Morning appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1877-1906, 1879-03-07
THE RAILROADS TRIUMPHANT.

days of legislative action just ended, may be
enabled to present in it's true light the Phil
osophy of the recent agitation upon the sub
iect of railways and their relation to the State
and the people But such task is one for
which we are neither adapted nor prepared.
1t should be handled by some one other than
partisan or participant. The field should
be viewed by an impartial witness. All that
we may do is to review some of the facts
We believe that it is generally admitted
that when the Legislature met in January last,
the disposition of the House of Assembly, at
least, was to enact Law whereby the rail
roads doing business in this State should be
restricted in their charges and restrained in
their injurious practices upon the people. To
be sure, this purpose op disposition had not
assumed any tangible shape; and it is also to
be admitted that the measure of popular in
formation upon the subject was lamentably
lneagre. But the disposition was there; and
every man was conscious of being under a
pledge to lend his aid and vote toward the per
lection of law to regulate freights and
fares"
The Senate, meantime, better known through
its old memberships was looked upon as less
in sympathy with the people and its organi-
zation betrayed unmistakable leaning to
the railroad side of the coming struggle.
This, in brief, was the situation when the
issue was preached The railroad companies
were on the defensive. They were at once
critics of all bills directed against them and
possessors of the vantage ground which always
belongs to the party whose position is to be
assailed They asked no legislation; they
had vast interest to struggle for; they were
powerfully reinforced by capital; they could
and did command the services of skilled and
experienced solicitors and agents; they pos
sessed themselves of the entire looOy; they
were adroit in promoting delays they opposed
secret manipulations to open assault; they
found the Legislature prey to conflicting
opinions and diversity of purpose, and added
confusion to uncertainty of method; they
battered some, seduced others, brlbed not
lew and demoralized body Of men who had
10 more tangible inducernent to try and full
Till their pledges than loosely held desire to
merit the applause of their neighbors and
constituents.
All this while, other corporations and in
terests, powerful and opulent, albeit some of
them were circumstanced as TO be profitably
affected by reduced rates of freight charges,
held aloof from the struggle-pooling their
fears of the people with the corporations who
were bearing the brunt of popular assault
So the people stood unaided, save by the force
of popular opinion as presented, here and
there by the daily press, and at different
points by public meetings. Save as they were
briefly seconded by some newspaper efforts, |
by the Virginia City Committee of Twenty |
Three, and by such petitions as reached them
from time to time, the earnest railway re-
formers in and out of the Legislature were
entirely without any aid or alliance with which
TO combat the powerful and vlgilant lobby
sustained in the interest of the roads.
And so the day has been lost. The railroad
force is exultant and flushed with victory.
Their triumphant banners float over almost
every point where assault has been directed
They are strong and defiant even to show
of aggressiveness
The shock of defeat has been felt-dis-
heartening many, causing some assertions
and revealing the weak places in our lines
But we have gained-gained immensely We
have learned whom to trust; we have been
taught great deal of needed knowledge; we
have begun a crusade which must bring the
desired results in time; We are prepared for
the struggles which are to come in the future.
This much has been gained Our force will
go into the fight two years hence better dis
ciplined, better informed, with more unity of
purpose and action and with a representation
In the Legislature-so far as it goes-that can
be depended on. Henceforth, as a rule, when
men are sent to the Legislature under pledge
to stand by the people in this railway war,
they will abide by the cause for whose further
snce they have been selected And so we
ahall gain and not lose, as the time grows
older. They who come afresh to the Legis-
lature two years hence will come either as ,
railroad men or antirailroad men. They who G
are false, in the future, will be vastly fewer
In COMPARISON than now The revolution he's I
taken root; it will not die; it viii gather force
unto the end lie