The Louisiana populist., 1895-05-31


plication of electricity, have mark
ed magnificent era in the history
and development of mankind.
The iron wheel of time rolls on,
and with it comes the steady tramp
of the army of progress, which is
sweeping the field at every point
with the formidable weapon of
scientific thought and research.
The most sanguine dreams of our
ancestral prophets have been reali-
zed in more than ten times their
fulness.
Every age in mans evolution
presents new industrial political
and social problems for solution.
The most pertinent question be-
fore the people of this age is trans
portation, since it has assumed such
proportions, as to determine wheth-
er the people shall be free, enlight-
ened and happy, or oppressed, ig
norant and miserable.
The founders of our great Re-
public threw around the liberties
of the people every possible safe
guard. The settlement of all con-
flicting interests between States
and individuals were given to Con-
gress. Power to establish q postal
system, an army, a navy, to con-
troll commerce, was given into the
same wise hands. These illustri-
Gus men could not foresee either
the blessings or curses of our mod
ern civilization. Railroads, tele-
graphs and telephones, the tri-
umphs of modern inventive geni-
us may be the means for producing
the most ideal civilization ever
thought of by the greatest politi-
cal optimist; or they may be the
tools in the hands of avariciOus
corporations, which will destroy
our time hOnored liberties, and re-
duce the Republic to a despOtism
as bad as that endured by any Rus
sian subject.
Facilities for transportation have
marked the difference between an
enlightened and ignorant people.
Rome, by means of her great sys-
tenn of national highways Overcame
the world. When her power was
decaying, feudal lords seized upon
them and forced every person pass.
ing over these roads to pay exor-
bitant tribute.
To-day the great national high
ways and means of rapid commu-
nication are owned by private cor
porations and individuals, to whom
we Americans are paying the most
unreasonable tribute.
AS the feudal system of mana
ging highways retarded European
growth for five hundred years, so
will Americas progress be retard-
ed if we permit a few to own our
means of communication.
Shall the people own and operate
their highways and means of trans
mitting intelligence!
All attempts for governmental
control with private ownership
have proved failures.
Congress appointed the Inter
state Commerce Commission to
correct the evils of our railroad
system. The records prove that
this has not been done, and that
the abuses they are supposed
to right, are growing every day.
We must have either govern
ment ownership and operation, or
private ownership and operation.
Whoever owns the nations high
ways controls the nation. History,
statistics and logic prove this. Let
us take up the financial phase of
this question. The revenue paid to
railway companies annually, is
about 81, 200, 100000
The little boys essay on man was,
man is small animal that walks
on bis hind legs. He eats in the
day, sleeps at night, and is very
tame; you can touch him anywhere
and he will not kick, just so you
don't touch him on the pocket book.
The American people have been
touched on the pocket nerve, and
are beginning to kick.
The following are some of the
savings as given in the Aroma, by
Hon. Thos. V. Gator, NJ. c., who
is high authority on the question,
having investigated it for many
years; by c. Wood Davis, former
ly a leading western railroad officer,
and by Prof. Frank Parsons, one
of the leading men Of the new
school Of political science.
I. BY abolishing 500 presidents with
their staff, S25,O ,O00, 900
2. By abolishing attorneys and