National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1872-12-24

cally. For instance, II II only few weeks
since nc Missouri Republican, the principal
organ Of the Democracy In the West, strongly
advocated the doctrine Of Government inter-
feronec, and was followed by papers Of az
high rark In the Republican organization
In different sections Of the country.
The railroads, with the growth and devcl-
opment Of the country, have, during the last
ten or twelve years, become the controlling
power In the country. Larger corporations
have gradually eaten up the smaller ones
the work Of railroad consolidation has gone
on from small beginnlngs until to-day three
or four lines exercise an imperial influence
upon the destinies Of the country. They
elect Legislatures, run State governments,
control Congresses and WELD greater power
than any administration possibly can. II
they confined themselves to their legitimate
duties, as common carriers and public ser
wants, no one would object TO their wealth
and power but they have become the mas
tcrs, instead Of the servants, Of the people,
and Il Is only natural that the people should
begin to ask themselves the question, "What
arc we going to do about III"
The Pittsburg (Pa.) Commercial, In re-
cent article on this subject, sums up an arti-
Gle on the Illinois Stats Zeiiirng as follows
''The Illinois Stats Zsit,rng, which oirculates
widely, with great influence SmOng the German
farmers OF the Western states, In q recent issue,
roi,ber Enights'--a term a. fuli Of odium As any
other 10 people among whom stlll live traditions
Of those interruptions gentry who nourished on
the plumber which they eNacted from the un-
armed population around their strongholds, who
were helpless to defend themselves or their prop
erty. .,-,-.,-
power attained by the allrOad monopollsts has
been brought home to, and especially felt, by the
farmers OF the West during the last twelve
into money they are as utterly az lie mercy q
the railroad company as the merchant Of the
middle ages was at the mercy Of the bandits who
mine now I'm much q me price Of the grain paid By
the distant consumer shall 90 into the pocket Of
the farmer. They have only TO adjust the rate OF
freight in order TO extOrt from the cutiyatOr a
heavier tribute than Brigham Young takes from
his MOrmons. Whether the farmer shall pay
two, three or four bushels Of grain In order 20
convey one bushe TO the English market; In
other words, whether he shall receive for his
grain q third, fourth or nfth part OF Us reign
ing value 10 England, all this absolutely depends
OF the railroads. 49,.
"But this, says the stats Zeiilag, is not all. |
by establishing for shorter distances higher
freight rates than for the entire length Of the |
road, these robber-knlRhts are able to compel |
the farmers to send their grain to certain chief
stations, where robbers Of another sort the |
owners OF granArtes or warehouses, collect from |
them another heavy toll. In comparison with |
this taxation Of the labor Of the people the ma |
tionai, state and county taxes seem 70 our CON |
temporary mere childS play. And while II Is a
form OF taxation which has directly depressing |
or even paralyEing eject upon Industrial activity,
the people themselyes have nothing % DO with |
Its imposition. Though heretofore they have had |
nothing TO do with the matter, the ZsttUng IA |
clearly Of the opinion that as the result Of the
political Development o. the near future, the
uenCe In IT, At any rate, the question, II thinks,
will before long be decided whether or not this Is
70 be the case In fact The state Of Illinois has
stltutiOn secures TO the people, In their organic /
character, as state, the right Of decisive inter
position In the administration Of ne railroads. |
Of the constitution, and like the cotton and to
bacco lords Of the South take refuge behind the |
bulwark Of the courts, But, even u the courts |
should protect them, YET, says our contemporaries
the bred Scott decision proved that such artificial
ramparts cannOt hold out against the spring mood |
OF clearly DEEMED popular conviction
The Commercial recognizes the importance |
Of the question, and says; During the ses- |
sions Of the constitutional convention, soon |
TO assemble, the relation Of the railroad COM |
panles to the States Is one Of the most i'm |
portant subjects to be considered and pract- |
cally determined, and It's discussion among the
people cannot begin too early. And II Is espe-
clally interesting To know what leading organs
Of opinion in other States are saying about the
great question: More than twelve months
ago the REPUBLICAN suggested that the Cen
eral Government should interfere and enact
legislation looking to some control over
these gigantic corporations That 1t has the
right to do so, under the provisions Of the
Constitution to regulate commerce between
the states, Is clear and indisputable. We then
suggested that board Of railroad control
be formed, whose duty II should be to stand
between the people and the railroads, and to
nod them 10 strict accountability
Nrw Yopt, commercial and sr.ro,.i
manor prints n tabIc compIIcd from o,I,cIoI
sonrccs NJ the amount of tho national Jcht.
nf t,Vcn,v-scyen Gnvc,,D,cnt. TO- ,ho 80.
IsG2 All is7o fr,r, which 1, ar,,o.ra -, ,,,s
IncroaSc AZ ,bcIr io,n, Indoh,aSna,. d',,na
tho l,st decade ia nycr n,no ,Lan.aUd 80
hundred ami ,hIrtcc, million. ~ doIlar. rat
do,s moi IrrI,dr CIrcs, pr,,,Ir ,r,,aaa -
,s,,,., ~. ~, -, -
eS'ioo' pss uot p0oh ine'C"seu III 'hht uuhc'
The total Indebtedness Of the nations at the
present time Is sixteen Thousand scvcn hun
- -, '',,,' ~" ""ii
urea ana HcNohty-nlno millions Of dollars.
Turkey and Spain are yirtually banlr,,nt
Nevico aud ops nr tu,o ~ ,ho So, -
-heAlVV unu one vi t"o Vi inc oouth Ameri-
can states pay no Interest on their debts
Brazu IA mortgnVed IN tho o,,,on, ~ -,
$50 w ''S oA'ou' VI MO
hundred and seVenty-hVe million dollars-as
the price Of the conanest Of PnraOuav. Egvnt
10. -. -, -. ~ soor 900 go -eyP'
mas run up ueot OF sSSo,VVOOOO, an Increase
Of s205, 600, 900 In ten years. Russia has In
ltoD. Ia ,Lo L., a...5. -, - -, -.
" ' '' which nus oceh
chlehy expended IN buldlng railroads and In