New-York tribune., 1883-03-15
THE RALLROAD QUESTION.

It ia one of the uisfOrtunes of free govern
ment that the party out of power must hnd
something to complain about. The Democratic
party can no longer complain because some
people wish to abolish human slavery. 1t can
no longer complain because the Government
proposes to put down wicked rebellion. 1t can
no longer complain because systematic assas-
sinations for opposing the Democratic party
are repressed by military force, or because the
only possible defence for his freedom, the right
of suffrage, is offered to the colored citizen.
Nor can it complain because resumption of spe-
Gle payments is impossible, or because United
States bonds are not paid with deprecated pa
per- or because the burden of public debt ere
ated in the suppression of a Democratic rebel
lion presses heavily upon the people. 1t hoped
to be able to complain because the Civil Service
had not been reformed, but found that reform
effected by its opponents. 1t hoped to have
room to complain because taxation had not
been reduced, but found that it could not agree
with itself on that subject, while It's opponents
did aglee, and reduced the taxes.
The party out of power will be obliged to
find some new subject of complaint. Some OF It's
members sill believe that they can ride into
power on a greater reduction of the tariff. But
they will 6nd before the next session OF Con-
gress has ended, that the Democratic leaders
who wish to muzzle the party on that subject
have ample power to prevent action until after
a Presidential election. Four-fifths OF the party
will refuse to uphold the present tariff, while
its voters in New York, New-Jersey, Pennsyl-
vania and Ohio will make its success absolutely
impossible if 1t commits itself to duties still
A. Al 4ha fnri ingt
Hence the party must find a new subject of
complaint. There are not wanting signs that 1t
will undertake to capture public opinion by a
warfare against corporations, and particularly
against railroad companies.
When Judge Black fred of his gun against
the railroads, some time ago, The TRIBUNE OBJ
served that he was pointing out path which
the demagoguea of his party were likely to fol-
low. There are good many people, i'll differ
ent parts of the country, who believe that the
one thing needful at this time is to subject the
railroads to some form OF legislative or other
governmental restraint The evils that have
resulted from unrestricted competition or cor
sorate mismanagement these people see
through magnifying glasses of high power,
while the benefits which have been secured for
the country by the unrestricted growth and ac-
ton of the railroads they do not see at all. The
Democratic party is so constituted that it can
pretend to advocate almost any conceivable alb
surdity or wrong, SO long as 1t seems to offer
a chance of success, without losing the support
of the intelligent, substantial and reputable
citizens who act as its figure.heads in the differ
ent States. How many of these men turned
against the party, for example. when it resolved
to pay United States bonds in greenbacks 7 Its
soft-money heresies did not detach Mr.. Hewitt
or Mr.. Payne; its ultra free-trade declarations
did not abate the zeal of Mr.. Randall or Mr.
Barnum.
Whenever the Democratic party adopts some
new Communistic dodge, and appeals to those
who have nothing to join in a raid against ir-
vested property, we shall hear these decorous
gentlemen whispering slyly that "all this is