Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-05-15
RETURNING REASON.

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in regard to the course of certain rail-
road corporations, we neither doubt or
deny. 1t would be very strange, indeed,
that among all our vast and important
network of railways, there should not
be some mismanagemcnt, some attempts
to unduly influence elections, some cor
rupt practices and some 'extortionate
exactions" in freight and passenger
charges New Jersey, perhaps, has fur
nished as perfect an example of mon
opoly in railroad management, misman-
agement, or in their privileges and alb
solute power, as can be found anywhere.
This. however, has not arisen so much
from the companies complained of, as
from the people and Legislature of the
State itself The first charters granted,
authorizing the construction of railroads
through the State to form connection
between New York and Philadelphia,
gave to the companies, thereby created,
the exclusive privilege of constructing
roads for that purpose. In lieu of other
taxation, the State reserved to itself a
31el' caDita tax of one dollar for each and
every passenger transported over the
line. The interest of the State and of
the corporation became identical. The
revenue derived by the State, from this
source, was enormous and constantly in
crpasinp. It was for the interest of the
company to prevent the building of COM
peting lines, and of the State to receive
the reserved revenues, and of the tax
PAYERS to reduce individual taxation,
which was accomplished by this per
caDita tax on non-residents of the State.
There is only zone explanation of this mon
opoly and exaction, for it is an eXaction
andmonopoly, which is to be foundin the
fact that these privileges and immunities
were granted and reserved in the early
days of such enterprises, when the in
habitants of State were ready and anx-
ious to pay almost any price for railroad
facilities, If they could but obtain them.
Outside of New jersey, and this has been
remedied in a measure, there has been no
occasion or need of any such monopolies
or exactions. It has been in the power
of the Legislature and citizens -especi-
ally those blessed with an abundance of
this worlds goods-to prevent and pro-
vide against all such monopolies and eX-
tortions Have they exercised this
power? On the contrary, they have in-
dulged themselves in insensate attacks
upon all railroad corporations and their
managers, and refused to aid in the con-
struction of competing lines. The
newspapers have contributed their
share in stirring up the excite
ment and clamor, because, for
sooth, it happened to be popular. We
have in our minds eye a journal located
not far from here, which has INDUCED
itself in this kind of misrepresentation
and clamor and at the same time oppos-
ess, by silence at least, Reconstruction
of rival and competing lines. We I'M
derstand, of course, that from the very
constitution of our minds, we are, more
or less, influenced by public sentiment.
1t is the duty of a journalist, however,
to allow this sentiment, which, at times,
is founded upon misunderstanding or I'M
due excitement, TO control or afreCt lis
judgment to as small degree as posi-
BILE. Whether we are right or wrong in
our opinion of a public question, we
know that public sentiment viii at last
right itself, and the final deliberate judg-
ment of the people will be formed after
the excitement of the hour is over. This
Judgment, this sober, second thought, is
generally, If not always, right AS has
been well said by another, Railroads
are now on the defensive, and are like
ly to be so for some time to come. But
to all this there will be an end. The
litigation the conflicts Of interests, and
the denominations and falsehoods grow
ing out of them will be disposed of and
forgotten. The management of rail
roads is not all wrong nor all right 1t
is the right and duty of the press to APP
prove that which is right, and unsparing-
ly condemn that which is wrong. Jour
nalism, so far as it can consistently with
the truth and the right, should endeavor
to allay, rather than add to, popular ex-
element. The first great outcry against
railroads came from the West, and has,
in a short time, overspread the whole
country. Reason, judgment and COM
mon sense have been oyerpowered, in
the excitement produced thereby. We
are pleased to see that the reaction has
already commenced, that reason and
judgment are resuming the throne for a
time usurped by passion. This, too,
comes from the West The ''Congres-
sional Conference" as it is called, assem-
bled in st. Louis, Tuesday. The Hon.
Henry T Blow, of that city, delivered
the one of the addresses, in the course of
which he alluded to the fact that cheap
was necessary for the
of the country. THE coun-
try, said he, is threaded with railroads
over which passengers and freight can
be transported in all directions, but a
feeling has grown up in this valley, as
well as ia other parts of the country, |
that there are existing and extending
combinations, on the part of these cor
porations, against the interests of the |
producing classes. He then goes on, |
rs our kilograms inform US, to pay
glowing tribute to the railroad system
in this country, the proudest monument
to progress ever reared by mortal hands,
and to-day the glory of the republic,
snthroBed in the midst of its created
wealth. lie urged, says the despatch,
generous treatment of these great rep
of capital, labor and enter
prise, and, in concluding, used these no.
bic, statesmanlike words: ''Those who
would unduly impede that progress, will
soon learn that the march of American
cannot be arrested bv preiu.
lice or Ignorance, and that our plighted
faith can never be disturbed by senseless
population or schemes Of narrow dem
Time 4, Fta. I,