The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-11-28

those who doubt their power inquire into the
effect that manufacturing interests have In
shaping the policy Of New Eogland--a section
whose influence over the whole country can
hardly be- overestimated. Lot them reflect
..l Tho influence Of few mining and rail-
-, .'~n. in shanins tina nnlinv 80
Psnnsylvania, one Of the NEST powerful OF the
xisterhood Of States. Or think of the noto-
Fious and acknowledged rule Of the Camden
hnd Amboy Railroad In neighbour
ing State. Ask the inhabitants of Cen
fral Illinois, one Of the richest
eecsions Of the fertile West, what power the
illinois Central Yields over the district through
which 1t runs, on how many farms It holds
mortgages, how many Of Its candidates. for
fhese companies are all we'll represented In
both State and national legislative bodies
have been defeated Of late years. The
Western Union Telegraph Company extends
its power and exercises political influence, not
6nly In q few States, but throughout the whole
country We doubt whether there are .
dozen Senators or members Of Congress who
do not hold passes from that Company en-
titling them to use Its lines free of charge.
Let that mythical person, the impartial
observer, reflect on oil this, and then
let him determine the power which
these so-called servants Of the public
have acquired in our midst. As to their
influence here, let all tho scandal, the bitter
law suits which have occupied the atten-
tion OF the courts and Of the public, answer.
Does not a so-called ''railroad ring" exist in
every Legislature? Has it not become part Of
the political creed Of many sections of The
country to resist further concessions of ma
FtioRal territory to swell the millions of rich
acres which opulent corporations have wrung
from the national domain ? What further
proof Of their power can be wanting, when two
railroads not only control but absolutely own
territory exceeding in extent many European
,State-railroads owned by Individuals, but
built with public money, obtained as loan
and secured by mortgages on lands which
were gift
And with these many instances of power is
anything to be called impossible for COM
bination of these companies to do? Can we
not imagine state of things in which a
combination of circumstances might throw the
power of nomination for the high Office of
President into the hands Of few corporations
Let us suppose that the great railroad lines of
this State are consolidated, and that the clash
ing interests that now prevent their abb
sorption OF the Western lines are harmonized
Let us suppose this, and, keeping in mind the
power OF short trunk line in New Jersey.
IMAGINE the possible power Of tho MANY
millions which such combination as we have
limited at would possess. Our chances of con-
trolling this rests in the veto power of the
President and in the existence Of powerful
minority in Congress. It is to President as
yet untrammelled by these complications and
to all earnest, far-secing men in our next
national legislature, that we look for remedy
to the evils which may arise from the great
power Of Incorporated interests. To them
we look for an enlightened and comprehensive
system which shall determine the power Of.
corporate capital, and which, while leaving
the widest possible field open to enterprise,
shall, at the same time, firmly and effectually
control any abuse of an agency so powerful
and at times SO INSCRIPTIONS in its operations.
I