The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-01-14

streets.
THE sovereign power of the State
(Which, if properly exercised, is the
will of the peopleD has already con
ferred upon particular individuals and
Incorporated associations of individu-
ais especial advantages and privileges
in the use of our stroets-the streets in
which, primarily and justly, all have
common property and equal right. To
a certain extent, the public have thus
vacated their property-the streets-in
order that railroad companies may
properly use and wisely employ the
streets in their business of transporta
ton.
Let US keep in mind the fact: A
railroad franchise is a particular priv
lege, a privilege granted to particular
private persons or corporations. A
privilege which exempts those persons
or associations from the ordinary rule
of the road and from ordinary, or
what we may perfectly specialize, as
strictly equitable jurisdiction. 1t has
been frequently suggested, of late, that
the municipality should resume abso,
lutte jurisdiction over its own streets;
should reposs9ss its highways, use it's
own property, become it's own tenant,
and thus secure to itself the full rental
value for the use of it's streets; and the
suggestion has been made in full be
lief that the property would be better
cared for, and it's owners the public
better served if the owner were thus
also the tenant. / think recent history
IN our city has, in some degree, Invited
this conclusion. If, however, there be
some way of securing from private
tenants of public property full annual
rental for it's use, and without the COM
plications and responsibilities of ex
tending the public functions into bust
ness enterprises, that way would be
a rational and practicable improve
ments upon present methods. Why
do I say that way is p~racticable7
"An approving public sentiment is
essential, and public enlightenment is
very desirable, before any radical
readjustment Of public functions or re-
of government methods
should be attempted. No government
of intelligent people will long continue
to live, 0 is fit to live, which does
not rest upon the will and act only by
the consent of the people governed.
Individual efforts to enlighten the pub
lie upon matters of political economy
are usually confronted by a general
suspicion that the person who under
takes that thankless task is a self
seeker-has an axe to grind; and the
suspicion is too frequently confirmed
by the facts. This suspicion promotes
q spirit of conservatism, around a re-
energy, encourages that pride
of opinion which possesses every one
of us-the opinion, quite independent
of intellectual force-the security that
we are right. Yet is it not true that
Oftenest our opinions are simply the re
suit Of that which has perc plated into
minds consciously or unconsciously
from our environments and our asso-
Citations, and are not the result of our
intelligent thought7 These very re
liable neutrality-suspicious. and the
logic of events-are entirely exempt
from that suspicion which Often unde-
servedly) attaches to all individual
efforts toward public enlightenment.
I'm Brooklyn we have had expe-
which have made US mindful
Of events and familiar with facts con
corning our railroad systems. The en-
.ightment acquired by such schooling
commends itself to your serious oonsid
Grafton. The popular mind of Brook
has been thoroughly disgusting
municipal railroad question. But
how, without conference with each
citizen, can we know the popular mind
Of Brooklyn upon this question: Events
have answered that question for us.
all know the political candidate
-or office and his way. We know that
no unpopular proposition is relished by
1im. We know that the announce
of the most sublime truth, Or
proposals Of the most needful reform,
f il be unpopular is more terrifying
him or his touch than O. snake to a
monkey. Personal or party success is
lis sine qua non How to win popular
approval and thus secure votes is the
oredominating post-election consider
Gtion.
THE recent very close election in
Brooklyn was not an unmixed evil.