The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-03-24
GOVERNMENT BY INJUNCTION
biblical Recorder.)

The expression is latter day one, and
very popular. 1t was used largely on the
campaign last fall Two events have
brought its meaning home to the people
OF North Carolina. Not long ago there
was rate war between the two rail
way systems that cross this State. One
of them had broken away from the come
bination agreement of more than twenty
systems and was cutting rates to an eX-
tent that demoralized the traffic of the
other: whereupon the latter road (the
Southern Railway, had the Federal
Court to issue an injunction preventing
its competitor from reducing rates
More recently a strenuous effort has been
made by the Governor, representing the
State. to test the lease Of the North
Carolina Railroad to the Southern Rail
way. Now this latter has petitiOned for
an injunction from the Federal Court
TO prohibit the Governor from opposing
the lease. A temporary injunction has
been issued, and the question of granting
a permanent one will be heard in the
Federal Court. All this may seem quite
we'll to the Southern Railway, but lawful
or unlawful, just or unjust, it cannot fail
to strike the plain people as cowardly
and high-handed. To operate a railroad
in North Carolina and refuse to repose
confidence in the courts of North Caro-
lima. is enough to breed suspicion; to go
further and get the Federal Court to
estop the Governor of North Carolina
from doing what he thinks his oath of Of
fee requires him to do, is enough to breed
an unfOrgetting hatred. We say lawful
or unlawful" ''just or unjust because
if lawful and just, citizens of North
Carolina will not have TO be forced to
recognize the Railways rights; and if
unlawful and unjust, to force them to
submit will only heap up wrath against
the day of wrath. If the people are sus-
picious of the corporations, it is not in
nate, it is not their own choice, it is not
prejudice without cause, they know the
benefits of them; but it is because corpo-
| rations have consistently evaded laws
throughout this country and because
| railroads have meddled in politics to a
dangerously corrupting degree. Politi-
| clans boast to their friends that they
have certain railway behind them
| we may as well be plain-they boast that
| the Southern Railway is behind them
when they are seeking appointments, and
/ this is regarded the certain assurance of
success. Whether Cleveland or McKin-
| ley is President, the candidates for APP
pointive Offices seek the backing of this
railroad. Now we are friendly to the
| road: it is a great advantage to North
| Carolina, but for no consideration on
earth should a citizen stand quietly by
and tolerate it's tampering with our gov
eminent. AS for the injunction of the
Federal Court, it is contrary to the spirit
Of the fathers and Of the constitution. 1t
1 wipes out the last vestige of States
Rights. The people may tolerate it, but
they will not forever. These courts are
now the favorite resort of the corpora
tons, trusts and railroads. So far as we
know there has been but one judge of
these courts whose decisions were not on
the side of these enterprises-Walter Q.
Gresham; and all the precedent Of politics
was overturned to tempt him to accept
another Office, which he did Judge Sim.
ontOn, who issued the injunction agains,
the Governor, and who will hear the ar.
gument for and against permanent in.
junction, came to Raleigh the other day
| In the private car of an official of the
Southern Railway, boldly, defantly, re.
gardless of the ermine he wears. There
may be some who fondly hope the peopls
will submit to this kind of judges, but If
we know anything about the people they
may for time, but they will not long.