The patron of husbandry., 1881-06-25
Alarming Growth and Power OF
Railway Corporations.

Worthy Master Eshbaugh, in a
late letter to the ST Louis Journal
Of Agriculture, points out very for
cibly and clearly the steady and
dangerous growth in power and in
fiuence of the railway companies
We print the following paragraphs
from the letter.
Corporations have quite recently
scored one in their favor. They
sought to have railroad lawyer
promoted to seat on the bench of
the Supreme Court of the United
States, the highest judicial tribunal
IN the government. In the early
days of our government, the office
of Justice of the Supreme Court
was not considered political posi-
ton. A man favored with the then
honored question, became nom par
tisan in politics, and impartial in
deciding and dealing out justice
upon the merits of the case But
under the present state of affairs,
when moneyed corporations con-
troll political parties. legislation and
the affairs of governmcnt they
make the position political and par
tisan, so as to make it subservient
to their selfish interests, however
corrupt and damnable these may
be. These corruptions, during the
~ past winter, have controlled legisla-
ton in a number of the States, and
succeeded in electing from these
States to the United States Senate,
men who are and will be controlled
by these soulless corporations,
whose bidding they are bound to
respect and whose behests they are
ever willing to obey. These tools
in high places consider the man
dates of these corporations para
mount to everything. Even their
oath of office sinks beneath the
mandatory order of their political
masters. In this way these combi-
nations are polluting the highest
legislative power in the government.
seeking to convert it into a selfish
pool for mercenary purposes. Not
satisfied with this they are at work
to get the Supreme Court of the
United States seated with men
they own and can control at will,
so that any and every case between
the people and these corporations
brought before the Supreme Court,
is always to be decided, not upon
its merits, but as may be agreeable
to those corporations who have
secured for them the positions they
occupy.
Is this not alarming? Is it not
disgraceful in the eyes of all who
pretend to respect free institutions,
and to uphold just government?
1t is believed that several of the
present occupants of this high tri-
bunal owe their positions to mon
eyed corporations, and to increase
the number, railroad corporations
have secured the appointment of
Stanley Matthews, one of their en-
ployed attorneys, to a position on
the bench. A powerful effort was
made'to defeat his conformation in
the Senate. The committee to
whom the nomination was referred
with a single exception, reported
adversely. Yet with all the efforts
to defeat him, the Senate confirmed
the appointment of a railroad law
yer to the Supreme Court of the
United States, which is to decide
cases that may arise between the
people and the railroads. 1t re-
quires no prophet to foretell what
the decisions of such men will be
; Thus little by little, is passing away
the liberties of the American peo-
pie, sc dearly bought by the blood
of our fathers and once SO cherished
by us.
And yet. with these things star.
ing us in the face day by day, we
are told that the farmers, and espe
cially Patrons of Husbandry, should
not meddle with politics. Away
with such trash! It is the advice
of the power that oppresses and
seeks to destroy justice, right and
freedom, and, through blind parti.
sanism purposes to mislead the peo.
pie, and of deceiving honest voters
Brother farmers. is it possible thai
you can remain idly looking or
with such facts daily before you
when your aid and influence i,
much needed in the Grange, tc
save for our children an inheritance
free and independent? Well might
you rise from your lethargy and
cry: How long, o Lord, how long
shall these things be? The political
press is so tame concerning this
question, that the conductors have
no word of encouragement for the
farmers, nor any word of censure
against the outrage.