New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-08-23
TR1NSPORT1TIO md POLITICS,

SioM VI puDilC UcCuS OT puDllC COHNiCiiOlS
of duty. The attempt to build up a party on
the question of transportation, though made
many times, and in some States with great sim
cerity of purpose, has nowhere attained more
than a temporary and empty success. That
has been enough, it is true, for the small
demagogues who have been lifted from obscur-
ity. But it does not satisfy those who think
that there are highly important legislative
changes, in respect to the question of transport
tation, which ought to be made in order to
protect the public interest. If nothing of
practical value gets done, it is small encourage
ment to the sincere advocate of reform
that he has managed to elect to office new
demagogue or dullard instead of an old one
Naturally, the sincere man asks with some vex-
ati0n why 1t is that his new party, to his think
ing so praiseworthy, utterly refuses to bear
fruit. The conference held last week at Utica
was attended by some earnest and we'll
meaning gentlemen, no doubt, who cannot
understand why all the people do not
rush forward to hail them as deliv-
erers. They see that nine-tenths of the voters
turn from the subject and the organization
with indifference, but they feed their self
esteem with the idea that the people are
ignorant of their real interests. They see that
ant1-monopoly organizations of various names
have appeared and vanished from earth in
many different States, without leaving behind
a single fragment of useful legislation or prac-
teal reform. But they please themselves with
the notion that they, nevertheless, are going
to do wonders. The number of wcll-meaning
men who have these notions would be much
smaller, no doubt, if there were not certain
cheap demagogues whose personal interest it
is to bring about some political stir at once,
whether it has any practical result or not.
The anti-monopoly agitators can soon
satisfy themselves, if they wish, why it is
that all their efforts fail. If new political
arrangement cannot appeal to public convic-
tons of duty, il must appeal to an appreciative
sense of the public interest. The question of
transportation makes no appeal at any point
to deeprooted convictions of duty The pub
lie refuses to perceive that it has any
real interest to serve by the prac-
teal measures thus far offered. If any
candid man wishes to satisfy himself
on that point, he has only to go among his
neighbors in almost any part of the State, and
to talk with them privately on the subject,
noting carefully how many feel disposed to
make opposition to present methods of rail
road management the paramount aim of political
action. There are a few localities in the
portion of the voters so disposed. In nearly
all quarters candid and careful inquirer will
find that the persons who are so disposed form
an insignificant part of the voting population.
But the " anti-monopOist" claims that the
voters of his opinion, though not majority.
hold balance of power, and thus can force
their ideas upon one or both of the political
parties Has anybody ever seen q real reform
promoted in that way? Bear in mind that in
our Government the majority has a right to
rule. 1t is assumed, and in this case it is GER
tainly true, that the majority have different
opinions from those who claim to hold the
balance of power, either as to the merits of
the question, or as to its relative i'm
pOrtance, or as to the methods which
ought to be adopted in order to remove
existing evils. The opinion of the
majority ought to prevail, and in the end it
does prevail. The attempt of a minority to
force its notions upon the majority by WELD
ing balance of power ought to fail, and as
a matter of fact it does fail, in every State
where it is tried. Parties profess more or less
approval of the ideas of the minority, but dis
sent entirely when it comes to the framing of
practical measures. Candidates are put I'D
who are satisfactory to the "balance of
power" people; in some cases they are shall
low demagogues, who care for nothing except
to get place; in other cases they are chean
knaves, who only want an opportunity to sell
out; more frequently they are well-meaning
men who want to please their constituents,
and who take care to please the majority in
stead of the minority as to all practical
measures. Is that strange? Is it not strictly
in accordance with the fundamental law of
free institutions?
Reforms never come until the people really
and earnestly demand them. They never
come in any desirable or useful shape, and never
come to stay, merely because minority holds a
balance of power, and applies a moral thumb
screw to candidates. Men who are elected i'm
that fashion do not do what the minority ex-
poets OF them once i'll thousand times The
people who believe that a real and important
reform in respect to transportation can be ac-
complished by legislation, in proportion rs
they are sincere and earnest, will be eager to
educate public opinion but anxious mot
to elect shallow demagogues to Office. The
controlling fact OF to-day is that the
people are not yet convinced that the be-
cuiar measures proposed by the "ant-
monopoists" are wise or necessary. Pools
and combinations do not seem to the people
to have done them any harm. Certain
it is that the lowest freight rates ever known
have come in consequence of railway combina-
ton, and the majority Of the people do not see
that the lowest rates arc not the best rates for
the public interest. They do not yet believe
that restrictive legislation can accomplish more
Tor the public interest, on the whole, than will
DO accomplished by the free operation of