New-York tribune., 1877-08-04
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
PLAIN WORDS FOR THE RAILROADS.
NOW THEY HAVE BEEN To BLAME FOR THE RECENT
TROUBLES.


NOW THEY HAVE BEEN To BLAME FOR THE RECENT
TROUBLES.
70 the EDITOR Of The Tribune
SIN: Mr.. Beecher has had his say. and said
some very good things the wornsmen of the country
surng the late labor strike and il is Wei for every one
20 Try and calm the ruicd o' discomfort rs much as
possble: but sad thing to hear this mournim
outcry from OF the country the other OF power
~ want and uurcquited toll The workngmen uttered
aeeat truth the other day when they said that they we're
always oounsoled "to let the natural law Of supply ana
demand regulate the value OF labor, but capital always
finds ready aud willing instruments when>it gets INTO
pinch 10 legi,ate it out Of the difficulty by other tnah
natural causes" Lit consider the jobbery ana cor
ruption which have been going on IN our stare ana
National ccslatures-thc land grabs and salary grams
for the PAST fifteen years. and deny the 'a'ement
n We can Now # will not do talk 10 workinglnen any
longer about obeyiug natural laws, while scnemns anu
wcal nv monopoliss besiccins our legislative mans
fofen with brhcs in their hands, to OBTAIN power ""u
reros which the masses Of the people do not ENJOY
Tine fact is we have been cursed with too much slec
legislation and got 10 retrace our steps ana uuo
all this wrong before we shall prosperity ora content
ed people. -,..... ,-ono
Take the railroads for instance Their charters were
nrst granted for the purpose OF conveying lre ana
pasepgcrs from point 20 point but for the past twenty
wears they have usurping other branches o. ouS
moss which Of right belong the people IN their hoi'u
mai capacltv and by steady encroachment nave nn'y
obtained I'm their corporate capacity almost the che
control OF all the anthracite coal fields IN the couhI!
are manufacturing nearly all the railroad ron passenger
cars locomotives. keeping nearly all the uoe's "o"s
our great thorouchares and in many other ways drying
private EN- erprse TO the wall Now if any one supposes
that the peopc country are going t0qey see al
their individual industries drift into the hands Of monop
oes and corporations. he had better get rd Oh tue ue
sion al once is contrary to the genius OF our hsu
tutions dangerous liberties, and destructive OF
the inai,nab right of every individual in free coun
tr Ia fair and equal opportunity to benefit his oond
ton secure livelihood, acquire wealth This state
of things began TO take shape at the outbreak OF the war
Of the rebellion When the Secretary OF War began to
speculate in contracts for supplies for the army from
that dav TO this the Of fraud pecuaon ana job
berry has gone forward Huge corporations have sprung
M an over the country and the halls of legislation have
been bfJued by the presence OF lobby WORKING III Ue
interest endeavoring every possible to wrench
from masses The people hecontro of the industries
OF the country pervertug the functions Of government
to the and for the benefit of incorporated capM
against the labor OF the country in individual hands
And TODAY what do we the result of this class eg-
Iroui Let Mr. Vanderbilt OF the NcWNOrk Central, Mr
Sloan Of the Delaware, Lackawanna and western, MI
Scott Of the Pennsylvania Central and branches ana
about half "a dozen otLer managers say the word ana
down 70 the wages not only OF tn' engineers nIemth
and brskemen, but OF the coal miners 3ud IRON soI
as we'll together with every Kindred industry dependent
thereon. DO you does Mr. Beecher undertake 10 te
the "orSinEmen OF TINS country tha tls Is te result o
natural causcsf tell you nay Is 10 not r"teS the re-
suit of years Of corrupt aud partial legislation I'D IaN0 OF
these giant monopolts WAch nave assumed tue con1Loi
OF Industries which tie people never intended FOR them
aud have placed the individual interests Of the people al
great DISADVANTAGE In the contest for existence rs
AGAINST these concentrated and powerful combinations
Nov If the foregoing statement is true the next thing
IS 20 point the remedy, which VIII undertake. very
briefly Co do. as view 10, IWst-Let the commercial
classes wolkusmeu, ana an VINO LNor "a IiII auu
equitable dlus.ncnt OF our PIes,It 1vlil,S Unlto G
grer aud demand that mo- more dividends ne dec aicd
on Watrcd socE- aud that railroad corporations DE re-
handed To- their original position simple carriers OF
frII IuI -
hOta.bteuu-, ttc., where tLeN properly belong, IN thc
hand, of the ueope. Sec1Hd-Decaye that all charters
granted 10 corporations for specific purposes shall DE
Strictly adhered and where any attempt Is made %
usp power not granted. su"n charter aud a the pv-
ce, growing ont of them snail pe forfeited % Lc state
or General Government. Wiyd-Lct The ucOp.c set ther
faces aS nt against further land grants, subsidies
on favor, 90 corporations AID them in their business.
tay not properly granted TO individuals ID their
business associations. Doubtless many other remedies
will suggest themselves TO the people before this conflict
dom Tor corporations looD1 lSts' ana am ohe4s Wuo are
king special flNUr- 10y Legislation. o. Keep lu the
background for some more tN'rauie opportunity tlau
tire present for enc people are LOT to oe any
llufr bv the cry of "uatuIa causes " which control
and govern Labor. and leave capital aud greed To-
dominate our halls of legislation, seeking by corrupt
ANS o rob the people of their just ana r share Of
the benefits growing ont Of our Governmental policy,
DESTROYING mat principle of equality which should
which. 10 maintained, Wll soon make the mOurliW
c0upet of the English poet as applicable TO tne condition
D. the people u tuis country as DO vas n IBIS own:
'' I'M fares The land, 90 fastening us prey,
Where weh. .h accumulatos and men decay"
Now q word with tIc preacher, IN tuls country. You
do vel 20 counsel peace ana 10 set before the aoouug
classes their duties when sorely pressed with want and
poverty, but don't fan % Doe equally frank and earnest in
your advice and rcpIOofs % these railway kings aud coal
"whose zen thousand slaves
duties public teachers NIu he better done.
and word now ana tneu against partial aud unequal
legislation Will DO no harm Very respectfully
\ l0Ti, Aug. ti, ISL. LANCET.