The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1873-11-06

The Farmers Convention, before its final
adjournment Thursday evening, pssstd the
following resolution, G practical inatfse-
ment Of which Is now sought IN theNational
Board Of Trade;
eve demand the construction Of railroads
and the improvement Of water communica-
tons between the interior and seaboard the
Same to be owned and operated by the gem
eral government, for the purpose Of Afford
ing cheap and ampls transportation, and 20
monopolies
1t should be stated, in justice 10 tho con-
ventiOn and the class il represented, that
the resolution was declared adopted on q
eiea roce vote, although tho 10ns appeared
about as numerous as the ayes. We men.
ton this circumstance because such roeo.
luton could not 60 before the country as
the unanimous expression Of the farmers as
a class, without doing injury 10 iheF intelli,
gence, and postponing rather than acoolo-
rating the relief they seek. We do not BE-.
lieve that II represents their calnieet and
best Judgment but prefer Il think that tho
resolution was rather the accidental results l
misguided energy on the part Of 4 few men
than the expression - any deliberHto con-
viction Of the agricultural class. The de-
bate before the adoption 81 the resolution
warrants this conclusion.
The vital objections to the scheme for
Government railroad building have been
previously set forth IN the columns Of tho
Tribune, and were also succinctly and ably
stated by Col. r. p. Morgan, IT,. b bic
speech in Mclean county last Tuesday,
which We commend again to the attention
Of all who are Interested IL the subject We
may recapitulate some Of the most striking
points.
/. There is O serious doubt as 20 the au-
thority Of the Federal government to 90
into the railroad business Thisis q matter
which is by no means determined ns yet.
and the issuing Of government bonds 70 the
Pacific Railroad is not pleasing precedent
for such undertakings.
2. Admitting the authority 10 be estab.
lished, then Il Is obvious that government
cannot stop with the building o. q single
road. Whenever Congress throWsits money
in one direction, il finds a demand for SIM
liar favors IN all other directions. To I'M
deFtake the construction Of railroad be.
tween any two given points would lead to
demands from al quarters, and these do
mands would be louder and more iusliaahIo
in quarters where there are no railroads AZ
al than In those where railroads gro already
numerous. Those who are familiar with
the '1og-rolling" Of Congressional schemes
need not be told that i would be impossible
to undertake the construction 81 one rail-
road without eventually undertaking 8
dozen.
3. The demand thatthe Government shall
60 into the railroad business ia one instance
beingpracticalIy demand that Il shall pro.
vide system Of railroads coextenEiVe with
the country, Il includes an enormous 81.
crease Of the public debt. AS the protested
purpose ola Government railroad Is fopF0giie
transportation at cost Il would Of course
pay nothing toward extinguishIEg iis own
debt, which would consequently 30 q per-
mancnt burden upon the people. Are the
people prepared 70 assume this new debit
Are they not already taxed enough f0f lto
maintenance Of the Government and tic ~
duction Of the present debit is i not BET
ter that those who employ railroads should
pay for their service, ct rates lxed BY net
ural competition, and restrained BIZ the Law
that governs common carTicroi
f. sFsiew q gogeumeni railroads
would a9q cBogmopsiy % tlc ollc'el pair1n.
4ge Of the HoPemmolf. which q e'f6gag g.
large and qneyslcmatic 9g " he prDgertIaIIr
corrupt. The government service. 81 limit
ted 70 thegphcres which L already occupies.
grows tQorapidlF Tor the pnblic good 10
add tens 81 th1doandc % this service would
81 10 open up ncV founlains oI corruption.
There would not only Be frauds n consilf|c.
ton, By the side Of which the Credit No
hilicr ~ Dnion Pacific and the CopffacI md
Finance Company 81 Certfsl Pacific would
l,e Insignificant. bqf there wo9Id 81 flee
ID Opsratipg the roads. Fhe cnpo1fnnilg
for corruption would Be much bIosdel IS
running railroade than Il is "a auy ctislinr
branch Of the government eeffico. and those Z
who honestly favor che schemc nn1 ~
Themselves drst Il Official coIluplioa would
not entail Eolse miseries than anl thal are
now suffered from private cofpclfIoua.
3. i Is utterly inconss lor those Nh1
~ cut against land grants end aIbsidies 81
recommend GoTelnntnf - 50 further ei||'.
and actually build ne rIIro1dg that Iht
vsrIoue sections VIII demand. ~ b rn,fsr
sally ocknoHledEed that much ~ OR pres
cnt tfOuble may - Traced directly b 10
ingestmcnt 81 barge amonnfs 81 f1rIlsi hi
unpgodreiire reiIloeds ~ TIE c04enrf
should 60 into -t z..lesd business this
9mo4pt q nnplolu>tiVe I'I |1
multiplied aeceFar ~ tlIenI W
neH enieIplI1E. and fIa new
Vonld only d limited b ihc srrt 81
i1e taxpayers aEa Tie Covers 1t e.
E,'.eb let.rr - nay no nnlin