The record-union., 1896-02-15
UNREAsONING HATE.
Blacklisting and BlackmaiIing Methods
Denounced.
(From the Antioch Ledger)

Blacklisting and dBlackmaiIfng Methods
Denounced.
(From the Antioch Ledger)
The San Francisco Examiner" pa
rades in black letters, and calls it a
black list, the names of prominent citi-
zens who do not believe in Government
ownership of a barren worthless rail-
road, and who believe in funding the
railroad debt. This is a species of wan
ton intimidation that would make a
gorgeous buccaneer blush. 1t has also
sent Ambrose Bieree, that cold-blooded
assassin of character, to Washington to
report proceedings in Congress bearing
on the funding bill. If this means any
thing, it means that the mud batteries
are to be opened at both ends of the
line. Don't all this smack of black
mail? A black list in big black letters
is kept standing at this end, and at the
other end the black calumniator, the
fiendish yiIifier, is putting the black
letters together All argument is
scorned. They seem to rely entirely
upon intimidation and abuse. Does
this show rectitude of purpose? Does
it prove that the railroad debt should
not be refunded? On the contrary,
does it not look like hold-up-like the
stand deliver of the vulgar road
agent? In a certain sense the highway
robber believes he is justified, on the
broad ground that the world owes him
q living, and he don't take the trouble
to argue the proposition when he halts
the stage. He presents his gun and as
sumes that argument is unnecessary.
This seems to be the peculiar policy
pursued and adopted by the Exam
iner." The most successful lone high
waynan and character bandit to be
found in the whole State is sent on to
Washington to halt the stage at that
end of the line with his infamous in
vective At this end the hold-up is
made with black letters, and every man
who honestly believes that the debt
should be funded is pilloried. We SUBJ
nit that this smacks of blackmail pure
and simple.
IF Huntington should say to Congress,
'Take the railroad, forecIose the mort
gage, for the road is worthless and
can't pay the debt, and I don't want it
any more" then howl of Indignation
would be justified. But when he says,
Although the road does not pay, is
not worth the money; if you'll give more
time, renew the mortgage. I will pay the
debt" we don't see why it is not a
simple business proposition. 1t is the
way ordinary business affairs are set
tied. Tt is common sense. If the bank
held a second mortgage against the
Ledger" and if foreclosure meant
that there would be no money left after
the first mortgage was paid off, what
would be the common sense proceeding?
If the Ledger would assure the bank
that it would pay the whole debt if
given more time. the bank would give
the time. The management of the bank
would be regarded as foolish and idi-
otic If it did not do so. This is precise
ly the way that Congress looks at the
railroad debt. If Congress should
foreclose it will not get a cent If the
time is extended it will get every dol
lar. Under the circumstances, as a SIM
pie business proposition there seems to
be nothing else to do. Indeed, as above
remarked, there would be room for
criticism if Huntington should insist
that the Government must take the
road for the debt This would look like
reputation of a debt and be dishonor-
able. The 600 miles of road, standing
alone as it does, in an unproductive
country, would be worthless to the
Government. It could only be valuable
to the Government if the Government
operated all the railroads as it does the
postal system. Hence, if the road will
pay the debt if the time is extended,
that is the precise thing to do. There
is nothing else to do.
Abuse of Huntington is no argument.
Because the management of the rail-
road has oppressed the people, and in
many instances has been disgraceful,
does not affect the particular PROPOSE
ton of funding the debt. Because the
railroad has been an octopus or has
strained the latigo to cinch the people,
is no reason why the people should lose
what is due by an idiotic foreclosure of
the mortgage, if by extending the time
they can get every dollar of the debt.
Suppose, to carry out the above illus
tration, that the cashier of the bank
would want to foreclose his second
mortgage because he hated the Led
ger" If he insisted on foreclosing the
mortgage, so that the bank would lose
everything the directors of the bank
would regard him as a fool and an
idiot and fire him from his position. In
private walks money matters are not
governed by passion or prejudice, and
there is no reason why public affairs
should not be thus influenced. The
person who bites his nose off to spite
his face has always been regarded as
fool.