The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-02-06
Gvenina State 9uurnal.
asauee for the Goose., /,

We dsspise slang, and have always had
holy horror of the old saying of which
the above is suggestive; but sometimes
verbs fail us aud proverbs are our only
alternative The Wig in begging the rail-
road question this morning, throws itself
open wide. 1t presents full front to
its antagonist. In its zeal for the South
side consolidated line, and the East and
West system of rosds-thus narrowing its
ideas down latitudinarily, and also short
ening them in longitudinal direction by
opposing the North and South lines for
gets that the very same arguments it adj
vances against the Pennsylvania Central
road might be used against the Southside
consolidation, and pice perSd. For instance,
it says:
The effect of an al-rail line between Weldon
and Washington composed of different roads,
all working In harmony, would be undoubtedly
to carry a large amount of the higher classes
of freight between the North and South, in
cluding cotton and naval stores, to he'preju
dice of our own cities, besides commanding the
passenger business An allrail route between
Weldon and Philadelphia, having power over
roads south of Weldon, would unquestionably
inaugurate such ruinous competition in favor
of the port of Philadelphia. as against Vir-
ginia ports, as to DESTROY the roads feeding
Norfolk, by throwing all Carolina freights,
now going to Norfolk and Petersburg, to
Philadelphia. Much more will it be 80 when,
by changing the gauge OF the Richmond and
Danville railroad, q like control over the trade
on the Greensboro line into Georgia shall have
been secured.
1t is plain, too, that this power over South.
ern trade can be secured as well, by securing
simple charter between Richmond and W ashing-
ton, as q charter with extraordinary privileges
of connection. The asking for these privileges
merely disclosed the schemes which were in
contemplation. The privileges would add lit
tie to the fatal power conveyed by naked
charter.
Bring this power into Virginia, with full
control to the North and to the South over
trade and travel, with Virginia thus reduced
TO a mere highway, and with this mammoth
Pennsy lvania company ascendent by means of
its capital over all, and Virginia at once falls
with the same subserviency, in her commercial
and financial politics and in party politics, into
which Indiana and Ohio have fallen.
Now, the effect of the all-rail line to
Washington, connecting at Richmond with
the South, Is Just the effect OF the con-
solidated line at Norfolk and, as shown
by the Enquirer, is just the effect that we
want The Southside cars leak out and
pick up crumbs along the line and that is
all they do at present. The line running
South, proposed by the Pennsylvania
Central, will do the same for Rich mond,
aud that is all we can hopo for at present.
Aud if Norfolk aud the towns on the
Southside line can be built up and made
to prosper by that combination, why will
not the same causes bring about the same
results on the road cutting the East and
West road at right angles, and passing
North and South through Richmond. We
think the sauce for the goose is most de-
cidedly the best gravy the gander can be
supplied with on this occasion. How
hard it is to plead cause when the evil
dence, and public sympathy, and common
sense, and the good Of the State, are all
against you.