Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-07-08

rhpiuly as tne country WAS securely occu-
pied other highways were projected and
opened. Many OF these remain 10 this
day perpetual monument TO the wise
foresight and engineering resources of
that imperial city.
This policy OF Rome foreshadowed the
progress Of civilization through all the
subsequent centuries until the introduce
ton within the memory Of our older cti-
zens OF the railroad system. Up 10 this
time there was no hazard OF n monopoly
OF the transportation business. The pub
lie roads were the property OF the public,
open to the free and unpurchased use
Of every traveller or driver
Tic turnpike differed only IN its exac-
ton Of tolls Tor It's use. But these tolls
were required 10 be uniform as 10 all
users OF the road. and were regulated by
the law-maSing power and constituted
scarcely a greater burthen upon land COM
mercc than the wharfage and dock
charges diJ upon water transportation.
The rise and growth OF the railroad sys-
TEN, however. has reyolutiOnlzed all this
IT was az first proposed that the railroad
bed and track should be the property OF
the State or Of private corporations, sub
jcct % individual use upon uniform rates
81 charge. Had this been practicable the
use of the railroad would have been very
closely asslmilatod - the use OF turn
pike or canal. except that the business or
transportation would almost necessarily
have been restricted 80 common carriers
% the exclusion of individual shippers.
Hgt this was not deemed practicable ana
the now universal condition s. the owner
, ship VI the roa1-bcl and the exclusive
use OF IT'S facilities for transportation by
ore proprietary corporation. The common
roads and tlrnpikes can apparently be no
competitors with railroads as highways oil
communication between distant pOihi-'
and the consequence is That the great
channels of Land c0mmeiCr ere yiriuaLy
monorolizcd hy great corporations
AZ terminal points or points OF lnierSee
ton thcs. great corporations may he anu
ouent 10 be- competitors FOR patronage
but at an Intermediate points one railroad
is the sole unIispuied master OF al uaHe
and travel Even at the points Wheie
there ought 10 De competition experience
hes shown that there H. really rarely an!
at all. BY arrangement between them
selves these corporations divide the bns'-
ness and deny 10 tie pubic VINO arr
forced 10 pation,Ze the one or the othtl'
any intelligent or calculated cholce u
tween them.
This single fact shows how completely
the great agricultural interests OF iHe
country are at the mercy or these bie''
CORPORATIONS &c unchecked ana uhcoh-
trolled ~ the state.
The necessity of such control 10 Sum-
extent at least. can not be considered a
question open for reasonable argument. ID
what extent and in what manner ihiS con-
troll shall be exercised is the great pro-
hcm with which the enlightened states
men OF this generation and those Wi,cH
are TO succeed us has 10 grapple. ne
United States Congress in It's interstate
commerce law and the several S"lIe9
within their own domains nave attempt"
some partial solution OF the li"o'''"'
Iiut all their legislation has thus far been
necessarily experimental and diScioSeS
the prentice hand rather than the master
vorl-man's practiced skill. We have no
theories or suggestions Of our own WIN
which 10 combat the points made ana Po'-
lev outlined by the author Of TINS DOCK
We are not prepared-ani perhaps "u'
many will be prcparc1-tO accept ms lltdS
10 their fun extent. hut they are pIesen'''
with such force and supported pN sue"
. grouping of fact as TO chaliehEe '"e
most thoughtful consideration. me ""-
thor has had much experience III c"'."',
ton with railroads. and in oiilcai ile III
his great inland state, which gives MN
IN imposing claim TO be resaratu a. an
rvncrt in the line Of his discussion For
e-,,o ye,rs he was Governor Of Iowa. and
seems to be fully abreast Of the pdpHc
eontiment Of his own and. the adjoining
states Of the great Northwest. lie HIt9
NOT sneak. therefore. from any stAndpolhl
of friendship for railroads-but voices the
Grievances ana appreheusons real anu
imaginary. Of his imposing agricultural
onstituency
Whatever nay be thought OF his con-
illusions this book will well repay cAre'"l
reading ana study II has already ha'
unite an extensive SALE as this IL me
third edition, aLi in the present asI'ate'
state Of the public mind ii IS not proh3ple
MAJ lis interest will suffer any early
diminuton.
LIFE OF ST. FRANCIS OF ASSIST.
By Paul Sabatier. Translated by Louise
Seymour Houghton. New YORK: Charies
Scrbners Sons.
Where there is sun there must be
shadow; " here there is unrest there must
! BE- rest, and in all ages and cpochs where
there has been a strong current or
thought in one direction there came
commencement. not 50 great as the first
/ drift may have been, but great enough
90 have made its impress We take IT aa
| q s,isn Of the times that in this age of
scepticism and realism men are recurring
IN tbe lives of the saints and mysties
| with their ideals. In the Life Of St
| Francis OF ASSIST" by Paul Sabatier We
have a most interesting, valuable, historic
| work. 1--WE are beginning to feel says
| the author, that the present has its
roots in the past, and that IN the ieids
| Of politics and religion, as in others
| slow. modest. Iersevering toll Is that
| which has the best results The style
| Of the book is clear and foTcible, with
| fine almost poeucal, outbursts here and
| there 1t shows great research ana an
| intense interest on the part Of the author
! IN his subject.
! Sabaticr IS evidently a man Of thought,
| but strong IN his antagonism and not
| always loeical. lie has famiiiarized HIM
| self not only with everything written
| about St Francis, but he has drunk in
the very atmosphere Of those places
| dearest TO the saint. and he seems 70
| love 10 lncer over the beauties OF these
| hallowed spots, as if TO make US feel
| with him the peace and calm and the
| great love that filled the soul of his hero.
! Francis Of Assist ~ considered pre-emi-
| nently the saint Of the Middle Ages. He
| is" as the author says. The incarnation
| Of the Italian SOUL as Dante was 10 lie
its incarnation d hundred years later
The beginning Of the thirteenth century
| is the most interesting Of Christianity
since its primitive days, and Francis OF
| Assist is one OF the chief figures of his
century. And yet the historian wisely
| prepares us for all ne has TO say. in
q history like this" he declares, I'VE must
| give a large place TO the Italian spirit;
II is evident that in a country where they
| call "A chapel a basilica. and tiny hous
| a ralazzo, words have not the same value
as on this side Of the Alps THE men,
| H., comments clseW here, of the thirteenth
| century had all the vices except triViality.
and all the virtues except moderation
they were either ruilians or saints.
! The overwhelming barriers which
modern life with its sicklX search for
as less comfort has set up between US,
and nature did not exist for these men
| SO full Of youth and life. eager for wid'
| suaces and the outer air"