Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1873-10-02

lagos along the railroad lines. Places stu
ated at railroad crossings where competition
existed paid much lower rates than were paid
in places having the advantage only of single
line.
This evil has, to some extent, been remedied
by the recent legislation ON that subject, and
the decision of the Supreme Court in the quo
warranto case in Mclean county against the
Chicago and Alton Railroad Company Al
though this evil has been partially relieved,
yet 1t still exists in some degree.
The people of the State of Illinois. by their
Constitution of 1870, after several years of pa
tent remonstrance with the railroad compa-
MES, and, to the same end, making most lib
eral contributions for the purpose of con-
structing competing lines OF railroad which
were no sooner completed than consolidated,
were finally forced to take the initiatory step
to secure the just control of the State over the
railroads.
1t was by that Constitution declared that all
railroads were public highways, and it was
made the duty of the Legislature to provide
by law against all extortions and unjust dis
examination in the transportation of persons
and property.
The Legislature in 1871 passed laws in
obedience to those constitutional provisions.
and created Board of Railroad and Ware
house Commissioners to supervise their exc
cution.
From the beginning, the railroad companies
have deliberately disregarded and set at def
ance the authority of the State, and refused
obedience to the laws. In 1878 the Legisla-
ture again passed laws on this subject, amend
ing and modifying the laws of 1871 These
laws have as yet been only obeyed colorably-
not at all in letter and spirit and, under pre-
text OF conformity with the laws, the railroad
companies have, on the whole, largely in
creased the burdens before resting on the
people. This is the condition in which we
now find ourselves. 1t remains only for
In of &A4 &.%1
proper tirmness the question forced upon
them: Which is the master, and which the
servant
Some persons, despairing of being able to
control these great corporations by State au-
thority, and others. probably secretly in the
interest OF the roads themselves. have pro-
posed to apply to the Congress of the United
States to exercise the power conferred upon it
by the Constitution to regulate commerce be-
tween the several States so as to subject
these corporations to national control. This
remedy, if such it may be called, is of very
doubtful utility, nor does the recent legisla-
ton of Congress on kindred subjects commend
it to our confidence. 1t would seem as though
we were already under q provisional railroad
empire, and to throw a subject of such vast
extent and intricate complications. backed by
interests OF like nature and such immense
wealth and subtle power, wholly into the hands
of Congress, would be virtually to abandon all
attempt at control and accept a railroad en-
pire.
These considerations, though so imcom-
pletely presented, seem to require of the peo-
pie immediate, thorough and independent
action, that they may, if possible, secure ser
wants in great preponderance upon whose in
tegrity they may safely rely.
Let us, therefore, resist this tendency to
the last, and only accept the alternative pre-
posed when compelled to do So Bear in mind
the recent exhibitions of want of integrity in
Congress, and then consider that an assess
ment of per cent. per annum on the present
railroad capital of the country will produce
S35, 900, 600. This enormous sum for annual
legislative use, it is fair to presume, judging
by the past, would be quite sufficient to pre-
vent unfriendly legislation or, in other words,
1t would secure such rates as the railroad
monopolists might think they could succeed in
extorting from the people.
Integrity is the only power that can be sue
cessfully opposed to capital, and, unless we
can command it, there is no ground on which
to base our hope for final and glorious sue
cess for our form of government. TIE dan
ger which menaces us is not an imaginary one.
1t is portentous and real. But few who are
not willfully blind can fail to see its shadow;
it is so dark almost to be felt. Let u.s. then,
pledge ourselves that Illinois shall be, as she
ever has been, one of the trusted watch-towers
of Liberty.