Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-03-19

and Is familiar to all who are posted on
the war of secession. how the rehe'a'
was captured by Federal spies, ana
how the Confederate crew rushed from
the breakfast station to recapture their
engine, engaging a hand-car suIhcieh'
distance TO get the Texas which was
on a side-track several miles above, ana
then pursuing the Federal VINO hao
gone ahead TO tear up the tracks and
burn the bridges to prevent the road
from being used to the advantage OF the
Confederate army, and. finally, how
the General was overtaken nearly at
CHATTANOOGA before the crew could ac-
compllsh their work OF destruction. Here
one finds two old-fashioned locomotives
figuring I'm history like creatures that
live and breathe. When II is considered
that a monument has lately been erected
In the silent city of the dead. where lay
the Unions soldiers at Chattanooga, to
this old engine the General surely the
sentiment holds good-the locomotive Is
our fellow-citizen.
GREATEST WORK BEGUN.
but let us carry this sentiment one
step further. When the smoke OF battle
had been lifted and the roar of artillery
hushed, when wild wars deadly blast
was blown and gentle peace returned
then did those two old engines appear in
scene quite as pleasing as their former
incident had been thrilling, for twas
then that the locomotive began its great
est work Cor this Countrywide work OF
making peace between old foes. Where
is there an agent so powerful In healing
wounds of war, in bridging bloody chasms
and restoring peace, contentment and
ease? How aptly does the picture Of TIE
General and the Texas az they ap-
~ bot
States trailing the white flag Of peace
back and forth down Sherman's dlsas-
trous march, interchanging the commerce
OF the South with that OF the North,
bringing immigrants from across Mason
and Dixon's line to the fertile FIELDS OF
the South, so lately drenched with the
blood OF martyrs. who lay shrouded In
their uniforms of blue and gray.
Then, indeed, did the railroads become
the firmest pillar meath the structure OF
this republic; then did the locomotive as
sert its strongest claim 10 citizenship.
He mingled the warriors OF the North
with the warriors Of the South, with
peace restored at time when the latter
were turning about their arduous task
of building up that new industrial South,
which is yet destined to prove the saliva
ton of this country. He brought the
capitalist from New England to invest
his millions in the rich lands of the South,
and plant their factories and Industrial
enterprises here. In turn he took back
from those mills their products TO the
trade centres of New England, thus hrmly
establishing a country's commerce ana
causing foes TO form friendships which
never could have been formed through
trading circles or of social spirit without
the locomotives part In the reconstruc-
ton of this union of States.
ut has been said in very truth by the
historian, Swinton, that the private SOL
diers of the Confederacy bore the war
for four long years upon the points OF
their bayonets, and so may 1t also be said
that the locomotives bore the brunt or
reconstruction upon their pilots.
KNIGHTS OF PEACE.
'oThe South was poor, and these knights
Of peace brought treasures TO lay at
her feet. Never did slave render more
arduous service. = All honor to the men
of wealth in the North and West, who
at a season such as this turned loose
their wealth In the construction or rail-
roads through the South, and sent these
messengers down with their tidings OF
brighter DAYS to come The locomotive
was an educator He gave instruction TO
the people of the North about the simple
customs and faith of the people of the
South. and in turn taught the people OF
the South to terms of friendship with the
people of the North. based upon the
principle of q better understanding. Inc
two sections had been standing TO-
ward each other in estrangement because
the people of the two sections were not
better acquainted. The stage-coach could
not make them acquainted, but the loco
motive did.
Taking the chilled mortal from his
snoW-clad home in New England this
giant of civilization brought him down
10 the garden gates of that bright land
of the South and babe him enter therein.
And what a field there was here opened.
Here I'm this land of Dixie, the fairest
land, and the best Gods sunshine ever
warmed or his sweet breezes ever cooled;
a land where grains and grasses catch
sunshine and dews in sheaf and stalk
for the sustenance OF man ana beast
a land where fruits ripen Wild IN snruD
and tree: where corn grows sweet anu
sound. and cotton blossoms into glory as
the seasons come and go-here In this
land of peace, plenty. and contentment
should men render richest tribute OF
praise TO our fellow-citZen, the loco
motive. and the men who owned him and
sent him to us In our season or dis
tress. How ungrateful must be
that human soul who would go
about the persecution of such friends as
these have proved. How deploraDie'
should the day ever come, when thelr
civil liberties shall be more keeniy re-
strictedi
ENTITLED TO A PASSPORT.
How essential that the people beneht-
ed by such forceful powers should give
the locomotive ready passport In this
land OF liberty! And, when l say gave
passport to the locomotive, / mean give
lenience to the man who owns this va
liant servant, for after all 1t is the
masters part in our Industrial progress
the slave typifies IL we can look with
friendly and grateful interest upon the
locomotive. the same spirit must needs
be extended TO him TO whom it belongs
This line of argument, however, WouIu
lead into the mysteries OF pOllucs, q
field not contemplated in the purpose oil
my discourse, so l Will pass on WIN
the simple statement that the locoino-
tive. as citizen, has rights whlch
should never be restricted by legislators
blinded to the VERY interests OF the
people they representa- the halls Of ma
tional and State legislation. nave al
ready said enough TO show That the IN
terests OF the railroads and the interests
Of the people are identical-a TACT that
needs no argument before all fair-minded
men. The citizen should treat the To-
connective and all that he typihes and
stands for just as though he were one
OF the body polite.
"In treating the subject before me
the locomotive as citizen--it Is needful
10 point to the marvels OF modern
travel which he has wrought. WHAT
world of interest lies here. Pictures
formed in our minds in the early days
of travel in the East, or dark-eyed sui
tanas clothed in the beauteous fabrics