The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-04-22
A Chanter on Railroads.

(tnaDJGI kSesAAN w.
Ra;,roadiuy is yet in Its infancy. Asrap'a
as have been It's progress and development We
s,,a I'M, ,he economy of railroading is oilt
,,ar,;a,Iv understood, and that much is Jet "
=, ao,,.,oned. and to what extent that "h'ca
we are ye, to learn may renaef necessary
new policies and laws can only DC KNOW -
the developments themselves arc MANIFESTED
A. the present We see what vast power
w. oner,,ions of railroads give to individ'
mol. Power in mems bands always puts IN
dsnrer the interests aud liberties OF the peo-
n,s We zee every day how individuals may
i,,na;r the welfare Of whole communities
and how they may build up and pull down
q, w;u contrary to natural laws and TO the
considerations of fairness and justice fh'-
,o,opbicaly We should expect that the
creation of such dangers-the establish
men, Of cnginery which so promotes such
individual power aud arbitrariness-Would
generate the means OF restraint and protec-
tiop. While there are inherent in this rail-
road economy counterchccks and conflicts
that 60 far to shield the public, still they
would seem 10 be imperfect, as they are
somewhat held in allegiance by railroad COM
binations under which the country Is par
cellcd or and the railroad kings take pos
session of their several territories with q
supremacy resembling kingly rule-a power
that governs the going and the coming OF
people, and their rewards for their labor,
and their very laws, through control held
over the Legislatures that make them.
The just economy of nature seldom fails
through Its conservatism sooner or later 10
evolve justice and put restraints upon
wrong. The ambitious and greedy railroad
kings are never satisfied. New conquests
only open new objects to be coveted and new
enemies and new conflicts to be fought.
These repeated strains upon power in time
are almost sure to break it and let loose the
domain that bad been tyrannized over.
This is the hey-day OF railroad monopoly
and swagger. Nen pulled up and vain with
authority freely spend the money OF other
people in promoting schemes for monopo-
LIKING everything, and they live the lives OF
po!eptates swelling through The country,
riding from one extremity OF the land to the
other in palaces, receiving salaries reaching
often $4,000, and may be $4,000, per an
nu,n-royal in comparison to the pay OF the
conmonalty. They extend such courtesieS 10
great bankers and statesmen as no conqueror
o. Gespot Of the earth was ever before able
to show to the great. These kings are the
wonder of the people, and they move to and
fro with the air of rulers, on their faces 8
smile Of patronizing competency towards
their humble yassals IS these stare at them.
The Legislatures and the people are ever
agitsted by the wars Of these tyrants. The
money of the country is wasted in the dis
cussion Of their quarrelS, and the interests
of the land are ever impefilled by their
policies. In their suits and their fights the
best legal talent is engaged, and thus that
class of men whose art in oratory and in
making the worse appear the better side
have their judgments warped, and are
brought 10 mislead the people and to assist
i prolonging the wrong when they become
Is advocates.
We repeat, however, that we have great
aith in the natural restraints which spring
rom maladmipistration and wrong. The
conflicts Of the kings will in due time go far
o right the people and remedy evils which
Ve all see have grown TO Le enormous.
Yet in the progress Of railroading-so
Dung, so corrupt-the Government must
invent some measures suited to regulate o
,ower 20 immense, so rapidly increasing,
nd so liable to be used improperly. Under
present ideas there may be some doubt Whe-
her the authority exists anywhere to ma
ure measures that may be so efficient and
70 widespread in their operation as the neces-
ty requires. They must be national and
hey must be strong.
The subject is one unquestionably beyond
he reach Of the States, which, we believe,
are utterly incapable Of agreement and
cooperation in their policy for regulating
intercourse amongst themselves. They can
never be efficient or harmonious in their
a tion in this respect.
The subject is one that should engage the
attention Of the statesman. The OBJECT
should be to put restrictions upon railroad
men-those real giants whose greed is terri
ble-by enforcing equality and impartiality
in all railroad service. A uniform eauge-a
rapid movement of freights and passengers
without discrimination in charges and with
out obstruction and delay in any class of
transportation at any place-these would
break the power to do wrong, and would
Danish the fears and the wonder with which
people look upon your railroad king who
now swclls and flames through the land.
That railreading will require measures
with these objects for the protection of the
people is evident to every rejecting man.
And no political blessing Of greater mag
nitude ean at this day be sent upon the peo-
pie Of the United States.
The Arkansas Case
is precisely similar to the Louisiana case