Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-02-18
The Rniiroad Commission.

licans were in power!
-
Tire Railroad Commission.
To the Editor Of the Dispatch
May | not on the plea Of ancient
friendship. which reaches across "the
bloody chasm," as we'll as from the
great importance of the subject, ask a
brief space in the columns of your paper
to give the views of retired states
man, who now "liDgers a superiious
veteran on the stage" upon the ques-
ton of a railroad commission? And
first Of all let me say that hail with
pleasure as an augury of good for the
Commonwealth the significant fact
that for ten days the Legislature
has earnestly, ably, and ex-
baustively discussed the great
practical question of the true relations
which now exist between the State, the
people, and the railroads, and the
permanent basis upon which those rela-
lions should be established. In former
times, which we old men name the bet
Ter days Of the republic, the legislative
intellect and heart could only he stirred
TO its profoundest depths by some
purely abstract question involving
the philosophy Of government, the
limitations of the Constitution, the re-
solutions of $3.50, and possibly squat
ter sovereignty and our rights in
the Territories. Now, at last, our
legislators and people turn from
the ideal and abstract to the real and
practical, and are earnestly endeavor-
ing to cause the material development
and prosperity Of the NeU to equal the
historic renown of the Old Dominion.
The discussion of the Munford bill has
developed an extent of information, a
laboriOus attention to practical details,
and capacity for broad generalization
and enlightened craftsmanship which it
was not generally thought the ave
rage alligator possessed.
The gentlemen from Washington
county, in their contest on this
great question, brought wildly before
our minds the fight between Saladin
and Richard, and at one time it seemed
as though the keen scimitar Of Fulker-
son would conquer. But at last the
battle-axe of Buchanan, the CGur de
Lion of the mountains, smashed his
crafty and dangerous enemy into smithe-
reens, and victory perched upon the
banner of Right. The bill is now nearly
perfect. 1t calmly announces to these
great corporations the awful, autocratic,
sovereign power Of the State. 1t con-
stitutes a commission Of three, who are
to act as a high court Of arbitration
and Cancellation between the people
and the railroads. The humblest
man who has grievance, but
is too poor to fight great corpo-
ration, can state his wrong to this
commission. They are bound at once
to present the cause Of complaint before
the prosecuting attorney OF the county
OF the Attorney General Of the State,
and the broad Ggis of the Common
wealth comes between the humblest
citizen and the offending corporation,
and then will quickly come remedy
for the wrong. The railroads them
selves, owned by capital now foreign
land not long since hostile) to Vir-
ginia, earnestly desire the conf
dence and goodwill of the people
from whom they derive their support.
They want this high court Of arbitra-
ton a3d Cancellation, and will cheer
fully pay the whole expense Of the
commission. They only ask the Gen
eral Assembly to select the ablest and
wisest men--"men who their duties
know" and know their rights, and
knowing, dare " maintain men who
will pour the fierce electric-light Of
publicity upon every questionable or
oppressive act Of these too.powerful
corporations and let the people
know their wrongs and remedy.
Oh ! the people, ilattered by every
demagogue as the fountain Of all politi-
cal power and wisdom, and yet op-
pressed and deceived by all parties, and
ever through the ages, in more than
Egyptian bondage, making bricks with
out straw for some self.imposed task
master, when shall they rule by Di-
vine or other right?
"The many-headed monster thing
so weak and yet so strong moa-
strum informe, ingens, cm lumen
adentum. Blind old UyclOps, cropping in
his cave blind old Samson, grinding in
the mill.spout Of every Philistine, yet so
strong that in any moment Of wrath and
despair the blind old giant can bow
himself in his might, and even grasp
ing the pillars that support the edifice OF
society and Government can cause the
whole proud fabric to topple, and with
earthquake shock to thunder into abys-
NAL depths. The Cheap John" pa
triotism Of the average demagogue has
poured its lava flood Of indignant vitupe-
ratiye denunciation against the railroads,
(the most potential factor in the gigantic
combination of monopolies, by whose
combined agency our splendid ex-
pertinent Of self-government by the
people is rapidly degenerating from
. Re- to Ringpublic,l and the blind
old giant, in bis darkness, poverty, and
despair, has been aroused to fearful
wrath, and is about TO make war upon
his best friend. Railroads have brought
into the State and expended among our
people nearly all the money now in cir
culation; they have brought CONNER
eisl fertilizers very chesply to our doors,
and We owe them great debt Of graft
tude but they certainly are very ar
Iogsnt aud insolsut. They refuse to
cary ties and cord-wood, and
mus, be taught that they are highways
and common carriers, aud must
tote aud fetch. according TO the auto
cratic will Of the State, who, speaking