New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-11
4 pOPTIIST TSSI-E

The interest manifested in behalf Of the de-
Populist Congressman and Populist newspapers.
intense and absorbing as it appears. is not by
any means strange or unusual 1t would lie
strange indeed were it otherwise. For the pas
sage OF the bill, as any ore will perceive who
gives the matter a moments thought makes an
end for good and all of one of the visionary
schemes upon which these people-who are part.
ly ureamers and partly demagogneS built their
platform and founded their party. The only
hope they have Of ever carrying ont the policy
of Governmental control and management Of
railroads. which they have made one of their
fundamental doctrines. Is through the nstru-
mentality of the GOvernment-aided Pacific
railroads by foreclosure Of the mortgages now
due. SO long as that question is left open by
the refusal Of Congress To act declsively one
way or the other the Popust party VIII have
cause TO agitate and plausible preiext for
being. With this question disposed OF by the
passage Of the funding bill. there Will he no
possibility of revival Of the Sociastic absurd
ity of Government control OF railroads. For
nothing is more certain than that any PROPOSE
ton TO embark in such an enterprise by means
Of an original investment would he secuted by
an overwhelming majority Of the voters The
aim Of the POpulists and their allies Is 10 pro-
long the existing situation until the opposition
is tired out and the Government is actually
forced 10 take possession of the railroad proper
lies and operate them.
When that time comes the Populisc Chicago
platform. will be vlndcated in spite Of the popu-
lar condemnation Of it in the late election. The
l,ax. hoo inc.r ta1 MI
country will be fairly launched upon the revo-
lutionary career which that document so boldly
pointed out. II is no wonder hen that the Popu-
lists in Congress and in the press straininS
every nerve 10 divert attention from the purely
business aspects of the question in order to post
pone action and keep the whole subject open
for continued agitation. II constitutes very
large part of their sock-in-trade. their political
capital: and their solcitude is perfectly natural.
The moment the funding bill becomes law and
The relations of the Government 10 the roads are
thereby settled definitely for long term Of
wears that moment the plank In the Chicago
platform advocating Government control be-
comes useless lumber. With that gone the sill
yer question settled as II will H. under the new
Administration a reasonable tariff such
as will he passed. in successful operation. there
will be nothing left Of the Chicago platform eX-
cept the grosser Socialistic and Anarchstlc feat
ures which would have no support except from
an insignificant minority of the lawess and dis
orderly.
Nor Is 1t strange either that the opponents Of
the measure should indulge In coarse vitupera.
ton and personal abuse rot only Of the pro-
tectors Of the roads but OF everybody who has
ever had official relations with them. This has
been the common practice In Congress and
elsewhere The reckessness with which il has
been carried on was fairly illustrated few
wears ago when California Congressman
named Henley said on the floor Of the House In
the course OF an argument that " Charles
Francis Adams had his jus deserts he would
be wearing stripes in feon's cell. Mr.. Adamss
offence was that as president Of the Union Pa
ci6c he was respectfully urging upon Congress
the importance OF some settlement OF the mn
satisfactory and Improbable relations between
The Government and the Union Pacific which
should he advantageous 10 both. 1t Is 10 be said
for the present Congress. as Tie Tribune has
before remarked that there has been much less
Of that style Of argument during The debate
inst closed than heretofore IL is to he regretted
that one OF The advocates OF the bill indnlged
tho other day in offensive personalities and
rather vigorous structures upon the motives Of
some Of It's opponents However well deserved
they NAV have been the essential fact remains
that they were not pertinent or relevant 10 the
question.
The vote to be taken today will be not merely