The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-04-25
SECRETARY HERBERT - | A q
NJ lTHE TRUTH. -

u
truth when he said that the South ought
to encourage the investment of capital
| stating that '.ne:ther unfair laws nor an
unfair attitude toward cooperating IN
tstrumrntafitics of development tsueh As
our Southern r;ailroad), can permanently
| exist in the South. He predicts, ana
predicts truly, that. thereois no place IN
the South for the politician itwho INDUCES
| in Wholesale and indiscriminate abuse OF
corporations"
There, ought not to be any place IN
public life. in the South or anywhere else,
for either the man ''who INDUCES in
wholesale and indiscriminate abuse Of
corporations or for the man who is 50
perfectly thencreatrrre of corporations
that he shuts his eyes to- their abuses and
their attempted domination Of Legislative
assemblies. The wise man and the pa,
triotslis he who gives encouragement to
large corporate enterprises, assisting
them in the development Of the resources
of the country and holding them within
the legitimate scope of the purposes for
which they were chartered. Ai''7 'oat
A railroad is the chief material ciyilizer
of the age. The extension and success of
these common carriers is essential to
progress and development. 1t is the
business of a railroad to haul freight and
passengers and to develop undeveloped
sections. In this work there should be
earnest cooperation on the part of all
progressive communities. 1t is not the
business of railroads to dominate poll
teal conventions, secure the appointment
of its favoritets on the bench or to other
high positions, or to control legislative
bodies. When it attempts to do these
things for which IT was not incorporated,
1t is is much the duty Of the people to
say: Thus far shall thou go and no
furtber,'' as il is their duty TO help in I'll
other ways. 1t is hard to tell who is the
worst citizen the tool of those political
corporations that seek to, become the mas
ters of the peopleior the demagague who
rails at legitimate corporations.
The political corporation apologists tell
us that they are forced to go into politics
because the people Cypress them unless
they control the people. We deny that
there is any such spirit among the people
90. a whole. Now and then a Jury may
be improperly influenced to mulct a rail-
road for unreasonable sums. but as a
rule they get justice, 1t may be truly
SAID that where one jury is inclined
against them two judges incline their ears
to hear their wishes. ~ I" h-7 i.
In the Interview quoted above, Mr.
Herbert gives an instance showing that,
as a rule, even in cases where juries are
severe on railroads, the managers of the
roads have been chiefly responsible for
the prejudice. Mr.. Herbert, speaking Of
the fact that the Southern people are
Anglo-Saxon, have been trained ito ven
crate law and order, to have regard for
presidents, and to stand for whatever has
been tried and found to be good-they
love justice and they hate Injustice
adds: -.
Il remember an instance that IL
Illustrates this very forcibly.h Some
twenty-five years ago | was attorney
for a part Of the Mobile & Montgom-
cry Railroad Company and it was
for time almost impossible to get
justice for that company before
jury along the line of its road The
manager, having been irritated by
claims set up. ordered, against my
protest, that wherever a suit should
be brought. no matter for what, it
should be fought through all the
courts to the end Tins policy Of
Tended the people along the line, and
juries made the company pay dearly
for it. This Mobile Il Montgomery
gomery road subsequently, became
part of the Louisville & Nashville
Under the present wise management
of that road there has been for many
years manifested a disposition to set
tie all proper demands on fair terms
and to accommodate and help along
public enterprises, and SO there has
been complete change in public SEN
timent, and the Louisville and Nash
vile can now go before a jury with
feeling of confidence that was i'm
possible under the old system
Exactly so. When a railroad and an
individual does equity, it viii be entitled |
to equity and will be accorded it, but |
when it dominates politics and policies,
makes habit Of removing its cases from.
The vicinage to Federal or other courts |
on the ground that it cannot get justice,
brags that it kills and makes aEve-then
ii is responsible if the people cry out
against it and refuse to bend their necks
for the halter and if they meet such a
spirit with like spirit.
Mr. Herbert has done well to vindicate