Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-02-14
The Republican, Party tand rs
Pledges, ~ 80
I9he promptpsss A3rh Which lsosn of thes
great paTties,at their snatiO4aI convex
ions l2sS tu.nsisr, Elsst 4, Sssslons

forfeiture of unearned land grants, is not
forgotten by the people. During thercam-
paign this land grant feature of the plat
forms, was alluded to frequently by the
campaign orators, aud the assertion was
made over and over again by Democrats
and Republicans that their respective
parties desired nothing more earnestly
than the recovery Of the millions of acres
of land from corporations that had no
right to them, but which still claimed
them.
The Democrats have done much towards
keeping their promises and fulfilling the
pledge Of their platform. The House has
passed several land forfeiture bills anG
may pass several others before adjourn
ment. But what has the Republican
Senate done in this matter? Has it passed
a single bill forfeiting land grantsI Ii
the Republican Senators were asked why
they have not acted in accordance with
the land grant pledge in their platform it
is probable they would say they have not
nad time, and that they will fulfill their
promises as soon as they can.
They are ever ready with promises.
The result OF the election last fall ought
to have convinced them that the people
cannot be deceived by promises always.
The Republican party lost the Presidency
because it became so unreliable and cor
rupt that the people refused to trust il
| any longer. 1t still has control OF the
Senate, but it Will not retain that control
very long. The people will see to it that
men are sent there who can be depended
upon to look after their interests.
For years there has been a strong sus-
/ piciOn that the Senate contains many rail-
road attorneys and owners OfrailrOad prop
erty. This suspicion is strengthened by
the refusal of that body to pass measures
/ hostile TO railroad corporations.
The Texas Pacific land grant forfeiture
bill has been pending in the Senate for a
| long time. There can be no question that
it ought to be passed at once. No argu-
| ment that is based on truth and justice
| can be advanced against It. The House
| passed it without hesitation. The Texas
Pacific never earned its land grant be-
cause it did not build its line through, or
even to the granted lands. The Southern
Pacific built a road through the granted
lands, but stated distinctly at the time
that it was being constructed that it did
not expect a land grant. When it was
built. however, a claim was made for the
Texas Pacific grant under an assignment
| from the Texas Pacific. 1t is apparent
that the Southern Paciic has no claim to
the lands which the government is bound
TO recognize.
What will the Senate do with respect
to the bill? 1t is pretty safe to assume
that it will do nothing. 1t would not be
surprising if the Southern Pacific event
ually got the whole of the Texas Pacific
land grant. In these days when money is
what is wOrshiped, corporations that are
worth millions have little to fear
from legislative bodies,
The public domain does not now con-
tain much land suitable for homes. There
are, however. millions of acres in the
West and South withheld from settlement,
simply because the land was granted
years ago to corporations on condition
that they would build railroads through
it within a certain time. The corpora
ations have not complied with the condi-
tiOns and the land ought to be forfeited at
once. That it has not been forfeited is
because the Republican party prefers
serving corporations to serving the
people.