Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1874-07-03
COlfaX on the Grange.
HIS VIEWS ITO ITS OBJECTS, METHODS AND
PROSPECTS.


PROSPECTS.
have always recognized that there are
railroad rights as we'll as railroad wrongs,
and that this great question must be settled,
and can only enduringly be settled on the basis
of right and Justice, and upon those princi
pies of equality which have been potential in
the settlement of all the great questions con-
fronting us in our recent history. Thus,
while all must acknowledge their great use
fulness in developing the resources of the
nation, and opening vast areas of our inter
ior to settlement and improvement, we all
see plainly that railroads can no more do
without the producers than the producers
can do without them. And all should con-
cede that, as railroads can only be built by
the exercise of tine States right of eminent
domain, under charters as public highways
granted by the people through their Legisla
lures, they have no more right to denounce
reasonable legislative supervision than fer
ries and turnpikes chartered by the same
authority. The just ground on which all
Just men can unite is that railroads should
be common carriers for all, on common
grounds, and at equitable rates, without
favoritism or unjust discrimination, and on
the Just basis of "reasonable rates Tor the
people and reasonable profits for the com
panies." | remember, many years ago,
how distinguished English statesman was
criticised for a proposition that their great
railroads should run third-class trains,
mornings and evenings, for laborers, etc, at
a penny 1.-TWO cents) per mile. lie WAS
lampooned as demagoguc and visionary
theorist. But these parliamentary trains,
As they are called, were found, when at last
reluctantly established, to he not only the
great accommodation for the poor that was
claimed for them, but also among the most
profitable to the companies OF all their
trains
Two things in your organization have
struck me As specially auspiciouS. First,
the admission of your wives and daughters to
membership, enhancing doubtless the social
interest Of your meetings, and beckoning
woman onward to a wider sphere of useful
ness in the community; and, secondly, the
frank and out-spoken declarations OF 50
many of your grangers as TO intempraence,
the enemy of the workingman and the bane
Of society. | trust your organization will
never speak with an uncertain voice on this
great evil of the century. For all experience
proves that, where drinking shops de
crease, crime and pauperism with their con
sequent taxation decrease, comfort and hap
pines in the abodes Of the poor increases,
and law and order. peace and quiet. indus
try and thrift, more generally prevail.
Your demands. too, for increased economy
in public expenditures, and greater watch
fulness a. to public moneys, cannot fail to
do good. When You proceed from general
ties to details You will find that, besides
strict scrutiny as to national appropriations,
you will need quite as watchlul care aS 10
home taxation. GOV. Hayes of Ohio, one Of
the best Governor, that State ever had,
proved several years ago, in 4 message that
too little attention, that unreStralu-
ed local taxation was the heaviest burden,
by far. the taxpayer had to shoulder And
that i 50 completely within your own pow
er, locally, have great hopes Of bcneiicent
results in that line from vour organization.
Not being a member of your order, am
not sure that understand your exact posi-
ton As 10 "middle-men." II your object Is
to cconomize a far A. possible. buying with
cash from the manufacturers o. their agents,
ut their lowest prices, instead of on credit at
higher rates. and thus saving the heavy per
that the credit system ab~orh-
from the honest poor, that is certainly laud-
able. Bar milde-men, a. class. are a
in the operations of trade and
commerce and business, a. lawyers are IN
law. and doctors in medicine. and need q
special education and adaptation to their
work. If You could abolish all midllemen
,ritL tlcir evreriauce H-on yvnulI have Ia !