Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-02-15
THE TEXAS AND PACIFIC HALLWAY.

10 his great argument before the senate
Committee on Railroads he presented
the claims and the pressing necessity OF
the enterprise in a worthy aud convinc-
ing manner, meeting at the same time
the artfuI arguments Of the Central
Pacific Railroad Company" which he
characterized as the most powerful
monopoly in money and commanding
Influence on this continent, appearing
there before Congress in the hypOcrit;cdt
guise Of the Southern Pacific rail-
road" Governor Brown stated in the
most effective manner that its agents
admit the necessity Of another line by
asking the committee to report a bill au-
thorizing them to construct it Eastward,
over the thirty, second parallel, until they
form a Junction with the Texas and
Pacific. The argument wss mastery In
conception and delivery. But it seems
that after all a few men have done, the
people Of the South, most interested and
most to be benefited, are not working TO-
gether upon any general plan; they favor
it in the abstract, but not in concrete,
and that really the most efficient support
of the bill before Congress is from
other sections than the South, who favor
it as a purely national measure, aud sec
ondly as a matter Of justice to the
South. Huntington and associates are
there in force to lobby for the so-Oalled
Southern Pacific Company and to
SOW the seeds Of dissension among
the Southern members. This has
already been done to some extent
by appealing to local rivalries and petty
jealousies. Newspapers even 10 the
South and on the proposed liue Of this
great continental road are unaccountably
indifferent in some instances, and one
daily paper in Tennessee actually takes
the Huntington side Of the question.
Our members in Congress need moral
support and encouragement from home.
The localities most interested should
send able committees to Washington to
watch the progress Of the bill, confer
with friends North and South and do ell
that is honorable to secure its passage.
Its enemies are there in line and fully
organized, and unless We do something
to c~ounteract their efforts the bill may be
lost even after a favorable report
by the committee. Governor Brown says:
This is in no sense a measure of parti-
san policy; it's not in that sense 3 polit
ical question. 1t is altogether national
in its conception and in the scope Of its
influence. We do not invoke any politi-
cal party to bestride II for a political
campaign, but we do entreat men Of all
parties to rally to its support; and thus
far it has assumed nothing Of apclihcsl
or partisan hue" The principal oppo-
%sitioD, he charges, comes from the Cen.
trail Pacific, a power that has called from
the shades of private life hoary,headed
~ex.Senators and ex.R Representatives, cap
italists and adventures, which has
brought from the Pacific coast money
princes and eminent professional men,
energy, capital and astuteness, all AMI
mated by a common desire TO defeat by
means either foul or fair a measure
which, if adopted, will crush their nefa-
rious and grasping monopoly. This
Obstructive monopoly has no politics.
But it has powerful agencies OF most
convenient and plastic partisan probes.
sions who bend their powers and subor-
dinate their principles in their assigned
sphere to do the work Of their aysricioul
masters This is strong language
but the picture is not oyerdrawn.
faithfully portrsys the situation. reveal
ing the difficulties our members have Il
overcome and the dangers that beset thu
measure 10 which the South is 80 vitalll
interested. Now shat are we Of Mempbil
doing to hold Up the hands Of thos,
who stand up for the Texas and Pacific
railway bill in Congressl Whst is Ten
nsssee doing? What are the commeScia
centers, most Interested, demanding @
the country AZ che matter stands her
in Memphis the CHAMBER Of COmmerc
appointed a committee some weeks age
with full power to represent the Cham
Der, to visit Washington if deeRe
necessary, and fake such steps as Nigh
be deemed essential to promote the oil
ject in view That committee, after por
dering oyer the matter three or fou
weeks, decided to do nothing, Colon,
Casey Young, writing to Colonel ]. I
Petit, President of the Chamber Of Con
nerce, under date Of the 10th inst
says: ..-rs, INV
1t seems to me the people Of Memphi
do not appreciate the Importance Of tn
enterprise, and do not manifest that Il
terest in it which it merits and ought I
receive at their hands; aud indeed nesrl
the entire South manifest thu Same il
difference. The whole matter is bein
controlled and directed BY Norther
men and in Northern interests, Will
the different Southern regions that are t
be benefited by other Contemplate
branches are not represented at ell. 8
far as / have been able 70 learn, IN an
Of the companies or organizations tha
are seeking government aid 70 bull
these branches, and this is PARTICULAR