The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-08-20
Subsidies.

Subsidies.
The New York Times is exceedingly &C
tive now in watching for "SubSidy-hunt-
crs.' So are all the New York papers.
The Times says it is satisfactory to know
where 10 look for them.
Yes. havin. assisted these fellows to get
into the Treasury not only to build the Cen
trail Pacific railway, but TO Swindle the Gov
eminent and the widows and orphans out
OF millions, to construct the Northern Pa
cific, which was pushed to Dakotah Terri
tory and there stopped, the Times and
its city contemporaries are exceedingly
vigi,ant and determined that there shall be
no more subsidies. They know that
the North has the Central Pacific from the
Atlantic to the Pacific, and that through the
JAY COOKE ring the North has plundered
the Federal Treasury to build the Northern
Pacific: and they know that the southern
part Of the Union has no transcoptinental
road, and they seek to prevent the giving
anv Federal aid to the building OF any
southern line. They are selfish. They are
opposed to the equal distribution OF favorS
BY the Federal Government. They are self
ishly sectional.
The Times affects TO have just discovered
the "subsidy- meaning the pc
titioncrs for aid to the TcXasPacitic railroad
blythe enforcement Of the terms OF the char
ter Of that railroad. This is indeed afecta-
ton. 1t has aSsaled this Texas-Pacitic
enterprise Tor years. That journal and its
local contemporaries have always been in
antagonism to the southern transcont-
mental line Justice demands that road in
order that the impartial aid OF the Federal
Government may be distributed alike to the
North and the South
In showing this selfishness and injustice
they oppose that transcontinental line that.
from its easy grades and long curves, Is the
superior route between two oceans, and
therefore supcreminently the most adYan.
tageous for the whole nation. 1t is most
beneficial for its curves and grades, and,
above all, for its freedom from obstructive
frosts, which on the Central-Pacific route
both retard commerce and imperil life for
months in every year.
These journals know this; but they re-
fleet the jealousy and narTow-mindedness
OF the communities that support them and
want no more transcoutinental routes. That
which is built from the North will do. No
more subsidies must be allowed. They have
Ssupped full OF subsidies, and want no
more! They know where subsidy-huntcrs
come from! They were not so vlgllant
when the subsidy hunters were their own
people. This opposition from New York
and other northern cities is impudent andun-
reasonable. They are governed by jealousy,
and scruple not to be Unjust. But we can
not believe that such marked partially rs
would be involved in the refusal OF assist
ance to the Texas.Pacific railway will be
exhibited. The Government could not
justify itself for such gross partially. Nor
can it justify itself for refusing to help the
southern line as national work. The
Texas-Pacific is the best line for its grades
and curves and freedom from frosts; and
the transcontinental commerce OF the ma
ton is so important that the best route for
its transportation must be had.
The nation will understand these reasons
too well to permit the sectional jealousy Of
New York and other communities to OBJ
struct the completion Of the Texas-Pacite
line. The opposition that comes from these
towns will not be respected 1t will be said
that if they had too much virtue to approve
subsidies they should have spoken earlier.
After getting so much from the Treasury to
help out the northern roads it is now in
credible that they are sincere in seeking to
put stop to subsidies. The enterprise
will triumph with or without their help.
But they should have consistency and honor
enough to be fair towards the South, and
do what they may to approve fair division
OF the Government aid TO the transconti-
mental lines North and South.