the maturing Of
their capital stock whenever eight per cent divi
dend viii not consume their uneypended balances
Again, there are railroads of great importance 10 the
general public whose earnings are not sufficient to
MAKE any returns to stockholders scarcely sufficient
to meet current expenses, and yet the pubic vel.
fare would not permit OF their dlsroninuance.
The same line of policy to railroads should be pur-
sued by government that controls the postal serylce.
None now think OF entrustIng that very important
department Of the government to private enterprise
ana general impor ance than its thoughts ana wishes
are, That Ii should be obliged toey upon private en-
terprse TO accomplish It's welfare and 70 obtain 1t
be subject TO ITS eXIortiOnsy The custody OF trans
portation Of all kinds by government would insure
regularity, harmonious operation, safety and de-
Interests or comfort iucinc or compel
them to IT'S use. u me sphere OF
anu il is the troc principle for the government 10
conduct the postal service, to the END that the pub
lie welfare DC suoserved, then the same principle
determines that railroads and elegraphS should also
be conducted by government 10 the same end.
The time vas when it was necessary TO the gene
raj good for the government to guarantee prOte on
and even assistance to enterprises that should intrc-
ducc these improvements INTO the cOlntry. The
ing It's true relations TO the people failed to provide
them. Private enterprise more s3gaciOlS and more
perceptlvc OF the actual demands OF The age stepped
forward, and, taking advantage Of governmental SUI
pnencs5 developed the true greatness Of the courl-
try. The lime has now come and the government Is
10 position AMI understanding 10 no. only guarantee
an needed internal Improvements TO the public. but
also to take charge OF those already existing and
conducting them in the Interests Of the
people. These improvements are not patents
that should forever remain hereditary charges
upon the industry OF the country. They
mote tile public welfare aud not for private gain Of
wealth and power. Let Limitation be put upon
ayo pa s psg 80 mat the pTsc good
purchase what are already in operation aud con.
struct others, as demanded, and conduct them all
under one grand system TO subservc the interests,
necessities and comforts OF the people, which it Is
Its duty to provide for, even II Ill exceptional in
stanees It BE at ahe Sapsnse OF the public as IN
populated districts. Let the same rue Of action
that governs this service be applied to teleglaphs
railroads and oil improvements that are pubic in
their character. Let tile present owners ana con-
aact?rs Of them become the servants Of the govern.
the masters thus forcing them by the only posi-.
bic way to comply with the interests and demands
OF the general welfare.
Beside these gradually consolidating interests are
becoming too powerful and selfish to longer allow
OF The governments or the people regarding tGoal
with Indifference. Even now they control a deal OF
legislation by the power they possess. Unless soon
dispose ssad Of the means Of Increasing their power
AM Influence they will become greater than the
national banks are powerful enough TO fec! they can
dictate to Congress. What might not q grand con-
solid lon OF railroads, representing thousands OF
tendencies This IS a matter Of most serious i'm
port, which Is tending to despotlsm more noler-
able than that exercised by any OF the monarchies
OF the Old World tile despo,lsm OF capital over
labor This despOtsm is making the productive In
tcrests of The country utterly suDservient to the
power they have created, foltered anu protected,
which shold forever remain their servant instead.
These Improvements are demanded Ivy all
the growing interests OF The country
between The States and IL Is the duty OF
Congress 10 regulate" them. IL has the power.
The remedy Il required. Let 1t be applied, and at
Gncc ti,at the greatest and most beneficial OF oil
the many systems Of internal improvements any
country possesses, LON or t!ic coul'ry rs whole
be conducted and extended in accordance with the
interests ald demands OF the public welfare. Nor
should there be any cutlery raised against the pur
chase and control or railroads by government as IN
warrantabe interference with private rights. 1nero
are no such things private rights when the public
good stands in question. II the public good de-
mNnds new street through tho most densely popu-