Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1875-01-21
THE MESSAGE.
Continued from Fourth Page.

legislative legerdemain to forestal or
subvert public opinion. They have
coined no mammoth fortunes for prop
erty that fails to pay interest upon it.
| self. Ihey nave encouraged no APP
portionment of lands to the landless,
except as they have approved free and
frequent donations of the common do
man, or mortgaged the homes of their
| wives and children, that they might
| enhance the hard earned wages of
their daily labor and contribute to the
general welfare of the state. They
have encouraged no colossal associa-
tons of monied power, or organized
concentration of influence, within or
without the forms of law, not indulg-
ed in by all entelligent men, for the
promotion of their own and the com.
mon good. But if in any of these
things they have indeed offended,
they will look elsewhere for warning
and for judgement, than to those whose
eloquence is too often the purchased
product of the transgressions they
condemn.
The agricultural classes are not, and
cannot be, the enemies of honestly
managed railroads. On the contrary
tn If natural relation TO all honorable
undertakings of this kind is that of
patrons, allies and friends. This rela
ton they will endeavor to maintain.
In demanding the upright manage
ment OF railways by law, they aspire
to no exercise of public influence not
justified by their numbers, their intel
lIgence, the dignity of their calling,
and the vast interest they have at
stake Limited in their mutual inter-
course by the stern necessities Of their
occupation, and moved by no ambi
ton but that of promoting the general
welfare, they are not likely to conspire
against the principles of public justice
or consciously to subvert the progress
of enterprises which contribute SO
largely to the prosperity of all. 1.-THE
grave charges SO sedulously circulat.
ed, duplicating the good faith OF our
state towards invested capital, have
truly impaired the credit Of our cor
porations, and their ability to com
plete or to extend their lines, they
alone are responsible who should have
been prompt to defend the interests
they represent, by indicating the
honor of our people. But facts that
are incontroyertihle, prove that capital
itself has failed to share largely in the
alarm thus zealously and wantonly
engendered. The year has been no.
ted for financial conservatism. In all
things, and everywhere, prices have
gravitated to lower level. Business
and business men have not escaped
the reverses of labor and laboring men.
Production has been restrained. Elk
changes have been limited. All the
avenues of trade bear abundant eyi
dence of the reaction that inevitably
succeeds an era of carless govern
ment, speculative thrift, and luxurious
expenditure. Railway enterprise with
in and without the state has shared
the common fortune.
The whole number of miles of rail
road constructed in the United States
during the year 1872 was 1865. The
number Of miles constructed in 1873
was 5000, or about one.half the mum
Der constructed in 1872. The num-
Der of miles constructed in 1874 was
sos, or barely one half the number
constructed in 1873. The number OF
miles of road constructed in WiscOn-
sin during the same period has been
more than the average for the other
states, proving that the causes of de
cline in this department of public i'm
proyement are general, and possess nc
special relation to the structure Of
our constitution, the character oil
our legislation.
just how to deveIope our immense
resources to their fullest extent--t to
best promote the great and varied in
dustries of our state-and at the same
time to mete out equal and exact JUS
tice to all our citizens, is a problem
which yet remains unsolved.
In the consideration of questions
for the development of the physical
energies of our state, we are reminded
of the fact that the railway system oil
transportation is comparatively now.
The roads of to-day are not those OF
yesterday, and the possibilities of the
. future are far beyond the reach OF
present estimate. The noblest intel
ects of modern times, as yet, have
failed to accomplish such complete
results as to arrest the tireless spirit
Of progress or forbid the probability
Of more wonderous achievements in
time to come. Apparently the rail
ways now constructed are but the
main lines of complicated system of
artificial highways, ultimately to en-
rich and utilize the remotest territory
inhabited by man. The six feet
gauge has disappeared. The advan-
tageS of speed now contest the merits
of weight and strength. To-day the
great and complex question apparent
ly uppermost in the minds of en-
gineers, is how 10 multiply the number
and length of lines by reducing weight,
speed, and cost. Narrower gauge,
less expensive grades, lighter equip
ment, and more miles of road are the
promised fruit of present inquiry and
experiment, the final results OF which
we can only hopefully await.
Railway Legislation, like railway
construction, must progress toward
perfection by slow degrees. The al
most perfect law for common carriers
was the product of ages. But in
controlling railroads by law, we are
confronted by new conditions and
are advancing upon comparatively
new and untried ground. Our nro.
gress, though nnhesitating, should
nevertheless be duly guarded and
restrained Our people have declar-
ed that they will not endure misman-
agement or extortion. But in de.
manding justice for ourselves, let US
be doubly sure that we do no injus-
tice to others. The power OF redress
hereafter remains continuously and