Morning appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1877-1906, 1879-07-24
JULY rs, IS1G
THE AGGRESSIVENESS OF RAILROAD
POLITICS.

to believe that corporations which derive their
existence from generous people are by the
very fact of their existence beyond the con
troll or ken Of that same people, Is not only
false to his own right reason, but betrays the
liberties of his fellows. 1t is a matter within
the experience of many observers that the
people are always 81 intelligent and alive to
their own interests when taxation and bur
dens are assumed by communities for the help
of railroad enterprise, but the impenetrability
of Egyptian night enshrouds the ordinary init
lect where the reel prOcal rights and benefits
which ought to enure to the common veal
are demanded. Ii there be anything which
strongly advocates the extension OF the vast
railroad system that gridirons the Union, 1t Is
the argument that railroads are consistent
with and necessary to the highest develop
ment of modern civilization, and are sure III
the course of business to foster at the same
time the best interests of every class. 1t
seems to Us that the same experience that in
duces the people to encourage railroads Is a
reliable criterion through which to determine
IN any given locality whether the actual
operation of a railroad is or is not conform
able to the interests OF the masses. The great
prominence given to statistics which usually
eminate from some pretentious railroad de-
ps,tment seems to mslead rather than to
properly direct popular opinion as to its own
right and legitimate influence. Legislatures
and political parties told that the business
:. T Il l. L
which forbids inquiry by ordinary minds
that the mystery, III other words, is 50
profound that he is sacriiglous who attempts
to peer beyond the vail, and that the figures
which eminate from a railroad office must be
taken as the vehicle of profound, incOmpre-
bensible but binding truth The common
performances arithmetical are as absolutely |
inhibited to mOrtals upon the inspection of
railroad ledgers and accounts, as is lay inter
probation of the Holy Scripture by the Pope
Of Rome. In fact no authenticated version of |
the railroad gospel is allowed to the common
people, save as a concession to the heat OF !
popular clamor or the casual spasm of legisla-
tive demand. The reluctance of railroad
where perchance such are shown,
relieves the oppressed people from further at
tention to them, and throws the weighty pre-
sumption of intended deception against the
railroaders themselves. The APPEAL does not
hesitate to say that if railroad companies de-
sire or deserve further confidence from the
people, theirs is the burden of showing alb
sOlute good faith toward the people who have
endowed them with extensive and sacred
trusts. The right to pursue the avOcation of
the great transportation incident to the more
advanced stage of human civilization involves
he reciprocal duty which the people will in
lue time enforce OF the serving of the highest
interests of the many instead of forging the s
,hains of oppression. i
1t may be broadly said that the American t
,eople are intelligent enough to discover, in q
he long run, when they are benefited or in
ured by railroads Their verdict in this re- .
ard is as safe criterion as all the railroad c
gures that ever graced bookkeeper's pages.
statistical deception may, for the time being,
nduce willing and honest minds to redouble n
heir payment of taxes, but the time will t
urely come when the despair that comes e
rom exhaustion will just as honestly inquire c.
neither figures cannot be made to lie, and a
neither our modern life is not paying too W
early for the exhibition of moving train of h
ars. That inquiry has already made itself
card above the scream of the steam whistle,
I'D in due time that efficient instrument Of ~
xpression will yell forth the Importance of "
aggregated capital in moderated and respect
Il tones. VI
Meanwhile the struggle for paramount as &c
sndency in human affairs by railroad corpor- y
ions, will 60 on until the people so combine
selfdefense to teach them their proper -,
lace as the servants, not the masters. The ~
eople are to be trusted to day as well to pro- ~.
et they were heretofore to contribute the Il
oney and property which built the railroad bs
stems which bind the continent together
Railroad policy is ever active and sleepless
political affairs. The doctrine taught every tn
y is that the rights of the pretentious own tn
8 of these vast properties is of such practi- ab
importance as not to be named the same Il
y with, or to be compared with the rights wi
d demands of the people. Political parties,
lerever possible. are captured by means of
ah confrol no oon bo ,oaipfoIOod oyar tho L /