National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1876-03-22
A CHARITABLE VIEW.

Instrumentation is not the best of drgu-
ments, but it is at times the only one left.
When every good reason to do certain
specified act is grouped upon one side,
when truth, justice, aud policy al require
that thing should be done, those who op-
pose its doings can only resort to misreprc-
sentation. Every man who has seriously
considered the subject, knows that the in
terests of the Government and the people
of every section of this great country de-
mand the speedy completion of new line
of railway across the continent. 1t is well
known, too, that unless this line is totally
independent of the existing one, the objects
Of its construction would not be attsined.
What is needed is not only new line of
railway, but competing line; one that will
reduce the rates of traffic; that would place
the prices of travel and freight within rea-
sonable limits, and would by so doing at
tract both. Every effort to secure such
line is met by the fiercest opposition from
two very diverse sources.
1t is an admitted fact that no road can be
built across the continent without some
kind of aid from the National Government.
Some honestly oppose the granting of this
aid because they do not believe the Ma
tional Government has the power or right
to give it. We accord honesty to such
opposition, but think those who make it
are grievously mistaken in their views.
Others oppose the granting of any aid now
because of the magnitude of our debt and
the depression of all branches of business.
Many who do this are honest in so doing,
but have not considered the question SUI
ficiently to see that proper aid to such
work would do more than anything else
to revive business of all kinds. There is
another opposition, it can hardly be said
to come from class, for that would imply
that there were numbers of people in it.
This opposition is the most brazen impu.
dence that can be conceived Of 1t comes
from parties who hold the monopoly across
the continent; monopoly built up by
the Government, and which aid these same
parties are now trying to swindle the Gov
eminent out Of They come before Con-
gress and the people and declaim against
granting subsidies, when they haye been
the recipients of the most magnificent one
ever granted. They assume to be magnani-
nous, patriotic and.lovers of the people,
whom they do not desire to see taxed, and
propose to build the road out OF their ouB
money, ignoring the fact that this money
of which they boast belongs to the Govern
ment and the people, who ara unjustly de-
prlved of it by these very monopolists.
OF course, this money power finds advo-
Gates, not only among private individuals,
but with the press. 1t is an unfortunate
fact, but an undeniable one, that money
can always comm,pd the services of por-
ton of the press. We do not pretend to
say that in every instance direct brides are
paid to newspapers to secure their adyo-
cacy of measures which they may not ap-
prove, but the power of money makes itself
felt in various ways. This is very appa-
rent when we read the attacks made upon
the Texas and Pacific bill, now before Con-
gress, and the defenses of the Southern
Pacific, also before that body. $
1t is the part of charity to say of those
who advocate the Southern Pacific whit
was once said of others, Forgive them,
they know not what they dos for not to
suppose ignorance woald be to accuse OF
infideiity to public truss. Every well in
formed person knows perfectly well that
the Southern Pacific scheme is but an Off
shoot of the Union and Central Pacific. aud
that should IL succeed all opportunity to
have competition across the continent