Smyrna times., 1890-04-30

"The fruits and vegetables of Vir-
ginia and North Carolina are to-day
being transported over the Delaware
railroad to this city. This fruit and
vegetables cost the North Carolineans
and Virginians to transr ort less than
one-half that it does a Delawarean.
can have kale, cabbage, spinach, etc,
etc, brought from Norfolk to New
York over the Delaware railroad for
l9 or 20 cents per barrel. The farmers
OF Delaware could at least prevent
such gross injustice as that. if thew
would. see that they will not. and I
feel that so long as they tamely sub
NIT to any such injustice, that there
can be but little hope of land having
much value in that state
Someone may ask, how can this
thing be corrected p | answer that
the people of Delaware have greater
powers over their corporations than
any other state in the Union. Bv
their constitution, all charters can be
repealed at any time by an act of the
Legislature, and no Legislature has
the power to grant any charter that a
subsequent Legislature cannot annul.
The Legislature of Delaware can
direct the officers of the state to take
possession and operate the railroads,
by paying fair price for them, if they
so desire, and this, as far as the freight
business is concerned can easily and
cheaply be done, and the freight can
be offered by the state to which of the
competing lines at Wilmington will
take it cheapest. But having the
power to do would be sufficient to in
duce the present managers TO do, if
pressed. The farmers have the power.
but will not exercise it. and are will
ing to suffer in this case perhaps for
Gods own glory as martyrs. l can
see no other glory but rather stu
pidity.
THE farmer of this country from
the earliest history to 1860, was in
control of this country. From the
close of the Mexican War until the
commencement Ofthe late terrible war
between the states was a period of
great prosperity to the farmer. He
was a power politically, financially
and Intellectually. He controlled the
political organization of the state and
nation. He built towns, factories,
great agricultural centres and rail
roads. He improved his farms, built
elegant residences and out buildings,
possessed fine horses and rolled along
the public highways in stylish car
riages. He built churches and school
houses and sent his sons to college, and
his daughters to institutions to be
taught the embellishments of life.
What is his condition to-day? Does
he devote less hours to labor? Does
he live better, eat better food, wear
better clothing, and enjoy the comforts
of life with less frugality? l am GER
tain that he does not. Then why
should he grow poorer each day ? /
answer, because he has voted away his
birthright. He, lead by that insane
emotion of national glory has voted
to few individuals, powers to crush
him, and they are using that power
with an energy never before excelled.
l know he has the power now to undo
the great mistake be has made, but
also see that he will not. Believing
that land will have but little value
until he does rectify that mistake, and
seeing no disposition on his part to
undo, but rather to continue in his
SHINING, the action of the farmer to.
day gives me assurance that it will be
years before, if ever, he regains his
political and financial power, and until
he does, / believe farming land will
scarcely be worth holding.