The herald., 1894-12-31
THE STATE RAILROAD.


has been deal OF wind wasted in the
matter OF not occurring railroad compe-
tition for the San Joaquin valley. Not
lees than five brilliant schemes for the
construction OF the much desired COM
peting line have been worked out-on
paper-and have petered out on the
opening Of the subscription books.
When It has come to the crucial test
the moneyed men Of California have
shown the white feather-have faltsred
and grown weak-kneed at the crooking
of Coils P. Huntington's warning finger.
As one after another the plans to free
California from the ever tightening
grasp OF the Southern Pacific octopus
have failed. the people OF Northern and
Central California have grown disheart-
ened. and those of Southern California
have become skeptical. on the question
of building competing railroad in this
state.
1t is unwise to mince matters any
longer. This is the condition OF affairs
today. 1t is rather the fashion to scott
and shIug the shoulders whom a new
plan lie presented to make California a
commercially free state. Civic and po-
litical freedom are empty words to those
who know the thraldom OF commercial
bondage. Except in the matter of over
land transportation in this section OF
the state, we are q commonwealth OF
bond slaves, and there 70 no Moses in
the land.
The people must free themselves.
That is one of the conditions of our adj
vanced civilization. A Moses could lead
the children Of Israel out of Egypt and
Lincoln could strike the sbackles from
the black slave, but the nineteenth.
century white slave must free himself.
We have looked and looked till our eyes
are strained and tired. for relief that
shall come from a private source. 1t
has not come. 1t will not come.
The people must look to themselves.
This is the lesson OF the past. 1t has
been well learned. II the signs fail
not the people are prepared to free
themselves. Their first step in this
direction lies in the senate amendment
that will be introduced by State Senator
Mathews at the coming session of the
Legislature. This is a measure that pro-
poses to enable the people of California
to shake off their commercial shackIes
by the construction of state trunk line
running from the northern to the south-
ern boundaries. The road is to be built
by the state, equipped by the state. and
operated by the state for the accommo-
dation OF the whole people of the state.
Senator Mathews plan has been
published in THE HERALD. His bill
is brief and pointed in construction. 1t
is merely the framework on which to
build formidable and lasting super
structure. and it is probable that upon
further consideration it may be deemed
advisable to adopt measure in con-
junction with the amendment that shall
enable counties to bond themselves for
the construction OF lateral lines and
feeders to the main road. There are
doubtless many other valuable sugges.
bAOh1 w 40 OAoioo W hCh sAo sttAO SOAhVp
for framing the entire measure.
But the issue presented bv Senator
Mathews amendment is we'll defined
and clear.cut. 1t means that the state Of
California shall issue bonds for the con-
struction and equipment of railroad
extending the entire length of the state
that shall be operated on the same basis
as the postoffice department is operated
by the federal government.
This is not a socialistic measure.
The line between state so,ialiem and
pure democracy is q sharply drawn line.
and the Mathews amendment contem-
plates a state enterprise that is clearly
within the functions of commonwealth
Jeffersonian democracy. The functions
Of democratic government are first,
last and always to guard its citi zsns
from the concentration of capitalistic en-
terprises; secure free commercial COM
petition to all its citiz ems, and 20 maintain
open highways for private competition.
Flow can these functions be performed
when single gigantic monopoly is given
the privilege of taxing the whole people
when the great state highway has been
handed over to private corporation?
One of the maxims Of democracy 10
that the state may not grant to one
citizen privilege that cannot be dupli-
Gated to all its citizens, unless some ade.
luate return be made to the whole
people.
Another maxim OF democracy is that |
The state alone shall have the power OF
.ax alton.
Manifestly. then, it is a most undem-
,cratic state; a paternal, socialistic
,tate that takes from its citizens their
light to free competition and confers
lpon one old man and his henchmen
The power of taxing every pound OF
reipht moved through the state.
And the first step toward the return
20 Jeffersonian principles OF democracy
les in the Mathews bill. A state trunk
inc would mean free and untrammeled |
1t would mean a free
manhood, too, and that ia far more i'm
oortant.
--
A NJAp 1CTEpTCTTN WITH