The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1889-09-12
1t Can't Run the Weather.

Since the day that Adam and Eve
last sat upon the banks of Westches-
ter creek, in Paradise, and sang
"What are the wild waves saying, :"
man has been given to complaining.
He has been a restless, dissatisfied
creature whom nothing can satisfy
and nothing please. l am not sur
prised, therefore, that my friend, zone
of the People," should not be wholly
pleased with the cOndition of the road
across the Fries plantation, or that
he should vent his displeasure in a
public manner. To do so was but to
simply exercise his natural and in
alienable right and privilege of COM
planning and in the exercise of his
rights he gives offense to no one
l believe, however, that in the arti-
Gle which appeared in the Forum of
your issue of the Goth ult, my friend
takes too strong a position in regard
to corporations in general and the
Richmond & Danville in particular.
Certain it is that he labors under
some grave misapprehensions rela-
tive to the powers and authority
vested in railway corporation. Ger
tain it is, too, that he expects too
much of them, and that in regard to
their acts and intentions he labors as
n man who is heavily laden with err
rOrs and would fain take a rest. He
would rest by invoking the solemn
majesty of the law to intervene in his
and the peoples behalf with the time
hOnOred club of justice, and smash to
smithereens all corporations whatsO-
ever. But the law will hardly do it.
AS an example of the extreme posi-
ton taken by my friend it is only
necessary to state that he expects
something for nothing and is very
indignant if he doesn't get it. He
expects the Richmond 4 DanviAe to
do what it can't possibly do and is
indignant if they don't do it. In
short my friend expects too much and
gets too indignant. He should re-
member that blessed are they that
expect but little for they shall not be
disappointed. He should not expect
too much or he will not be among
the blessed
My friend of the people sees, or
seems to see, that the Richmond 4
Danville Co. have serious designs of
abridging his liberties as well as the
liberties of his fellow citizens. He has
conclusive proof of this by reason of
the fact that during the prevalence of
the recent wet weather the road
crossing the Fries place became very
muddy. NowI wish to say to him
that in this he is in error. | can see
nothing in it to abridge the liberties
of the people, but if there is l assure
him the r. & ID. is in nowise RESPONSE
BILE. 1t is a powerful corporation it
is true, owns, controls and operates
many miles of railway, but there is
one thing it can't do: it can't run the
weather.
In the future as in the past, quota
tions, Indignation, law and the peo-
pie to the contrary Notwithstanding,
when rains come the roads will get
wet and muddy, too, if the people
travel them. Old man Providence
will still continue to do business at
the old stand and to run it to suit
Himself. One thing is certain: He
will not hand it over to be run by an
individual or corporation. An
other thing is equally sure: No cor
POldOAOA Vi AAOAN luuttl, AOU CNcil UllC
Weather Bureau at Washington, will
essay to take the weather out of His
hands. Therefore, we should not
blame too harshly the Richmond &
Danville in this matter. They are
not responsible.
l know something about that
Brookstown road. know, too, that
it was made as good as dirt and the
topography of the country would adj
nit. don't say it was as good as
the old road. It Was not. 1t lacked
the location and then it was new.
However, it was as good as the law
would require and fully as good as
the people had any right to expect.
In cross-laying it the company have
simply done a work of supereroga-
ton. They may not receive the
thanks of the people for it, but GER
tainly deserve them.
What is justice for one should be
justice for two. A railway corpora
ton is entitled to the same construc
ton of law and same justice that is
SO freely accorded the private citizen
This is my doctrine, peculiar as il
may seem to those who thinkas sOns
of the People," In many instances
besides the present, am sorry tt
say, the railway corporations signal
~ fail to get the justice which the.
deserve. There are too many tina
are prejudiced; too many that ar
willing to go for them with gloves OF
too that n