The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1870-12-29
THE ANTI-RAI.soAD TAX AGITA.
TlOX.

1lONs
The agitation now prevalent in Leaven-
worth County and City is neither peculiar
nor original. Our Atchison contemporary
NAV amuse itself and terrify its simple
minded readers with sensational head lines,
bu, il will sooner or later learn that not one
county alone is concerned in the endeavor to
obtain an homes, fulflment of railroad con-
tracts. The manifestation Of feeling here is
but wave Of great tide Of indignation and
resolution now sweeping our State. A new
era has come in ourhistory. Our citizens
have been reused from their absorption in
their own stores and farms to a consideration
Of the great principles Of right on which the
fate of the common welfare depends. They
have spurned the rule ofa traitorous Congress
man; they have broken up and are about to
punish the corrupt ring he organized. 1t
universally obtaining law that no force ends in
itself. but takes new directions when the
purpose il was first used for is accomplished.
Motion changes into electricity and heat ;
reform in one department of life leads to the
the amendment Of all. This law We remark
operating in the affairs OF our own State.
The energy Of our people having accom-
pli-hed revolution in our internal politics,
is now addressing itself TO new work. Our
exchanges from all parts Of the State show
that that work is 10 he the correction and
regulation Of our system of railroad subsidies.
Our County Convention in its meeting to-
day may go to its duties with the knowledge
that the sympathies of the people Of Kansas
will be with it in every righteous and pru-
dent measure it may adopt to prevent our
further enslavement by corporations that
have no conscience.
The first work of the convention will prob
ably be to recommend the passage Of a law
restraining County Boards and City Coun-
ellis from disposing Of srv property belong
ing to the people without having frs; obtain
ell authority from direct popular vote. II
is certainly somewhat late in the day to lock
the door after so many horses have been
stolen, but We have still little stock il
SEE ms advisable 10 secure. On this question
there will be but one opinion inside and
outside the convention, save in the minds OF
railroad directors.
Having prevented the possibility Of further
mischief in the future, it will he not unnat.
ursl should the Convention give some con-
sideration to the heavy burdens now weigh
Ing on us, and to the means by which they
may he made more endurable. We have
felt the worst pressure of these already, for the
taxes ofthe present year will reduce our bond
to the Bridge, and to the Kansas Pacific Rail-
rold two-thirds in amount. What We need
as a county is not the return Of our money,
but the faithful performance of promises
worth much more now, and Of increasing
and permanent, value in the future. The
Leavenworth, Atchison Il Northwestern
Railroad Corporation has set before Us the
evil example Of reputation, but as that
course is neither honest nor wise We do no;
believe il will fini among Us any favor. Our
assets are Of value, il they can he realized,
and We venture To suggest To the Convention
that il will he better 10 consider what steIr
can he taken to make them Of value, than to
entertain any plan that would make them
worthless. We trust also that in the discus
sions Of the Convention due regard will bt
faid 10 the fact that when the Bridge bond.
were negotiated, one hundred and thirty Of
our leading business men pledged their faith
with that of the County. Those gentlemen
have large business interests in New York
one of them often has goods in that city
equal in value TO the whole Of the bonds
We cannot afford to do anything tamperins
with the faith SO generously placed in us
We are sure that no action tending in any
such direction will be taken. What is re
quired is that our own bonds he honored
their conditions enforced, and our asset
based on them made valuable. When tlios,
assets are honestly applied to the liquidation
of our Indebtedness, We shall be a prosper
.,,, .nJ dah,.fr.a community