Weekly Trinity journal., 1874-05-30

ton" do as they threaten, and carry the
question into the Congressional elections
next year, its bearing on the results Of
these elections can hardly be estimated At
the present time. The action Of p es
dent Grant in vetoing the initiation bill,
was in strict accordance with the pledges
made by the Republican party to the
people, and those leaders of the party
who, acting in defiance of the clear and
unmistakeable pledges laid down in the
platforms of '6S and ~, upon which the
banners of Republicanism were borne to
victory, sought to Tighten the depression
of business affairs by the imaginary rem
edy of imitation, by so doing broke faith
with the people, and enGeavored to give
effect TO policy directly at variance with
their professions, and but for the iirmness
of the Executive would have succeeded.
Ii party pledges mean anything more
than empty professions to catch votes if
they are given in good faith and accepted
in good faith, they should be carried out
in good faith to the letter. But the ma
jority in Congress, made up from the
members Of both political parties, delib-
erately attempted to evade carrying out
the p.licy the people were known to fav-
or. They broke faith with the nation,
and would have broke faith with the ma
TONS creditors had the power to do so
rested with them alone. And now that
the first excitement created by the veto
message is calming down, and the people
can survey the financial situation more
coolly than when the currency bill was
under discussion, the good common sense
Of the country sees that Grant was right
that being elected President under SOL
emn pledges that the country should re-
sumo specie payments as speedily rs
practicable, he could do no less than ex-
ercise the executive prerogative in this
instance. And the more the question is
discussed, the stronger will be the posi-
ton OF Grant and OF the party which ele-
waited him to the Presidency. The threat
Of the intlationists to carry the question
into the Congressional elections may be
put in force, but if it is we predict for the
repudiationi-ts humiliating defeat, that
will leave the currency question etfectu-
ally settled before the platforms are made
up for the national campaign of 1876.
Another question, OF not only national
hat AZ Innal itnn,riup1n l. that raIutiu,s ia
railway travel and portation. This
question has assumed unmistakeable
prominence in our own State and in sew
eral others, and the public interests de-
mand that it be speedily settled. At the
present junctIre much attention is at
tracted to the contest between the State
of Wisconsin and its railway lines, where
the position is similar to that which would
prevailed in our own State had the Free
man bill became law. The Wisconsin
legislature passed an act similar in some
which the railroad men say will, if en-
forced, compel them to operate their lres
at a loss. The opinion of eminent coun-
sci has been taken by both parties, some
holding that the law is constitutional
others that is not. 1t would seem tha:
both parties should be interested in obtain
ing decision upon the disputed points AS
speedily as possible, us both the public
interest and that of the corporations must
suffer while the powers of the State and
OF the companies is matter in dispute.
Throughout the Western States strong
feeling exists in opposition to monoplistic
practices by the railway lines, and this
feeling is being taken advantage of by
designing politicians, (as it was hHre,) to
further their own ends. There are some
nice points involved in this question of
railway portation, and the public in
terest will suffer until they are all deter
mined beyond dispute. The agitation of
the railway question has put pretty ef-
tectual stop to railroad construction in all
cases where foreign capital has 10 be
sought for the prosecution of the work,
and such VIII continue to be the case for
years, even if tho law should prove to be
all claimed tor it by the companies. Be-
sides the Wisconsin law, Congress has II
bill under consideration, designed to APP
ply to rail- Dad transportation between
the States. This proposed law is bring
ing up the old question of Estate Rights"
again, one party claiming that the reg
ulation OF transportation rates is II local
question which should be left to the
States, while another thinks it is a proper
matter for national legislation. This, al
so, is point which should be speedily
| decided, for it occurs to us that there
must be Il remedy Tor abuses OF privilege
! in some quarter although we are not Of
those who believe that the remedy can be
made TO extend so far as to render the
property OF company worthless, or to
amount 10 virtual contiscation.
Undoubtedly the transportation ques-
ton will have an important influence in
. turmlr & the Congressional tickets in some
of the States. but whether il will take the
form of II new party organized upon this
and kindred questions, or be content with
! debating terms TO the old organizations,
remains to be seen. In either case it
will have the effect of bringing to the sur
face pack OF demagogues of the Lut-
trell stripe. the most loud mouthed OF
whom will have the best prospects Of sue
cess. The American people pay prem
ium for demagoguery, and politicians are
not slow to learn and avail themselves of
the fact. This is why we favor II speedy
settemont Of all such questions, which
are fruitful Of that class IF political char
lanns. Hostile legislation amounts to
nothing unless il be sustained by the
curt, hut il is cheap way Of currying
puhiic 'avor 10 which un crupulou. men
are always ready to lend themselves.