, 1873-03-25

farmers tlo not do1nnnl TINT tic railroads shalt
gvo up nil thor profits to tl,or bonoiit, and, II
thoy did, notthor tho rallronds nor any otllorclnaa
in tho community would linton to tllom. hit
t1oy do domand, and they clearly l,avo n right to
domnnt, TINT tho railroads alla1l sl,aro with them
tho burdens OF MI llilpro1tabc BoaBon. Tho
railroad and tho farming intorosts aro mutually
dependent. II 1t woro not for tho gront
rioll farms throughout . tho Northwest,
and tho produce which thcy furnish
for transportation, no should l,nyo no such rail-
road syatom ns no now hayo and If It wore not
for tho railroads wo would not havo tho tnmonBo
md rfch1y-cultivatoa farms wo now havo. Tho
bonoats nre mutual, nnd 30 must DO tho triaa
and loBsos. The railroads flaro not say to tho
farmers "If your business is not profitable,
quit It," If they did, and the farmers should
act upon tho advice, tho railroads would sinful
tancously tlnd thoir occupation gone. Tile jua-
tico Of tho caao therefore, demands that the
railroads should put down their ratoa wion bad
year comoH. Thoy must divide tho misfortune
With tho farmers. Instoad of tho railroads
mailing 8 or 10 per cent, md tho farmers losing
money, each should carn 4 por cont, enc]l
eoonomizo, and oach mike tho bost Of tho
temporary embarrassment. Tho railroads blind
" and. poraistontly rofuHo to do this
porsiatontly, because thoy think tloy havo tho
power (thoy aro now finding out thoir mistalso),
md blind1y, because they full to SEQ tho logical
consequences Of their course. II they continue
tho fight, they will surrender at Inst uudor woraa
conditions than thoy can obtain now BY troaty.
Tho Supreme Court has distinctly declared
that railr0ad rates muHt DO fair and reasonable.
and that thore mlat bo no unjust discrimination.
We have already discussed the latter point ; tho
former is equally imperative. Tho Legislature
is preparing atatuto to onforco tho lnw Of rca-
sonablo ratios. Tho Railroad and WarohouHo
Commission will bo entrusted with tho prosccl-
ton OF the railroads who rofuso to conform to 1t,
and thoy will infallib1y do their duty in this ro-
gard. They dare not do otherwiBo II thoy would.
Tho roasonablonoss or unroasonab1eness Of rail
road rates will bo determined by court and jury,
and 1t is Bafo to prodlct that tho finding Of q
jury, in tho present state Of tho public mind,
will not loan to tho sido Of tho railroads. The
Supreme Court of this State, or Of tho United
States, will never royorso a Jury verdict mado
upon competent evidence md in conformity to
tho law. This Is tho limo OF battle In which tho
fight against tho railroads will bo mado, and 1t
is Of such strong, strategic points, and Of auch
formidable numbers, TINT tic railroads will be
39o1 .
tual engagement to tako place. II 1t comos to
this, 1t ts probable that they will bo punished
worao than they ought to bo. Tho fight Of tho
farmors will bo sustained by tho strong urn Of
tho State Government and tho strong box Of tho
State Treasury. If tho railroads exercise good
Judgment, they will "come down. aud, In such
caBo tho tcrma will not probably be any worse
than taking their ehare Of the common misfor-
tuno Of these hard times