The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-05-09
CORPORATIONS AND THE PEOPLE.

CORPORATIONS AND THE PEOPLE.
The decision of the United States Supreme
Court in the case of the Chicago, Burlington
& Quincy Railway Company VS.. The State of
Illinois is strictly in accordance with the
principle that no corporation can rise supe-
rior to the authority from which it receives
its corporate existence. A railway, telegraph
or building association is legal in its organi-
cation only as the State in which it operates
gives it legal status, and without this license
tons. When railways were essential to the
financial prosperity of the country, franchises
were granted them without question, and
not infrequently Unconstitutional priv
iieges were guaranteed. This was but
natural at the time. Few were able to
anticipate the enormous growth of these cor
porations. They allowed the railway camel
to put its nose in at the tent door, only to
find eventually that the beast had quietly in
serted the right and left fore feet, and, at last
its entire body, much to the alarm and dis
COtulOTG vi OlO lnuldLeS. OGu6I NuOSblOuo
have occupied public attention SO long that
these corporations have grown rich and, as
an inevitable consequence, arrogant. The
franchises they enjoyed grew in value until
the companies overshadowed less favored
organizations and had everything
pretty much their own way.
a n1nn and
the inevitable result of oppression is to
awaken opposition. The sentiment against
the encroachments of corporations has been
steadily growing fol- years, until now it can
no longer be despised. 1t has been a diff
cult matter to obtain justice in a contest
with railroad companies-their wealth en-
abling them to carry appeals beyond the
ability of plaintiffs to follow. The begin
ming of the end of these things is at hand.
The highest court of the land has decided
that States have the right to regulate and
quence they will be more ccnsiderate of the
rights of individuals as subjects of States.
This is as it should be. The advantages
enjoyed by railway companies have been
| compensation enough for whatever they may
have undertaken. Their regular revenues
from legitimate business are great enough
now to place them beyond the experimental
period. They are wealthy enough to take
care of themselves easily, and it is for the
State to stand between them and the people,
to see that no oppression is attempted, no
injustice done. The Grange movement grew
out of the fear that railway and other cor
poratons were growing too pow
erful and now the anti-monopoly
sentiment arises from the same
cause. 1t is the part of wisdom that the cor
porations should profit by the hint; not that
any revenge can be or will be attempted
against them, but it is morally certain that a
continued manifestation of arrogant indie
pendence on their part can only result in
having the statutes made to restrain them in
manner to which they have never yet been
accustomed. 1t is we'll that the principle has
been established that States can regulate cor
porations. 1t would not be long, if left I'M
restrained, until they would take to them.
selves rights to which they have no claim in
justice, and would practice impositions from
which there would be no practicable appeal.