Northern Ohio journal. [volume] (Painesville, Ohio) 1872-1896, 1873-09-06


strongly insisting that all the railroads, |
ont of that city at least, should be COM
pelled to put down double tracks for not
less than one hundred miles. 1t esti-
mates that the loss sustained at the re-
cent Lemont disaster, by way OF dam
ages for killed and wounded, wreck of
locomotives and cars, costs of litigation
and loss OF business, would be amply
sufficient to build second track beyond
the locality of the accident, and from
this fact shows that all roads out Of large
cities could afford to and should have
double tracks Certainly the precantion
is one that deserves the candid consider
alton of railroads everywhere. Many
companies would make double tracks
profitable and none would lose by such
provision for the public security as we'll
as for their own safety. In commenting
upon this proposed enforced safeguard,
the Cincinnati Star adds: &c The princi-
pie is being established that railway
charges shall be graded down to fair
profit on the capital invested; and they
will, therefore, lose nothing by snch In.
vestments as snbserve the public well
fare. The public can afford to allow
profit on whatever is for the public good.
No administrative ability can avoid coli
lisions so long as trains shall run in OPP
posite directions on the same track"
~. - e--------- -t'4tt = -
In all periods Of governmental history
the general relaxation OF old-time party
| ties, when followed by the. afflliation Of
formerly antagonistic palitical elementss
has come to be recognized as an indica-
tion of some new danger to the liberty
of state or individual. The present
growing disintegration of once firm Or
ganizations therefore become significant
when viewed as part of the same move
ment which Is calling into existence,
with marvellous rapidity societies which
lose all sectional character by reason Of
possessing one common object. The
two, in connection are indices not mere
ly of the presence of new danger but,
of the popular recognition of Its exist
ence. For this reason we have read
with interest speech, in full, as de-
livered by Governor Newton Booth, OF
California, upon this subject-the menace
contained in the concentration Of capital
in the hands and under the management
of great corporations. The speaker
considers chiefly the growth of the evil
as found in railroad lines and evidences
how these corporations either as. compa-
MES or individuals acting in Credit Mo
bilier fashion, are getting control moi
only Of all the land but Of all Of the
business of the country. As showing
how private enterprise is powerlesi
in the hands of these mOnopolists; a.
illustrating, by argument and proof
how farmers and outsiders are broker
down by those s'within the ring;", al
furnishing plain and simple statemen
of the manner in which railroad corpo
ations control legislation to the constan
plumber of the people; as demonstrating
that the tendency is more and more to
wards concentration and that this ten
dency is rapidly destroying the manly
independent spirit of the people, so tina
the time may not be far distant when
though the forms Of liberty remain, th'
spirit will have departed. the address j
clear, able and all too convincing
|, Whether the speaker is correct in hi
deduction from these facts, that revolu
ton is certain in the future un
less Reform is effected in: the pres
ent, is a problem and question
the solution to which contains the pros
, perity or the downfall Of the country
= Without attempting review at lengtl
of the. arguments brought forward b.
Governor Booth, we republish in anothe
| column the speech and commend it t
the earnest consideration of all who ar
interested i'm the coming struggle.