The southern sentinel. (Winnfield, La.) 1883-1910, 1886-09-10
Marlborough. Ia.
Ansrrst 20. 1sSe,

| ISIS. whose bold contradictions and
broad assertions. appeared in issue of 18th
| last, propose to inquire into the validity
u hi, arguments, % and dig about the
sandy foundations of lis opposition TO
CTR conntry's welfaLe.
Mr.. Shumaker, in his first proposition,
desires the reduction Of the prcsen rate
| 4 taxation, by The coming railroad, from
The fact, that ..ihe railroad property viii
| need protection as we'll rs ours and viii
ring with il, many tranpS, thieves,
ia.ners, Pi.g- uglies and irani-s,iups,
;ss Il we We're swaddled in infancy, una
he 10 protect ourselves, from such petty
| coGiemptibles. Now this argusment is
laHghable. since any one knows that our
present paroehial government is adequate
10 the protection of thrice the property
within its limits, and oar corps of crimi-
nal af,icers sufficient 10 manage all tho
ug.y characters following any railroad
or the dram shops attendant thereupo,l.
In the next two paragraphs. rather
than believe in the reduction of frei.hrs,
which the railroad is sure TO bring :ibout.
ne gives 1.-The lie To the science OF maih-
enias1cs," ii he can prove this assertion,
his name will rank fayarably with a
Hisford fIallsy, but if the science of mum
hers still holds its veracity, he has COM
mitted one of the most imp-tlJeut blum
ders | have ever secn, for Il sauc man.
That the railroad viii do competitive
baslnrss is admitted, but viii 1t not pass
nearly midway between the oaachita and
Red rivers, and so have competition
aiong its whele route? aud would ii not
br nonsense to charge more 1T y certain
point. tlian % miles nearer The dcstira-
tiaa of the freight? And thirdly, viii it
not pay the railroad more 10 carry all the
freight all along the line at 70 per cent.
profit. than to carry one-half the same ut
loo per cent profit?
Tic questions can be answer
ed only in the affirmative. and they prove
ihas sad railroad will reduce the grea.
taxation of freights, and thereby return
us in that channel alone, ten fold the
pal.ry ) mill tax. But. though this will
be a great saving of cash in our pockets.
il is s-rhe little end of the horn," which
Mr.. 5, has gotten hold of. since he must
know that the railroad will bring the
great cotton fields of North La. into dr.
rect exchange with the granaries of the
great Northwest, aud the rice and sugar
plantations of Central and Southern La,
III communication with the porkerles and
manufactures of the East. Then as pro-
con ttFaas @s sah the the eeasnl.sr sa
producer atlowest possible prices. rather
than buy aud sell througha 4 chain of mer-
chants extending through New Orleans
to st. Louis, who not only make 4 suiii-
cient. but3 vast fortunes handling our
tfade--a TAX ieyied on our resources, and
paid out of our pockets.
Hr. :. does strain at enat (he ) mill
tax aud swallow camel, taxes levied
By merchants and steambnatmen1. lie
says those who furnish the money to
build the railroad, ought to own and con-
troll them; so they ought, but does Mr.. S |
know that according to the las; eepsrs |
report, the building aud eeuippin. vi |
railroads in the Z. s., is s52 ..0i per mile.
and the entire 10 year mill tax will not |
exceed III this parish, $4,000 enough to |
build nearly Il miles. So Mr.. S.. the
ccr9aratioa Of honest, but poor citizens
OF Claiborne. do not wan. our money TO
tttid the railroad, that is impossible. but
Is 4 guarantee TO show capitalists that We.
want the roa,i. that we will not charge
thoni too much for the right Of way. and
that We will paironize said road. when
this will induce capitalists,
q don't care who, and how manv.) TO
build the road, and develop cur country.
both Of which, NE are so niuch in need,
,nt are financially unable TO do.
AS 10 the concentration of power.
is IN individual in law. and
where can its powers lie, unless in its
money !and are re So corrupt that we
an not find few OF our number who will
.ave the hol esty of heart. and moral
'oura9e TO preserve eur liberties and
,roteet our government from monied
Ii 50, We deserve to be-
ong to the rottenest corporation I'm
tnieriea. .'The government must own
nd control the railroad, cr the railroad
orporaiions VIII own and control the
.oycfnnent.' This assertion ana the
ne following it. made BY Mr.. :. is ona ;
( the most uninitigatcd ISLANDERS on the ,
and patriotism of our people,
hat was ever charged TO any people.
Friends, le- It's not look III this nation as I
landing IN our own shoes. nor measure ,
honestly with the stiuted yard stick of
rejudice, but rather put on the glasses J
y. .ogress. trimmed With public good, r
NIB examine The important question 4
:irly.
Mr.. $ a who man acts on principle. but "
ives no reason far his principles, favor l
on this principle: Civilization and
demand the development Of 4
nr resources, and the cultivation of our :,
,ciety, aud as railroads are among the
lost important factors in the promotion p
these. would rather pay a 10 mill tax Il
nm hand my name down to posterity rs !,
4 opposer of my country's welfrrc. Our ;,
stein of building railroads makes hun J.
reds Ct millionaires, and millions Of
aupers, is a bold assertion without fiic >,
latlow of proof. Are there not twice as :
any panpers according to population in
A., as in any Northern or eastern S;ateg ii
I'd are We able To support these paupers? g
he factis, the majority OF us are paul. !,
,rs. ;lnd viii continue so. until rail- :
ad, or some other high enterprise de- l.
,lopes the latent resources of our coun- Fl
y SO that we may obtain the blessings o.
ith which nature has surrounded us. y
OF the 500 boys. Mr.. speaks Of inDo- !.
lg upon, the majority will, IL We do II
i build railroads, run Of 10 Texas, or st
me other enterprising country, as many VI
we done heretofore, and now write that !,
hey will ride home on the cars and stay.
hen We build r:lilr,ads. Is it y worse +
tax them for the building up and en- IN
:hering Of their homes than u drive :,