Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-05-22
A voice. FROM TmE GRAVE

Senator Van Wyck. of Nebraska, Ia
the course of his remarks upon his re-
solution requesting the Secretary of the
Interior TO withhold patents to the
Northern Pacific Railroad Company for
lands claimed TO be earned by construc
ton of the puyallup coal road, quoted
from the speech of Hon. Henry Wilson
then Senator from Massachusetts,, de
livered in 1870. The Northern Pacific
Railroad Company ut that time was en-
deavoring TO obtain more lands, and
Mr.. Wilson offered an amenament lin.
iting the price at which such lands
should be sold at $500 per acre. He
was accused of throwing obstacles in
the way of aiding railroad extension
After denying this, he said
"Now, sir. choose to commence
right here on q railroad in which the
people of my State and my section OF
the coantry have deeper interest than
any other, aud to apply this policy, as
far az | am concerned, TO this road and
then continue IL to all other roads that
are here asking for the public lands. |
believe IL to be in the interest of the
country a. whole, In the interest es
pecially of the toiling men of the conn.
try, OF the laudless men of the country,
the actual settlers on the public land,
and IL is not hostile TO the real interests
of the railways themselves. Bat. sir,
that is the last consideration with TIE
in regard 10 all these matters. The rail
roads hare governed Legislative bodies
quite too much. | hope the day Is not
far distant when they will have any
voice in the Congress of the United
States, TO Affect our legislation or direct
the policy of this Government. Atsuy
rate, IL the attempt is made. choose.
for one, to meet IL. Aud II there are
agents in this chamber. or Ia the gal.
leries, or In the capitol, or in the city
interested In these matters. choose.
for one, not 10 be dictated % bg then.
nor 70 hare them coBse Aers aRier-
taking 10 iafueHce or direct oar action. |
choose, for one, in this matter TO exer.
else my own judgment. l have exam
ined this question. | am a member of
the Committee on Pacific Railroads.
have seen something of the pressure 10
obtain these lands. rs ! saw last wear
something of the pressure to make n
combination OF seven great railway
schemes TO obtain n guarantee of $3.50.
100000 of interest to railroads. bad
something to do with defeating that
project. Sir, | hope TO live 81 see the
time when We will grant our lands %
build railways; when We will do il with
care; when We will So do 1t that rail
roads will not hold great masses of tbs
public domain aud control en, or hold
them for speculative purposes against
settlers or against the interests of the
laboring men aud the landless men oi
this country. i believe tina, 20 be sound
policy, which should be adhered 60,
whether railways asking assistance here
like II or not. j care a vast deal more
for the interests of the country and the
Interests Of the toiling men OF the
country than do for the interests or the
complaints of the men who are asking
for pablo favors."
Noble words, brave words, from an
honorable, incorrup,ihle statesman
one who, nnmoved by Establishments
unbought by bribes. advocated tn,
rights of the citizen yeomarry Of thi.
Nation. They coue 10 US as a voice
from the grave How pitiful, in th.
light Of these utteranees of the ceac
statesman, do the pictnies who now oc
cupy seats in the Senate Chamber OF th,
Uaited States-a chamber hallowed b,
the memory OF intellect and honor
appear. How mean their sordid inter
ances, as they rise from those veneratec
seats, 10 aid their corporate employer,
in forging new links With which the
chains now binding the industrious la,
borers OF this Nation are to be strength.
ened and extended. Had Henry vii.
son lived until today. be would hive