White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1871-04-06

Railroad BenSs and The SsPreael
We reprint The following ably and
sharply written article which appeared u
the Stipdard. .L.swreses. n reply to the
Of thss city. spoa. the railroad
bond question. We eek TOR Il csrefai
and candid psvus,l:
We believe that the Jonsnsl. Of this
city. is the 6rss ns.spsper in ths State
/ hat has attempted to inaSenee . sdicial
decision. 10 recent article on the IVA
lidity OF the Bonds" It makes direct
appeal to the Supreme Court to pronounce
in favor of their validity: aod the Whole
article is little less than covert thre't
sgainst the court in theevent that they
should declsre municipal bonds in aid Of
railroads to, be usconstitutiousl. The
Journal msintsins that We most rely on
such subscriptions for the completion Of
our railroad system. and says:
"Ws think j, will be . sorry day when
any tribunal. either directly or indirectly.
undertakes to coutrsvene this popular
and peaceful Law.
"It would be impossible to ex.geerste
tbs magnitude of the business evil the,
would be inflicted on ouF State BY jn-
dicisl decision against this validity Of the
bonds. And while we ~ouli not pre-
sent this to the court ss vi,w that shonld
have any bearing on a pnrely legal de-
cision. yet We wonld iDpIore it. il there
Us any doubt shont this question-s..
frcan the cotrad,cto'y decisions upon it.
it would appear that there must be-to
give our people the beDtfi, OF the doubt
We cannot for moment
believe that onr industries are to be- as
much impsrilei as they wonli be by
decision that wonli hefest any projected
rs,lroai enterprise in the State"
We trnst thIwe have court that will
decide this question on its legal merits
slone, and while we believe that maior-
ity of the people OF the State would hail
with delight decision Iiiling them OF
burdens which they were induced to ss-
sume BY the islsc pretenses Of spectators
AMI railroad companies. yet. We would
not for that reason 'implors" the court
to swerve hairs breadth either way.
The people are too much interested in
having an honest end independent judi
~ to look with any bot feelings Of rep
rotation upon either direct or indirect
attempts to tamper with or influence our
courts. and We will be much mistaken if
all such attempts do not recoil upon the
heads Of their oriyinators.
The Journal assumes to speak in the
name and behalf OF the people. and as
their advocate. and as q representative
of their feelings and Interests. The bra
gen sudacity Of this assumption can be
fully appreciated when it Is recollected
that the articles in that paper on this
subject. although they appear as editorials.
were in fact written by the attorney OF
one Of the leading railroad companies OF
the State; q com psny. too. which holds
without right. and for no consideration.
over million dollars worth OF stock cub.
scribed by that people in whose name
and for whose interests their literally
paid attorney essays to appeal to the
Supreme Court Of the State. When the
people Of this, and other counties along
ihe line Of the Leavenworth. Lawrence &
Galveston Railroad. desire somebody to
assume the task of calling the attention
Of the Supreme Court to their interests.
they will not choose ss ct person to do
so. the paid attorney Of the corporation.
which has in asgrant fraud of their rights
and now holds. a. we before
stated. over million of their stock. Te
question Of the People vs.. the Railroads.
will in the immediate future be the most
important local issus 10 our State. it
will not be partizan issue either. Dem
ocrats and Republicans will be found
fighting side ty side against the claims OF
monopolies. as they are doing
to-day in California. That contest will
here. ns elsewhere. result in the total de
feat Of the claim Of those monopolists to
subsidies. Pennsylvania. Ohio snh H.
inois have by constitutional amen iment
forbidden them. AMI California will soon
follow. Michigan. Wisconsin and low,
have through their Snprrms Cnnr's de
clsred snch subsidies 10 be nnrons'ituiion-
81. and they sre condemned by the espe.
ripnce Of the whole country. which shows
that they have invariably led to waste.
snd rsscslity; that they in
evhably become source Of corruption
and q means Of plun'ering the people
II the friends Of subsidies wish to make
the next election Of Supreme Judge urn
on this Question. they can doubtless do so.
They w,llgain nothing hy such conrse;
nor decision in favor of subsidies oh.
tsined under circumstances which tain,
it with the snspicion Of obedience to the
scarcely concealed threats. and the open
behes,s of the monopolists and railroad
corporations. be Of any henri, TO the latter
in the epd. A constitutional amend,
ment at least would follow; and this at
tempt of theirs. through one of their
Organs. to warp the highest cnurt Of the
State to their Purposes shonld and will
arouse the anger and alarm of every dis
interested person within the borders Of
our State Hss il indeed come 10 this. |
that the last rtsfoge Of the citiz'n ag.inst
sxaction and sgg'ession-the courts Of
Justice -cap,be xpprosehed as the jour-
nal approaches our Supreme Court?
There is no hope for rs IL such proceed
ings pass unrebuked. end fail to meet
that condemnation Of the pnblie which |
they merit. A late writer says:
ut is no wonder thst all over the
conn,ry this railroad question ]. acquiring |
overweening importance. While onr
political system is showing signs Of rapid