The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1889-10-24
A Last Rejoinder.

of no practical benefit and the end |
of which we cannot fOresee. But |
since he has been pleased to give us |
such warming up we feel constrain-
ed to again-and we hope for the last |
time, on this subject enter the Fo- |
rum. We are glad to know that our
presence there will be welcome-wel-
come to him. This affords us much
consolation, for the public, perhaps,
may not view us with the same len !
iency; its patience might get a trifle
threadbare or become exhausted.
But let the public view us in what
ever light it pleases, we feel amply re-
paid for giving it offense by our
friends "taffy" His illusions are
extremely complimentary, and we
should be going back on our erals
ing" should we omit to thank him
for them. We, indeed, feel greatly
honored, and are So seldom referred
to in that manner that we do, not
feel disposed to question the genuine
ness of our friends feelings A skep-
ticai and callous hearted public may
say that it was only pleasant vim
of irony, but not us. We believe him
honest and candid but a trife, just a
trifie, mistaken in some of his views.
He is man who evidently says what
he means, and writes, generally what
he says.
And it is a pleasure for us to know
that we are in accord on one thing
| that is in regard to Congress and
| the Supreme Court. This encourages
us to believe that the difference be-
tween us is not-so very great after
all, and that there is some possibili
| ty OF our agreeing on some other
things, particularly in regard to the
rights of railways. But in matters
of this kind it is very difficult to as
certain just what one position
really is unless he will state it in spe-
cific terms.
Now to be specific our friend re-
fuses; he will not state his exact po-
sitiOn, he will not say whether he is
opposed to all railways or to just
few. He will not say when, where
and how they have oppressed the
PEOPLE; he contents himself with gen.
eral allegations and no specifications.
This, it seems to us, shows a fatal de-
felt in our friends case. He shonld
have specified the crimes, when and
how committed, in his bill of indict-
ment, and we move that the same be
|. returned to him marked, mot true
bill, )" and that he should include the
, railways in his nOlprOs
J AS to our views, we have no hest
fancy in stating them. Wewill state
! them specifically and briefly as fol
lows:
l. That all obstacles that tend to
obstruct the construction of railways
and consequent development of the
country should at once be removed.
Z. That it is not, never has been
and never will be in the power of a
| railway corporation to infringe upon
[ the rights and liberties of the peo-
pie.
3. That they only have the power
to do good, to open the avenues OF
trade. expand commerce, build up
| cities and towns, develop the coun-
, try and benefit the people.
They have never sought nor desir-
, ed the power to do otherwise. But
f and space alike forbid. Moreover,
they need no argument to sustain
them; plain and self-evident they can
stand alone.
Relative to the Brookstown cross
ing our friend says that our defense
was an utter failure, owing to the
7 weakness of our cause. Possibly
l but we did not undertake to defend
t this crossing; our object was simply
to state the facts in regard to it. 1t
1 needed no defense. The crossing was
f there and is there yet, and the law is
. plain, but as to the nuisance we can.
I not see it. 1t evidently got lost in
4 the mud, at any rate it's not in sight
4 However, it's absence may be &C
: counted for by the fact that the cross
e ing was made in conformity to the
requirements of the law. This, O
: course, would not be compatible with
t the presence of well developed nui
), sance AMI it would at once make off
/. And we beg TO assure our frient
t that the Legislature did not, il
granting the charter to build the N
s {. NJ, divest itself Of any power tt
r do good. 1t simply exercised tn,
power of doing the people a create
:. and lasting benefit. And in "rearins
= the pile" across the highway, Their
It was no transgression of law, ant
consequently no offender to be pun
;, ished
+ The common people of the back
woods have just the same right
o and just the same privileges as othe
folks. There is no "vexed' question
IT about it. The only vexed question
}, is this: Have the Corporations an,
n rights which the people are bound t.
r, respect? Judging from Legislativ
d enactments, railway commissions
unjust decisions and our friends let
ter, we should answer in the mega
tive.
We favor the same law for the cor
pOrations that we do for individual
d citizens, and the same construction
K of it. Our friend, with charmin,
q frankness, confesses that he does not
,e end quotes Justice Swayne in sup
n port of his position of it. He woui,
y have the law in all cases '.construe,
o most strongly against them" "Ev
q cry reasonable doubt decided ad
L versely." "Silence'' is to be takel
u as negative" and doubt ''fataI' t.
their claims for justice Great God
I. but we don't agree. We are as ia
- apart as the poles. If we held thes
III views we wouldn't confess them.
We did not intend to impugn til
veracity of the Raleigh correspor
dent of the Wilmington Nessenge
er and see no necessity in inquirinS 8
in to his standing We doubt not br
ay what he is a veracious gentlema
u.s. and q veraciOus news-gathere
nus Most reporters are. Hecan get ple
ty to vouch for his veracitv, but n,
i e., - Il.