National Republican., 1873-04-26
A GREAT QUESTION IN THE FUTURE.

During the last two or three months there |
has swept across q large portion Of the |
Northwest, with the rapidlty and irresistlbil- |
ity Of q prairie FIRE, . whirlwiud Of opposi-
tion to the railroad interest. Illinois and
Iowa especially arc marshaled In solid line
pledged to resist any party and any policy
that has for lts ain and object the contln-
uance Of tho bondage In which the agricul-
tural interests Of these States have been kept
for 30 many years BY tho railroad power.
The farmers Of the Northwest are slow to
move, but when they do the plowshare drives
fast and deep. They are not rapid thinkers,
but with them q resolution once formed is
followed by swift and determined action.
They have summed up their case against tho
railroad companies in the brief sentence: "of
every ore hundred bushels OF grain raised BY
their toll, seyenty-nve 20 70 the railroad com
panies before II reaches the Market" and
they have resolved that there shall be an end
of the extortIon. And they arc right.
There Is q point In this controversy, how
ever, to which we desire 10 call attention.
Il Is this; The Republican party, II 1t shall
make tho mistake Of resisting this movement
Is bound to swift and sure destruction, and
the sooner its leaders realize that fact the
better. The railroad power Of the country is
In q great measure the creation Of the Repub-
lican party. Its marvellous Development dur
ing tho last twelve yesrs Is ono Of the highest
and greatest achievements Of the party. 1t
has voted enormous subsidies and givon away
whole empires TO almost scores Of corpora
tious. Excepting in q very few cases the In
vestment has becn a wise and tudicious one.
The building Of the Union Pacific, there can bc
no doubt, held the Pacific slope In the Union
during the war Of the rebellion. Tho con-
struction Of other roads during and since the
war, through the Govcrnment's aid, has
helped to build up the interior Of the country
Into marvellous and unprecedented develop
mcnt. They have taken hundreds Of thou
sands OF people out Of the slums OF the cities,
and saved them from ruin and degradation.
Tho waste places OF the continent have been
made to blossom into fertility and productive
ness. Taken as q whole tho railroad policy
Of the last twelve years has been successful.
But the time has como 10 chain and place
within proper bonds the young giant that 1t
has reared and nurtured.
This Western railroad movement strikes
the Republican party In q particularly Vita
part. Iowa Is the banner Republican State
Of tho west--a sort OF Western Massachu-
sets; Illinois Is a Republican fortress that
the party cannot afford to let fall into the
possession Of the enemy, or into the hands Of
men who will lead 1t astray, as the Chicago
Tribune Is now striving to do, for purely
selfish and personal interests. General Grant,
In his message to Congress last December,
In q great measure anticipated the question
...l skaH tat
when he recommended ample appropriations
for the building Of great internal lines Of
transportation. But the journals that are
now seduiously tanning this name Of discon-
tent and unrest; that arc Skillfully seeking to
throw the responsibility upon the party In
power sneered at and ridieuled tho suggcs-
tions Of the President, and entered into q
calculation Of the millions Of dollars that II
would cost to carry out tho system Of In
tcrnal improvements proposed by him. And
Congress, tho Republican majority In
Congress, agitated by credit mobilier inves-
legations and the increase Of compensation
of Its own members, adjourned without do
Ing anything. Delegations hung around
the doors Of committee rooms, anxious.
ly awaiting action that there was nc
prospect whatever Of being taken, and went
home disgusted. The voice Of the country
local press was unheeded In the clash of con
nicting politicians airing their eloquoncS
before crowded galleries. The Senate seemed
to have some appreciation Of tho slunder
that had been made, and appointed com
mittoe TO travel around the country, take
testimony, and report what should or should
not be done next Congress. Let us hope that
something will come out OF II.