The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1891-04-10

national solidity. ALI the splendid
nations of ancient times that glittered
like stars in the night, and then went
down amidst confusion and wretched-
ness, had similar tinsel in abundance.
But where one table groaned with
plenty thousand were barren as the
desert; where one back glowed with
purple a thousand were covered with
rags, and yet the ragged and forsaken
created the wealth.
It excites no general remark when
the telegraph announces that on the
first day Of the month, several railroads
defaulted in the paymento Of interest and
dividends. Such things appear to be
considered matter OF course, and pass
US like summers dream. But really
are matters that should give us thought
for they show little palmer than the
other startling features of railroad
management. what manner Of men we
have to deal with. They show that
railroad managers are engaged in a
game Of robbery that takes in every
chance that they are utterly obliyious
to everything but their own gain, and
that they will really descend little
lower to make dollar than any other
class Of men, except rum.sellers, will
descend, The necessities of the widow
and orphan usually appeal strongly to
men. A man may be pretty thorough
rascal, but the helpless will cause him
to pause and pity, if he is other than a
railroad manager, or keeper Of grog
shop. There certainly can be no
question that such classes of men need
a strong hand upon them, and there
can be no question that they would
have one, if they did rot possess a
power that was worshipped. This is con-
spicuously true Of both railroadmcn
and rum-sellers. The one has money,
and the world rushes to the shrine Of
money, and falls to its knees in worship.
The other possesses political power,
and that is slavishly courted. And
those two elements Of our society are
riding rough.shod over law, 'decency
and the principles of honesty, doing
every day what if a man without money
or influence should do. would consigu
him to felon's cell, and yet there is NO
legislature and but few newspapers that
dare, or are inclined to say word in
remonstrance. The entire machinery
Of our government is at work to protect
society against the depredations Of small
rascals, and if the rascals are only
small enough the government succeeds
in doing it. Our prisons are full Of men
who have stolen few dollars or have
been guilty Of sleeping in the city
parks because they had no beds to
sleep in. But in our most elegant
society and most conspicuous in COM
mercial circles, leaders Of all public
movements, are the great rascals who
have stolen millions and sleep in beds,
safe from the eagle eye Of the police.
man, that were purchased by til, money
that was fi'ched from widows, orphans.
industrious men and honorable men.
The world is largely wrong end up.
Its judgment and moral sense are ter.
ribly warped. tits following the glitter
of gold as man follows the deceptive
Jack o'lantern, and it is high time that
it had turned round and took good,
square, honest and comprehensive
view of things. 1t is time we had
measured out justice to the big rascals.
even if We are compelled to lot the
small ones go. IF We have not enough
justice to go around, it would be much
better If We passed the man who is
guilty of the objectionable crime Of
being poor and paid attention to some
who are unquestionably guilty of the
crime of being rich. It is usually NO
crime to be rich. But sometimes it is.
All the recognized thieves that ever
prowled over New Yotk City at mid.
night were never half as dangerous to
society as one Jay Gould. Their dep
relations upon the rights and property
OF others are not near SO extensive as
his, and while they exert NO influence
whatever, his influence is great. Such
men as he endangcr the welfare Of
everybody in the land. There is no
father who properly appreciates his
responsibility towards his child who
does not tremble as he thinks how
great the admiration of his boy for Jay
Gould will be as soon as he is old
enough to read Of the success of that