News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1883-09-13
A Goverannent Telegraph.

On the face OF things, the tele
graph companies won a victory in the
late contests with the telegraphists.
1t was, we believe, some such victory
as the British won at Bunker llill-a
victory in which Englands cooler
heads saw final defeat. The combat
ants. in their equipment for the fight,
to compare small things with great,
were hardly more unevenIy matched
in the strike than in the battle. Pluck
and ardor are as unavailing against
the Western Unions millions OF cap
ital as against the red coats untmIng
supply of ammunition. Agitation,
howgytr. has not ended with the re-
turn Of the operators to their keys.
The strike has succeeded in awaken
inc public attention and in directing
it to the question of the expectancy
Of the assumption of the business of
telegraphing by the government. 1t
has accomplished this work with an
effectiveness beyond the ability OF the
most persuasive congressional or gov
eminent advocate. 1t has done 1t be-
yond the power of telegraphlc looOy
to hinder OF prevent. The battle OF
Bunker Hill, despite the defeat OF the
s.rebels,'' sealed the fate of Great
Britain's American colonial possess
sions. and so will the strike, despite
the defeat of the strikers, in the wide
snread advertisement of the great
wrong perpetrated upon the public IN
the way of exhOrbitant charges to
nav GREAT official salaries, and large
dividends on Natered stock, seal the
fate of the Geographic companies in
this country. The public press, with
only here and there a dissenting voice,
comes out strongly for a government
TELEGRAPH. A project which has hjth-
ertO been viewed Wien susplC4uu as
the visionary scheme of an impractl-
cable cabinet officer, or the whim OF an
aspiring Senator or Representative, Is
now, in large degree, the effect OF
the developments of the recent strike,
considered 4 national right and pub
| lie necessity. 1t is reported that Post
master General Gresham, in his next
annual report, will take strong ground
in favor of 4 government telegraph,
and, apart from the inherent reason
ableness of such step at this time,
will be enabled to justify his recon-
mendations by facts educed from the
recent strike and from the record of
his predecessors in office as far back
as the democratic administration of
Polk, in the days of the infancy Of the
telegraph. Postmaster General Cave
johnson. of Folks cabinet, and At
torney General Reverdy Johnson, Of
the next, it is said are fond on rec
ord in favor Of the right and the eX-
pediency of governmental regulation
and control of interstate Geographic
traffic. Among later postal officials,
Creswell, of Grants, and Howe, OF
the present administration, have
strongly espoused the cause Of a gov
ernment telegraph, and the project has
the high sanction of Edmunds, among
other distinguished me nbers of Con-
gress. The New I DIRK LUeRtng Post
thus succi lctly sets forth some Of the
reasons why government should take
the telegraph into its own hands :
There is really no argument in favor
of a government post office which is
not just as applicable to 4 government
telegraph, except the fact that the
government is already in possession
Of q monopoly of the one, while the
other is already carried on, after 4
fashion, by commercial companies.
The strongest arguments in favor of
a government post-ofice are that the
people have some control over its
management, and that the first CON
sidcratiCn OF its managers is tine pun
lio convenience AuoJncr.aud hardly
arrange