Tombstone weekly epitaph., 1882-12-09
}SfEEKLY EPITAPH.
THE ISSUE.

lhE hSSsDs
 This journal has several times ex- pressed the opinion that the next great issu, before the people would be the people vs. monopoly. But while so stating we have treated the subject with the dignity becoming it. We have not called the railroad com panles "robbers," "oormorants" or ausurers," for the simple reason that we do not believe them to be such. The railroads in Arizona are con dncted on "high pressure" prlnci- pie. They place their freight tariff on the necessaries of life as high as possible for the reason that the peo- pie demand thom, and we, as a peo- pie, insist upon our wants being sat isfed as soon as possible. Conse- quenty the people, or consumers, are in measure responsible for the high rates. For instance, you patronize the grocer .who furnishes you with the freshest aud cheapest goods. To do this he must purchase in the nearest market, and ship by the most rapid way. This forces him to ship by railroad and the railroad always wide awake, realizing the position, fixes their rates accordingly. But the people whose enterprise and indus try cause this demand rebel against uiSust diso r,mination. And this, in d nutshell, will be the. next issue: Will the people or the monopolies rule? This territory, or at least so far as the most prosperous portion is concerned, depends commercially uuon one line, and with this great trunk line in the possession of one company, what protection can the public have against any scheme it may concoct to put pthe freight rates? Does this not tend to cetraliza- tion? What protection have small dealers as against the large ones who make special rates with the railroad company? And is not one but reflex of the other-a smaller monopoly fourishing in the shadow of the other? Does not this system entirely destroy the principle of fair play and low profits? Will the pub lie consider this matter? These en- ormous monopolies are so powerful that there can be no competition small or great. They break up ol control the little establishments as well as the large ones; the shipper the butcher, the grocer, and in the end the family itself. How long car the country support such state o affairs as that? What man, if it con tinues, can Say in the course of { few years that he has any rights which the railroads-especially th' s. Pare bound to respect? Now what is the remedy? You may be [ railroad man, but we ask you to con slider that fairly and honestly anC upon tits real merits. You canno decide in minute, an hour, or ever a day. It has taken the people twenty years to even realize it, and will require more thought on you part than to play game of pedro Then, how long can there be peace to say nothing of prosperity, withop remedy? Shall it be demonstrate
 by you, I, and the people, that tn results of the late elections mean something? Are the immense ma s<isfths against bad government, an
 the utter absence of any governmen or railroad legislation, to do n |. ~sood? The voice of the people Ina been heard through the land, and should cause monopolies-all monor oliss, to ponder, for it's echo wi
 come in thunder notes, not the dall
 ance of whisper.