Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1882-12-08
REE eEMARrEN on RALLRoADs.

was given last evening by Rev. George Il.
Martin on Railroads" This general subject
Mr.. Martin treated with regard to the in
fluence of railroads on the social life of this
and the mother country, that is, as related TO
the problem of social science There are.
the speaker said, four primary and funda
mental factors in this problem, viz 1st.
the agricultural, I'd, the mechanical Sd, the
trade and 4th, the educational interests.
Railroads affect the first factor in that they.
by making possible and necessary the univer-
sal development of the different soils in the
different states, make us feel the grandeur of
truly national existence in an agricultural
way. It may be alleged that railroads are re-
sponsible for the decadence of our New Eng
land hill farming towns because they entice
young men away from the remote farms to
the centres of trade and industry built up by
the railroads, but neither these young men
nor their labor is lost to the country by such
removal, and the railroads bring to the New
England farmer many comforts and Injuries
which in former days he could by no means
enjoy. The statistics of the last census by no
means bear out the assertion that railroads
are building up the agriculture of the West at
the expense of the East. The census of 1880
shows the most productive county in the
whole country, agriculturally, to be in Penn.
sylvania, the second in New York, the third,
Worcester county, Mass, the fourth in Con
nectcut, while it is only when the fifth is
reached that the location is changed to the
West.
Railroads effect the second factor in this
problem in that they make possible diversity
and permancy of labor throughout the coun-
try, because by them the transportation of
raw material and completed product is so
quick and cheap from any one part to any
other part of the country. For this reason
they are the friend of the artisan and the la
boring man, promoting their happiness and
giving them ever widening opportunities of
usefulness and improvement. Their great
importance as a factor in paying our national
debt or mortgage, was cited as also was the
immense development Of the cotton industry
in the South under free labor since the war.
Railroads affect the third factor in the prob
lem in that they are the very inspiration of
trade by bringing about the universal dis
tributon of money. When money is plenty
trade is good and railroads not only compel
the constant circulation of money, but they
mingle the~products of each part of the coun-
try with those of every other part. A vivid
picture was drawn of the old. time country
store with its museum. like mingling of every
known thing of use under the sun, all in one,
as contrasted with the great specalties in
trade which the railroad inevitably brings
building up communities in wealth, comfort
problem the railroads affect in that, being
the child of learning, they have become one
of its chief benefactors and supporters. The
manner in which schools colleges and all iu-
situations Of learning spring up in the wake
of the railroad in every part of the country,
even the most remote was cited in proof and
illustration.
Legislation, the speaker said, should have
nothing to do with railroads except to keep
them from infringing on ones inalienable
right TO make the most of himself-to be aud
become the best possible. Since railroad
corporations are too often really the legisla.
ture in many of our states, and the making of
laws by a corporation professedly to control
and restrain itself is q farce and an anomaly,
il is to competition that we must look to see
to it that dangerous and abiding railroad mo-
nopolies do not obtain among us. The diff
ference in the conditions which exist with re-
gard to the possibility of abiding monopolies
in the comparatively small areas of the old
countries and the vast expanse of our country,
where competing lines are constantly spring.
ing up, was pointed out
Since, by the consolidation of our great
central and western lines, wheat and meat can
be put on the English market at prices which
forbid the English tenantry to pay rent the
whole social sy stem of England is in jeopardy,
the tables are turned upon that country, and
the result of four years civil conflict, viz,
the removal of the oppression of labor, has al
last reached the mother land with a warning
force.
Mr.. Martins peroration was in the follow
ing words;
And now a few words in ending. Who car
forecast the future OF this country? VINO has al
eye keen enough to penetrate the ever widening
horizon OF our brilliant national tomorrow and be
hold clearly what is I'm this promising beyond
Who has voice OF prophecy inspiring and den
nate enough to tell adequately what the years nay,
I'm store for us? Twenty-Five years ago, JONI
Brown, our first martyr for the removal OF oppres
sion ofllbor, made Kansas Il free state Twenty
five years ago Iowa was scarcely more than an in
fantin state life. Now Kansas and Iowa are prac
tcally eastern states. Journey one thousand miles
west of New York and then say to the residen
people-you are western, and they will smile a
you, saying-Travel speedily over the hills, aloni
the valleys by the river courses until YOU stand oil
the western slope Of the Rocky mountains, an'
then for the first time, with broad truth declare
am In the western part OF this vast land. In Tex
as alone Is as much territory as IN Great Brlal
and Ireland thrice told, as in all the German EN-
pre- and nearly as much as In Norway ana S"edel
together, and this enormous state Is only on
among many other great states our hnglsl
brethren boast that the royal sun never ceases It
shining upon some domain Of their noble queen
With the exception Of few hours OF darHne IS IN
cam OF the respondent wheels OF tue Day-GOd
chariot never ceases TO fash upon some portion Q
our bro9d land. The golden circle OF these sWll
wheels is complete, save a small shadOwy break
and even that is roseate with the brightness OF tn
breaking dawn and aglOw with the ilush OF settln
day vast country is indeed ours bur It's i'm
mcnse wealth from soil, mine and shops Is led fort
and thus made practical and profitable by our ran
roads.
II ten years ago you should have declared tina
one hundred and nifty million bushels OF whea
would he transported in a single season i've thous
and miles across the seas to feed the hungry q
Europe, men would have smiled at you. II IA
been done. II only twenty-five years ago yo
should have declared among commercial wise mel
The tine Will come when barrel OF nour VIII u
carried from Chicago to New York city Tor MT
cents your hearers would have called you tant
tic In trade matters. a..
from Chicago to New York. No adverse iegsii
ture can stop for any length OF time this wid'
spread and beneficial work of our railroads VINE
cOnduce so emphaticaly to the prosperity OF IN
nation, Crowns of labOrers are hooking TO OF
ports, eager to do more cheaply mat We can 40
ourselves our work for us. one hundred ana twel
ty i've thousand Of patient willing workers nav
for some years been gathering on our western nO
der as they have quietly entered through the Go
den Gate. Do not we, so truly pulssant in on
young manhood as a nation, present TO the World
shameful object lesson when we stand Ia lear o.
fore the effete supersttions of this oomparatlN
handful Of willing toilers, which nave stolen
through our back door while every month, 81 OF
wde-Open front door, we welcame ninety thou
and largely tainted with the inhdelty, nihliisIl, al
restles sness OF AN unsatisfactory social colulllOl
May It not be well for us to remember that u
although spoken to immediate disciples are Mea
for nations well. We may call these poor Chln
men poor aud nlthy-lhey are both-yet lhey a
Gods creatures, and when We turn them aWi
from our doors thus refusing Whatever Chrls u
teaching aud salvation We can render, may u u
be well Tor us to pause moment to listen 10 u
touching yet terrible rebuEe of the Lord OF Nation
"InasmuCh as ye have done 1t unto the leust
these, ye have done II unto Ne"
But to consider our greatness once more %
army is only a border polio. OF $4,000, aud yet
will suffice; for, al a mcmsuls Ill ne Whole q
iZenship Of these states may become Inc most ~
mdahle army in the world. We have freed 4iOlS
900 slaves, and raised our paper from 60 per &c
below par up To instant redemption IN gOld. Nj
we not be trusted TO deal with any question I!
years may present to us2 Already one-nalt OF i
rope Is fed by us soon we shall feed one-hat
Asia, South America and Africa Battles OF q
world are being fought with our ammunition
us hope for ultimate and abiding peace among !
nations. A great responsibility rests upon US, WI
England, the greatest Christian nation gu l
globe. Have we not been raised up by the tuler
Nations TO bless the world by sending forth the y
pei Of economy, Of peace, OF brOlhernOOd-ln
word OF our Lord and Master, Jesus Christi 7
Caesars had more than royal chance TO bless I
world; they failed, and when the Caesars fell IN
magyar fal7 XVith them Alexander had rO