The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1884-02-26

tuned to music that has neither melody mol
rythm.
"A pitiful exhibition Of covsrdly dema.
Toguery, for which they deserve the IN
measured condemnation of the good peo-
pie of tiIis State" Is another roseate expli-
cation of the facts TO which Modoc treats
an enlightened public. Does Modoc know
who the people are! Does he suppose that
they all live in the little towns and villages
of our Statei Does he think that the vir-
tue and intelligence of this great common
wealth crystalline in the brains of few
liliputian Blackstones who have gone so
far as to learn that 1law is a rule of action ~
The sort of lawyers which Modoc repre-
sents (if he is a lawyer is to that great
learned and honorable profession, what a
gnat is in the scale of being to the elephant.
he simply has place, and so does the
most Insignificant atom in the universe.
But, enough of quoting the absurdities
and insults which Modoc has offered to the
present Legislature. His whole communi-
cation is nothing but the crude and fran
tic expression of a lunatic, supposing the
uoIION Ccll III WHICH no lives duu tuONoS 10
the wide world of space. Let me say here,
that railroad supervision is no 'ignis fatuus"
of an ignorant or deluded people, nor is it
the expression Of the Incorporate zeal Of a
few ambitious leaders. Whether right or
wrong, it is the voice of the masses of the
people Of our State, and this same voice,
when uttered in serious purpose, is as ire
sistible almost as the fat of 0mnipotence,
and will overflow corporations and monop-
Giles as easily as the cyclone overturns
cities and forests, when lying within its
fearful track.
If the railroads in our State cannot bear
the restraining hand of a just and con-
sentative supervision, as has been exercised
in twenty-six States in this Union, it is
simply because injustice and extortion lie
at the base of their operations, and this
do not believe. Irregularities, and even
injustice, sometimes, mark their dealings
with the people. To correct these, and
place their rulings and management upon a
basis wherein they will not be injured, and
the masses of our people will be benefited,
is all that any supervisionist in the Legis-
lature now in session, proposes. II the
people of Mississippi are SO far beneath
the other States of this Union as to be igno-
rant of their rights, and the railroad man
agement 30 far superior in equity and wis
dom to other roads, then let rs erect this
corporate power as the idol of potential
consequence, to which We shall bow in per
petual servitude. l am no enemy of rail
roads, but am yet to learn that they are
the only good under the sun, and the only
mighty engine of modern civilization that
must be allowed to career through our
State, with all the privileges Of fran.
chises granted by the peoples rep
resontatives, and no man dare to say, "Why
doest thou thusP" If cowardice exists
on the part of the peoples representatives
in the present Legislature, then the most
blatent bullyism exists on the part OF
the railroad advocates, and which is
the more contemplate, let candid pub
lie answer. But fortunately for the inter
ests of both sides, neither is the case. Rail-
roads are power that we need, and the
supervisionists in the Legislature propose
only to cooperate, and bring these huge
corporations and the people into more
kindly relations and better understand
ing. Modoc may swell his little conse-
quence until, like the frog in the fable he
explodes from over-expansion, but he and
his sort will be about as much felt in the is.
sues involved, as the steam whistle is in the
whirling thunders of the spheres. So far
as the makeup of the present Legislature
is concerned, out of several times that
have sat, by expression of public will, in
this old Capitol, have never seen a more
earnest, sober. conservative and intelligent
body of legislators, taking them as whole
and when Modoc undertakes to underrate
and bespatter them with his wanton abuse
it is like the bat with the leather wings and
acute angles, measuring fights with the
eagle. Say to Modoc, to rub of his wal
paint, lay down his scalping knife and tom
ahawk, and return to the paths of peace, OF
the muse of history will find blank in the
records Of our State in 1884, and all because
he Wds when he should not have been.
LEGISLATOR.