New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-01-15
Railroads. Free Trade, and Agrf.
culture.

Railroads. Free Trade, and Agrf.
culture.
The senscless warfare the farmers of the
West, goaded on by "Llberal" and Demo-
cratic demagogues, and other political
advcnturers against the railroads of the
country is one Of the most mischievous and
ruinOus crusades ever undertaken by Amer-
cans. The Changers, as the farmers who
compose the anti-railroad organizations of
the West are called, do not and cannot deny
that the wonderful development of the
West is due more to railroads than all other
agencies. Yet as the Pittsburg manufac-
turcrs, which under the above head, tells
them some wholesome truths, declares, and
as their own proceedings prove, they con-
tinue not only to wage a relentless warfare
Unfortunately upon the whole railroad
system of the country and its management,
but are using the influence they possess to
destroy the Republican party, to which they
owe all their present prosperity, and in
favor Of the return to power of the rebel
democracy. -ir:
1t is admitted by the manufacturers, as 1t
is by us, that there are some causes of COM
plant against railroads and their manage
ment. But this does not justify this indis-
eliminate onslaught ON all railroad corpora
lions. Even though nothing be demanded
but even handed justice, the matter is not
of easy solution, and if it were, the evils
complained of would never be remedied
while passion rules the hour. AS to matters
Of detail, and of broad calculations of rights
and risks, no one is so capable of under
standing as railroad managers. One of our
exchanges very truly says: 1.-THE political
hastings of tho West resound with the cry
of monopolists, hurled indiscriminatcly
against railroad men. The assumption is
that railroads as class of corporations, are
cncroac ching upon the rights Of the people,
and the remedy proposed is legislation re-
stricting the powers of the roads. The error
is in assuming that a monopoly is necessarily
an Infringement upon, and detrimental to,
the best interests Of the people. SO far is
this from being the case, that the people in
SNCiy ctuCC iisiNC ChIOuidSCu ny
and in some cases by pecuniary grant and
| loan, railroads which are monopolies. And
| they have done it, and by legislation only
| could do it--upon the ground Of promoting
the public good. In the West, towns where
every man had voice in the decision,
! have gone to extremes in mortgaging their
| territory to aid the roads,
1t will not do to say that paper continues,
therefore that these roads are, of necessity,
and by their very existence, inimical to the
public wealth. Some railway corporations
may indeed have unwarrantably stretched
their powers, but this is no excuse for a
crusade against all corporations. That rail-
roads should be amcnablc to law is undeni-
able, but the mistake Of the politicians, who
hope to obtain power and place by the aid Of
the Changers, is that they set out with the
pOstulate that the railroads of the country
are infringing the rights of the people, and
that therefore their acts must be restricted;
and that the popular idea Of what is done
and what might be done, is the correct idea
The proper spirit in which to approach the
question is to inquire who is acting Illegally,
and in what way, and then to apply the
remedy. Wholesale dcnunciation, electine
judges by the people upon irrational issues
putting party against all corporations, may
work change indeed, but it will prove
neither permanent nor beneficial, nor com,
pllmentaIy to the wisdom and GOODNESS oi
the people,"
| The action of the farmers of the West
have already worked such fearful changes in
some sections that they stand appalled, at
the amount of mischief they have already
done. In some counties where they have
been more than usually arbitrary towards the
railroads, the companies run their trains
through the counties without making single
stop. In other sections they see the mid die.
men ruined, business paralizcd, no purchases
for their products; yet they make their vain
boasts that they can do as they please. Not
| withstanding they have denied from the
| first that theirs was not a political move
mcnt, they are being manipulated by politi-
clans for political purposes. Not satisfied
with the prosperity they have enjoyed during
the past few years, brought about by our
extended railroad system, and a protective
policy-in the excitement of the hour they
| seek to curtail the one and overthrow the
other. Were it possible to annihilate the
railroad business of the West and restore
free trade for 4 sing.e year, the farmers
would be as much bewildcred at their own
actions, as was Rip Van Wrinkle after sleep
| of twenty years. That the movement will
be the means of returning quite number of
free traders to Congress we have no doubt :;
but the country at large is not prepared to
abandon the protective policy, and before it is,
organizations of the Changers like the secret
organizations of the Know Nothings of
twenty years ago, will be numbered with
the past.
The Resolution Endorsing Senator
Ep1N r. d buS.Qs