Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1874-08-13

naturatlxeQ Wltnln the UnlCcO states clttzenS
Of the same and OF the State wherein they re-
side The Constitution Of Indiana declares it
to be the duty Of the General Assembly to
provide a general system OF education and
system Of common schools wherein tuition
| shall be free and equally open to all This
decision Is even more explicit than the Civil
Rights bill; and 1t has been decided that un-
der the operation Of the first section Of the
eighth article of the Constitution Of Indiana,
| colorcd children have equal rights with white
| In the public schools, and could not be
excluded from their equal benefit and
enjoyment. This decision was made
by Judge Perkins, distinguished
Democrat and for many years men,
| Der OF the Supreme Court of the State. The
school, hotel, and graveyard questions are
about the last and best hold Of the Democracy,
and they should make the most of them. In
the South the idea Of the Democratic party Ia
opposition TO the civil and political rights of
the negro. II the party in the South has any
| other principles than this they are wholly sub
| ordinate, and would be sacrificed at any time
Democracy in the South means a conflict Of
races, and has no use for the Democracy In the
North, except so far as it recognizes this race
conflict And here Is presented q great and
vital issue between the two parties. The Dem
ocratic party is pledged by its constitution,
its history, affiliations, and hopes Of the flu
ture, to undying hostility to the negro race.
The Republican party is pledged by It's histo-
ry, its sacred principles, to stand faithfully by
the 100000 of newborn freemen, and mast
continue to be in the future, rs it has IN the
past, the party of liberty equality, justice, and
the indissoluble union of the States
The impression has been cunnngly made In
the South that the President would veto the
Civil Rights bill, No word or act has given
rise or color to this suspicion; and repel
with Indignation the suggestion that the Pres
ident will prove false to the principles of the
Republican party,
Senator Morton then argued at length the
right of Congress to regulate and supervise
inter State commerce, and the control Of each
State over its purely internal commerce. 1t
would be impossible, evidently, for Congress
to pass general laws establishing rates Of
freight and passenger fares over all the lines
OF road; these must be subject to constant
change and the operations Of local influences.
But 1t seems to me to be clearly within the
power of Congress, and to be practicable, to
establish Boards Of Railroad Commissioners,
to be vested with certain powers, to be gov
erned by general regulations. within which
they shall have the power to supervise and
regulate the rates for freight and passengers
upon Interstate railroads, so as to prevent
unjust determinations between different To-
calities or classes of persons; to prevent COM
binations between railroad corporations and
other persons to put up the prices of freights
or passenger fares to prevent railroad corpo-
rations from taking advantage OF the OBJ
| struction of lakes, rivers and canals, by frost
| or by low water, to put UP frcights and fares
beyond what would be a reasonable fair and
honest profit; and, In short, to prevent extor-
tons and impositions by railroad companies
upon the people of the country, however at
tempted to be practiced. The interests and
rights Of all parties should be protected with
equal care and vigilance-the railroad com
panles to be left in the control OF their prop
erty as far rs may be consistent with public
interests, and not to be interfered with by
these Boards of Railroad Commissioners cx-
cept in clear cases.
The people Of the States should remember,
however, that, while the railroads have Their
abuses, which ought to be corrected, yet they
are Indispensable to the growth and pros
| perity Of the country, and the construc-
ton of more becomes important from
year to year; and that capital is timid and
men will not invest their money In building
| new roads If legislation Is had whereby rail
road property Is made less valuable and less
| secure. Great moderation should be excr-
cised and care taken that legislation should
be aimed only at real abuses and interfere as
little as possible with the control Of railroads
by their owners, SO that there be no discour-
agement to the construction Of new roads and
the extension Of the system.
The great problem Of increased and cheaper
transportation is one to which the Republican
party must address itself with courage and
untirng industry until 1t Is solved. 1t gave
earnest Oh us purpose during thc last session
OF Congress by entering mo those preliminary
Investigations that must precede the settic-
ment OF so great ques.vh Inc Importance
OF the question must increase rom aecadn 20
aecaae. ana Is 30 vas, IN us proportions tiiat
u WIZ require years ior us soiatioh; out INC
hepuoliean party mas addressed ,tscll 70 tlc
task ana WIN not pause unt,i inc Way ms
Democratic party will doubtless continue to
devote its vast energies to devising ways and
means to prevent the social equality Of the
negroes, ana 70 the enlargement o. inc school