Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-03-04
LESSONS on STEAM.

LESSONS OF STEFAN.
There is no greater enemyof coun-
try than he who stands in the pathway
of progress. His reasonings are simply
carnations from sel6shness, and mol
from an unclouded intellect. lie sees
everything through his pocket, and his
eyes, of course, are Hoodwinked Prac-
tically he leads an inverted life, and his
groveling nature tells us that head ana
heels have changed places. de IS bot
tom UPWARDS. We hear these men
grooming because of public poverty and
county and State Indebtedness. The
calamity is great; but, governed as we
are by nation of ofiice-seekers and
holders. it will never be lessened, and
can only be lightened by enriching those
who toll to supportthe many who must
live upon popular industry. The greater
the degree of public poverty, the worse
the condition of the State and county
treasury; the heavier the imposltlons
upon taxpayers, the greater the neces-
sity for the construction of railways.
We cannot hope to lessen the number OF
Grants parasites, or of those who fill
countless State and Federal Offices. The
spirit Of the age is partizan,' and par
tizanship IS strengthened by the multi
plication Of Offices, and thus of public
burdens. How otherwise than by max
ing population dense, by extending the
confines of cities, by bringing coal fields
and pine forests to our doors, by crea-
ting manufacturing establishments-how
otherwise than by the agency of rail-
WAYS can these ends be achieved2 Pay
ing taxes will not give wealth or credit
to the county, and the refusal to build
the Selma road will not mitigate any
public evil that exists. If we refuse to
build the road we do not lessen present
caIamities or augment our ability to dis
charge current and subsisting county
and city Indebtedness. If we assure the
completion of the road even to Holly
Sprines commerce is stimulated, indus
try is imbued with fresh ardor, popula-
ton and wealth are attracted, and not
dollar advanced by the taxpayers
leaves us. 1t is paid to those
who make the roadbed, and returns
to the Golfers of those who hoe corn and
dig potatoes. The sum total of the
wealth remains the same,
though individuals may have few doll
lars more and others few less than be-
fore. Meanwhile, there is, as happened
when the Memphis and Charleston road
burst through the original narrow hori-
zon of Memphis trade, a steady aug
of property values, in which
there is nothing fictitious. Lands be-
come more valuable because more peo-
pie want them. They are wanted be-
,ause the railroad renders them more
productive. They are more productive
because whatever is produced has easier
md cheaper access to the markets of the
world.
We are in debt and heavily taxed. We
nav stand still forever, and our financial
condition will steadily grow worse. No
single leak in public treasures will be
closed. and if we remain listless and in
active our condition must necessarily
ROW constantly worse. " Progress is
he watchword Of the age. Every rail-
way line on the map of nations is let
.er in this word that tells how impover-
shed cities and countries and States are
enriched, and people enlightened be-
cause imbued with that energy developed
BY steam, which drives communities and
forward, even as it diffuses
wealth and multiplies populations.