The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-02-11
Correspondence.
Re asons why Our Railroad Law
Should he Retained, At Least for
the Present.

Re asons why Our Railroad Law
Should he Retained, At Least fol
the Present.
Editor nti-Monopolist:
I desire through ''the only reliable
newspaper in Minnesota to tender my
heartfelt thanks to the Hon. Freeman
Talbot, for his splendidly written eulogy
upon railroads, published in the St
Paul Press, some weeks since while al
the same time desire to say few words
regar ding the fallacy of his unjust TRADE
upon the railroad law of the last session
Of our Legislature. Every farmer in Min
nesota looks upon her railroad system
with pride and satisfaction, pointing to il
as the foundation upon which to build
the future prosperity of our noble State
realizing that without railroads the de-
velopment of the resources of the State
to their fullest extent would be impossi
bic, and that it is the duty Of the State
to extend toward them most liberal pol
icy. Hence, say, Freeman Talbot has
INV thanks for his splcndidly written eu.
logy upon this powerful agent of progress
sion and enlightenment. But when he goes
to the extreme ofpron uncing the railroad
legislation unconstitutional" and this
in the face of so many decisions sustain
ing similar laws, we think it little pre-
sumptious. And when he pronounces
it Nunjust, unwise and pow
crless to effect what its advocates
promised the people would be its bene-
fetal result" We are little surprised at
such an assertion, coming from such high
authority.
IF our memory serves us right, and we
think she does, the advocates of that law
never promised perfection. Neither did
the people expect law that would be
perfect in all its details, but they did ex-
pect law that would lay the foundation
for the establishment of a perfect law in
volving principles of vital Importance to
every inhabitant of the State, viz:
sswhcther the people or capital shall
rule" and this, that law is accomplishing
much faster, and with much less injustice
than the most sanguine of its friends had
dared to hope for. When this question
was pending before the Legislature, many
Of the people feared that the friends of
legislative control would lose sight of the
fact that railroads had become necessity
to the country and that it was not to the
interests of the people to hamper them
by vindictivo and unjust legislation. but
their fears proved groundless the rights
Of the railroads as well as those Of the
people have been protected. and so adj
mirably is it working, that while the peo-
pie are protected against encroachments
which tend to make them the victims Of
monopoly, the peculiar franchises of the
railroads are so carefully guarded that
with all their ability and tact for
dcceiving, when it is for their interest to
deceive. they have as yet failed to estab-
lish one just cause for complaint. They
have not even dared to particularize, lest
their unjust grumblings should be expos
cd and the truth known and appreciated.
But in general way, like Tilton's farce,
their plaintive wall is indeed pathetic. Or,
Like Talbot's little burst Of inspiration,
81 can see on every hand, and feel in the
thick darkness Of doubt and desp0nden-
cy, that envelopes the State, that
more than grasshoppers have smitten the
State of Minnesota" What does the
poor fellow mean! He certainly cannot
mean that the small amount Of railroad
development in the past season is attrib-
utablc to legislation; for this is but the
natural result Of causes Of prior exist
ence. The people Of this part Of the
State have long known that railroad en-
tcrprises must soon take backward turn,
a. the Legitimate fruit Of premature en-
terprises extravagantly managed. And
VIC received our information from the
railroad men themselves such men as
Governor Miller, Clark W. Thompson,
John A. Willard, and even Eastern capt.
talists and philanthropists, who came
among us for the laudable purpose Of en-
Tightening the natives and giving them
An opportunity to vote bonuses.
They told us, and told the truth, that
railroad building was very much like an
epidemic, that when capital commenced
to Gov that way. it followed that chan
ne, IS naturally as water runs down hill.
until the country became, so to speak.
over-stocked with railroads. and the legi-
innate business at reasonable tariffs would
not support the roads; when reaction
was sure to take place, and thoscenter-
priscs langu.sh," and that sunless We
succeeded in securing our road while the
opportunity offered we would have to
wait many years before the epidemic
would again sweep the land" And nov
when their prophesy is being fulfilled il
: really little amusing to see them try
"a make little cheap capital BY cryina
~.avcrsc legislation" contradictinx Their