, 1874-01-10
BLACKSTONE ON c0MMuN1sA,


Tho atump.speech against Communism sent
forth over the signature Of Kr. r. B. Black
stone, President Of tho Chicago l. Alton Rail
way, as an answer to m application for q pass
is producing different effect, perhaps, from
what ho intenddd. Tho document In question
seeks to stigmatize the railrond legislation OF
this State as Communistio, aud to fix upon tho
advocates Of such legislation tho otum which
justly attaches to socia1istio movements for
division Of property.
Tho railroad legislation of this state is direct
cd to two specific ends, viz: to prohibit unjust
discrimination in charges between different COM
muuitios and individuals. aud to prevent tho col
lection Of more than q reasonable compensation
for freight and passenger faro. Which Of those
two purposes Alr. Blackstone considers "in ac-
cord with the cardinal principles Of the French
Commune" he prudcntly omits to state. In the
celebrated caso Of the Railroad and Warehouse
Commissioners vs. The Chicago & Alton Rail
way Company, the hitter corporation admitted
in written pleas that at common low its charges
must be reasonable, and that 1t could not mako
unjust determinations. So tho argument is
closed US to that, and wo are loft to infer that
Mr., Blackstone objects not 30 much to tho rail-
road legislation of this State US to the tendency
Of public opinion on tint subject-that ho docs
not accuse tho common law Of Communism, but
rather tho spirit in which the common law is
sought to be executed.
He thus challenges Il comparison between the
spirit Of the railroad legislation Of this State
and lhe spirit Of railway managers when left to
theiy unrestrained instincts. The object Of
evory railway company is to mako IS much
money as possible, and it ono Hot OF managers
cannot satiBfy the demands Of the stock
holders OH this point, they arc apt to
ba kicked out and q new sot appointed.
At all events, the apprehension OF such
discipline Is always present In the minds Of mau-
agers. This is tho common law OF railways
when loft to their own deviccs-in comparison
with which the common law relating to extor-
fion aud discrimination possesses no force what
ever. Tho Chicago j. Alton Railway ia moro
favorably situated to practice Communism on the
people who are compelled to patronize 1t than
In other words, 1t s III a better position to con-
tsoate the property Of others, than others are to
couascato ita property; and up to the present
time 1t has had the confiscation business cxclu-
sively in its own handa. Whether it las made
use of its taxing powers unjustly heretofore, Is
not now in question. But 1t has no cause of
complaint it tho State provides lawful machinery
to ascertain where compensation ends aud where
conhscat1on bogiua. Nor can such machinery be
called Communicate.
hlr. Bsackatono's letter WAS, furthermore, III
bad taste. Somebody applies for pass. Tic
statute prohibits tho granting Of it, and the ruies
Of the railway itaelf prohibit it. Moreover, the
applicant las no right to paas and the demand
for It, undor tho circumstauces, was impudent,
Here were three roasons why it should bo re-
fused. Instead of stating one or more Of them,
Mr. Blackstone tondera him d loug-wlnded e.
aay on social science, aud winds up by telling
him tint there is q law against granting passea.
THIS is like tho excuse mado BY m IriHh Sheriff
for not producing witness in court: The roads
waro bad, aud Ills horse had run away. md Ills
children lad had tie measles. ind various other
miahaps had occurred covering four sheets Of
paper, and tie Witness was dead. Regarded as
an e1cuae for not giving pass, Mr. Blackstone'a
letter is open to the charge Of redundancy,
while as disqulstlon on the agrarian tenden-
clca Of the age 1t Is extremely one-sided.