The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-01-19
THE PACIFIC RAILROADS,
PRESS COMMENTS ON THE PRESI
DENTS MESSAGE.
Tho Tribune, as Usual, Sails Into Mr..
Cleveland without Judgment or
Sense = Tho World Thinks II win
Give Satisfaction.

NEw YoRK, Jan. lS.--ln regard 20 the
Presidents Pacific railroad message, the
5ribulc says "Tho President has accom-
panied his transmission 10 Congress of the
reports Of tho Pacific railroad commission
with MESSAGE remarkable for what il
does not say. He evidently approached
the writing OF II uncertain whether 10 be u
demagoguc or n statesman. lie seemed 10
perceive the opportunity afforded him by
the majority report 10 bc statesman, but
the strain against nature which such q
course would have required, even when IL
was laid out for him by others with al the
exactncss Of detail Of civil engineers
chart, was seemingly too much. lie could
not be nil statesman, and he contriyed 10
avoid being rs much Of dcmagogue "a
his friend Mr.. Pattison desired. lie filed
many pages OF manuscript with mild abuse
Of railroad managers, and concluded by
advising Congress 10 do what IL thinks
best IL Is, as the President saws.
high time that the troublesome compiled.
mons surrounding this subject were settled
hnmly. They could have been settled long
ago hut ior the demagogy and worse
IMAM blind nonsense Of his party In Con.
Ercss. lie has done all he darcs 10 make
the settlement still more difficult, by nat.
ung the denagogucs on the back and by
efforts 10 strike dramatic attitude as the
champion OF the people against the robbers
VINO have enriched the public treasury aud
built the great western States lie does
wisely, however, "a stop ut bit Of stage
play, and, having struck his attitude, TO
leave Congress 10 deal with the question
a. Il thinks best"
The World says, "Tho Presidents mes
sage accompanying the reports OF the Pa
elilc railroad commission, though non.com-
initial ON some points, will give general
satisfaction. II the line OF policy marked
Out IN u " adopted by Congress there need
be no complaints Of the subsequent lcgis.
lation. After commencing the labos Of
the commission, the President takes the
decided ground that the corporations by
Their silence have forfeited all claim to
mercy and thatHcttlcmont with them should
be predioaied altogether upon the subsian.
ual Interests OF the government lie
puncturcs the defense 81 the Central Pacific
men at its most vital point, aud II his Ian.
Ruage Is mild concerning their moral tur.
pitude Il Is firm"
Tho 7iHio says: Gle commcnds the
matter 10 Congress without even making
specific recommendations in regard 10 H.
Treatment, conicnting himself with LAYING
down a lew plain principles ~ the result
Of such consideration rs hc has been
able 10 give n.
The President makes certain Suggestions
nj least worth considering In regard Ia
matters incidental 90 final settlement
The government lien IL subsequent 10 that
oil The iirt mortgages, and lac thinks that
whatever there may be fraudulent, hc.
hiious or uncomfortable la the para.
mount lien should be- plunged thcrcfrom 70
Ear "a may bc within the power Of the
government. II none OF the fmudulcntly
Issued bonds can b. cancelled, he thinks
n remedy might be- sought against thoso
who issued aud transferred them II there
aru lands that can still be- forfeited on nc.
count Of violation Oi the contracts, he
would have that done, aud he calls nj.
tcntion especially 90 the lands not vet
patented Ia the Central Pacific ON account
ct the construction Ut the California and
Oregon rad. lie simply uiscs thc cues.
Ton whether thcsc cannot hc kent irnm
thc company These suggestions arr ncr.
tncni enough, hut We have no faith That
They Nill b. acted upon; and Il l. doubt.
ful whether, in view Ut the liberal con.
tifutiion given hy the courts Ia the rights
81 corporation legal obstacles would NOT
H. ihrWn in thp Way ui cirning them
out, which would Prove in-upvahlc."