Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1874-10-29
TRANSPoR TATION
Relation of National and State
Governments to Railways.
RECORD AND PLATFORMS OF
THE POLITICAL PARTIES.
Hon. II, s. Magoon's Reply to
Blake's Prairie Grange"

Your columns, last week, contained q
request from "Blake's Prairie Grange
No. 1885," in Grant county, to the eft
feet that /, as the Republican nomin
ee, in this District, for Congress
should state through the HERALD, my
position and views, on the subject of
CHEAP TRANSPORTATION,
and of the regulation thereof by the
State and National government, tc
prevent extortion or oppression.
Acknowledging this request as right
and courteous, from one of the ablest
Oranges in Wisconsin, | gladly com
ply, and will present, frankly, con-
densed statement of my views on this
broad and difficult subject, in as brief
space as possible. Matters in hand,
pressing on my time, prevent such
discussion of legal and governmental
doctrines as l could wish; but, as
meetings are proposed, where this
subject will be considered, / spare
many details otherwise necessary.
As becomes, therefore, friend, in
fearless candor, to reason with a
neighbor on questions important not
only to US but our country, let US first
seek the Truth and the Right; and,
after finding them, plant our feet SOL
idly thereon
To present clearly my views on this
topic, come! let us look a moment, at
the two parties, throughout the nation.
Let US examine the record and princi-
pies which they have made and avow.
RECORD AND POSITION OF THE REFORM
PARTY.
How stand the so.called Reform
party on this subject? How stood
they in Congress; and how stand
they to- day, in this District, to prevent
extortion or oppression? What record
have the Reform party made at
Washington this year? Come! let
them answer boldly, at the bar of the
people, what their record and policy
are on this question?
Now, l recognize the Reform party
as consisting almost wholly of Demo
Gratis, honest but misguided in part by
few late Republicans, who seek to
dictate the policy and energies of that
party; the alliance seeming to be,said
late Republicans to have each import
ant nomination; and said Democrats
generous FELLOWSHIP do all the vot>
ing!l How long this generosity of
Democrats, or this self sacrifice of
said Republicans in holding the chief
trusts will hold out, is doubtful; but,
certainly, they have the profound fact
to console them in every defeat:-The
Democrats will know it is only Re-
publican leader that is killed! While
said leader can easily rejoice, it is on
ly the Democratic that is misgeneral-
ed and ruined !!
Yet, we know that now, with a des
perateness of assault, worthy of bet
ter cause, they, the Reformers, are
united in one object to disband, de-
stroy and entomb the Republican
party. The Reformers, having no
national creed or prir ciples; having
no real national reforms fixed in heart;
being almost anything to everybody;
seize every expedient, arouse local
isms and jealousies, to thwart every
where our great and patriotic Repub-
lican host, and its mission of liberty
union and peace. Therefore, carrying
out this policy, they seek to sow into
every Grange distrust of Rcpubli.
cans and their nominees; and would
have each Grange blinded not only to
the real purposes and policy of ouI
party, but to the Retormers' own rec.
ord on this very subject.
! Behold that record! and let the PEG
pie read and ponder it for themselves
Here it is, and mark it well!
In Congress, Feb. 8, 1874, J. q
Smith, Republican member from Ohio
moved in the House, the adoption o
the following Resolution:
Resolyed, THAT, in the judgment OF thi
House. it is within the constitutional power O
Congress, by law, so to regulate commerce
among these States, as to protect that portion
, of our internal commerce which is among tht
. several States, FROM ALL UNJUST or OPPRESSIVE
, TOLLS, rAxATIoSs, DISTRACTIONS OR OTHER Bur
+ pENs. whether imposed by railroad companies
or bv combinations thereof, or by any othe
common carriers, when engaged as the instru
ment OF such portion of the commerce OF tn
; peopie: that the present condition and mag
. nitude of the commerce among the States ar
such as to demand TIE PROMPT AND WISE Ex
ERCIsE OF he po,oer aud duty declared IN thu
resolution.
Now, on this Resolution, in which
every Grange and Patron of Husband
nv in the United States was interest
,, ed, all the Refcrmers voted NAY!!! ex
,, tcept IS. FrFTY-FoUR Reformers vot
/, ed NAY!!! But every Republican
voted Yes! exceet 10. l59 Republi
cans voted YEA That is, the Reform
! ers as a party, who now demand SUI
frages as the especial friends OF Gran
gers voted against Resolution il