, 1873-02-21
A BOLD AND FEARLESS STAND,


! 10 The Editor Of Tho Chicago Tribune:
SIR: have been constant reader Of TI1E TRIBUNE
for tho last twelve years. Myself, well many
others Of this town. fce dcop interest in tho welfare
Of THE TRIBUNE; therefore tako tho liberty to nd
dreaa you fow lines. Tho previous course Of THE
Tribune has warranted tho people to expect The
TnnuNE to take bold and fearless stand in favor Of
tie people against unJuat discrimination tho part
Of Railroad Companies against tho people, The next
ten days, in my humble opinion, will decide the fato Of
The TRIBUNE in this town IN that limo expect I'd
Hee In tho columns Of your paper bold and fearless
san takcu against ,,nIua discrimination On tho part
Of railroads against tho people.
Trusting that bold aud fearless stand will Ia taken
by THE TRIBUNE for tho people, I am, very truly
yours, G. s. PIERCE.
II VIC ltnow what "a bold and fcarless Btnnd" :"
is, THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE has taken it, and in
tonds to maintain it. It ID stand for rigid nd
horonco to the law, md obedience to the julg-
ments of tho Courts. Any one who alyieea my
other course is disturbor of tho public peace,
aud instead Of q law-obsoryer ia law-breakor.
Under tho classification Of the Railroad Com
miasionors, tho Illinois Central Railroad Com
pany. to which road nc suppose Nlr. pierco re-
fors, is dcclarod to bo entitled to demand faros
for passengers at the rato Of three cents per mile
Tho Company deny tho authority Of tho State to
fix any such imitution OIL it's tariff. Tho ques-
tion WIS nubnaittcl to tho Circuit Court, and
tlat tribunal hold that tho law was void,
and gayo Judgment for The Railroad Com
| puny. Tho caso waa then appealed to tho ST.
premo Court, aud is now waiting final action by
{1,n+t t,ntf,+ liz =
liborty to have his own opinion US to tho morits
| Of tho controversy, and chi oxprcas Aiu jndg-
! mont as to tho conHtitutionality OF tho net Of
tho Legislature, VIC question whether any man,
or body Of men, Gnu aHsumo authority to decide
tho caso for tho Court, ard to carry their judg-
mont into execution. To adnnit such q doctrno
In tho ono case ia to allmit it III all casos and
to admit 1t in any case. ia to substitute
mob for tho lawful tribunals Of
| tho State. The reliance Of tho farmers,
aud of all other clasaoa OF mon who are
enduring what they conceive to bo unjust dis
ordinations, is in tho law, faithfully and fear
loesly administered by tho Courts. The COM
mon safety rosta in toiutogrity Of Tho Judiciary.
| If NO hayo resclod u point thut wo can no longer
truat tho Courts, aud oaoh man entering rail-
road train Or freight Office must proHont q
loaded revolver at tho head Of tho conductor or
clork, thon wo hayo anarchy. TIE CHICAGO
Tn1nu.sI inHists tllat tho laws must bo en-
forced by tho officers of tho Inv. in
tito manncr directed by tho law, and in
no other way 1t has no EXCUSES to offer for
mobs, whether thoy be to hung men without
trial, to burn down tho property Of persons tom
porary unpopular, OF to oyorpowor aud cooYco
railroad conductors. Tho law Of tho State IN
which t1eao railroads object ia now oue,-it
proponoa radical change in tho management of
5000 mIlea Of railway in 1llinois, haying value
Of nearly 250,000,0o0. It proposes to royolu-
'tionixo tho hitherto accepted law on that sul,-
joct; it ovorthrowa tho long-claimcil doctrine
that cllartorn arc contracts; tint railroads aro
entitled to REASONABLE compensation for aorvlceu
anl tlat what IL reasonable compensation Ia n