The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1884-04-04
Railroads and Politics; Ring Management
and the People.

Railroads and Politics; Ring Management
and the People.
There is an cutlery, steadily becoming
more and more vociferous, against the
" bossing" OF running the political ma
chinery of this State by well-known
railroad corporation against their dicta-
ton of nominations and adverse to
the methods employed by them to make
such dictation effective. That such
"bossing" is done, and such dictation
made, and that generally, effective
methods are employed to render this
"bossing" and dictation successful. adj
mits of no doubt. In fact, the friends
of the "ring," so called, hardly deny
this, but urge the business of their
cause, claiming the Unreasonable bene-
fits accruing from our railroads. and
especially the one in question. That
our railroads are of great benefit and
convenience to the people admits of no
doubt, but it is equally incontrovertible
that the people pay for all those benefits
and convcniencies, and having done
that and being willing to conceed all
necessary and and reasonable protective
legislation, the same that they would
accord to any other enterprise eflccting
the general prosperity, have fulfilled
their duty, and arc under no Farther
obligations.
For example, take the B. & W. rail
road running up the West River Val
ley. 1t is great public convenience
1t has opened up a new life from one
end of the Valley to the other, and day
by day this is becoming more apparent
and is acknowledged even by those
who, at the outset, were opposed to it
or to the principles involved in raising
the money. Now, for all these con
veniences and blessings, to whom art
we indebted, and where does the obi
cation lie?
A brief outlook will show beyond
cavil that every town upon its line il
bonded; that every farm in those towns
was. mortgaged to secure the none,
wherewith to build the road, and fur
Their this was done with eyes open t,
the patent fact that every dollar so in
vested was irrevocably sunk-woul,
never be directly realized. Then VIII
did they do it? There can be but on
answer; it was freely done as matte
ofpublic spirit and enterprise, with II
expectation of receiving a sine qua non
only in increased prosperity and con
veniences.
Now then did the present manage
ment take control of the road, and ar
they running it with no greater expec
tations than to promote the geners
prosperity of this Valley? w
trow not, What then? Either sin
ply as matter of business, ora lookin
forward to confirmation of circum
stances that would render it valuabl
property, or, as some allege, to plac
this territory under the thumb of thi
political combination.
In either case are they entitled to an
power or advancement on these ground
at the hands of the people? As heret,
fore said, the people pay for all the
get When they ride full fare is c,
acted and willingly paid, and so wit
every pound of freight carried over Il
road. Then there is no obligation bl
the general one, that obligates all GOO
citizens, everywhere, to sustain al
support all enterprises that will inu
to the public good.
And because man or set of men a
running a system of railroads in stat
the running of which gives increas,
prosperity to its citizens, gives them
right of dictation in political matte
above that of the humblest citizen, al
any talk to the contrary is the verit
pettifoging bosh.
All political power is delegated to t
people. And it is their right to l
this power in any way and manner tn
may think best, without consulting a
man, ring, clique or combination.
The Cincinnati Riot.