The National tribune., 1879-10-01
The Heart of the Nation.

the enjoyment of all the blessings vouchsafed by
a generous Providence and the enlightened states
man. whose life is devoted to the best interests of
his country often must mentally dwell with peculiar
pleasure upon that glorious land drained by the
Father of waters Here America is seated. All
other portions of her domains are but as the fringes
of her garments. Here live the men, who best ex-
emplify intheir lives the type of free citizens. This
is shown in the laws enacted by their legislators
Here rings and iuntos, possessing unscrupulous
wealth fail to control the representatives of the peo
pie Here no special classes override the popular
will Here the legislation is more Immediately sub
ect to the control of the eecor aud any derection
from the path of duty subjects said legislator to the
punishment of private life thereafter As an in
stance of the faithfuness of Western legislators to
the interest of the people striking illustration oc-
ours to us. Many years since the United States
granted to the State of Illinois tract of her pub
lie lands for the and benefit of railroad to ex-
tend from Chicago to Cairo. Six miles each side
of said road given, the United States reserv-
ing every alternate section of land These lands
were subsequently granted to corporation called
the Illinois Central Railroad the State requiring in
said grant that the company should pay six per cent.
of its gross earnings the State for the support of
common schools Years rolled by--the railroad
built and became and is now one of the wealth
lest and most powerful corporations in the country.
Then it beseged the Legislature for relief from the
tax All the means which alas, most generally pre-
vail to control Legislators by corporations Were used
but the Legislature has ever stood firm in maintain
ing that the tax should never be released. In the
recently adopted constitution of the State is inserted
provision that the Legislature shall never be com
petent to exempt the company from this tax Thus
is guaranteed forever immense income for the
benefit of the children of the great commonwealth
of Illinois. We fancy there are Legislators of East
ern States who would not thus have stood for the
rights of their constituents when mercenarv ends
were used without stint to corrupt them We cite
this example to show that these are the class OF mer
to whom the rights of the people may ever be safely
entrusted The Eastern States, especially its grea
marts of commerce, ever in communication with the
6 efete monarches of the old world affected in de
i gree by American snobs and swells and constantly
: losing sight of the interests of the masses wher,
those of capitalists are concerned NAV degenerate il
her love for liberty while the South irrated at th
overthrow of its attempted secession from the Union
e may forget her early attachment American insti
e tutons but the Great West will ere long be abun
dainty strong enough to say to these sections .W
: command this citadel and are determined to crus
y all too cowardly to defend too reasonably read
e to surrender it." And she can, with perfect ease
soon hold other sections of the Union subject to he
: behests. But few decades will pass ere she vii
have vast preponderance in our National councils
Ere long she will be the home of 100 600 900 free
men Not to mention other States, Kansas and Ne
braska can each readily maintain more than 10000
600 agriculturaists besides the people congregate
re in their cities and towns Her lands overfowin
Et with the blessed fruits of earth will bring abundan
r cheer and happiness to her people Upon iro
re pathways and over inland seas her vast commerc
Dr. shall travel and, if needs be- she feed the fan
n ishing millions of other lands Soldiers of the Yves
"a You who bravely fought preserve thus early il
es history this Temple of Liberty yours is oIoriou