Semi-weekly interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1881-1905, 1899-08-22
TRUE DEMOCRACY.

/
on which MIR. Taylor stands, opposes
IL The platform of the disgruntlet
faction, on which ex-Gov. Brown stands
does not expressly either favor or op'
pose IL. Since this bill vitality affect.
the material interests OF the people oil
Kentucky, IL would be well for them 10
understand its nature aud object, as
we'll a. the reason why the Legislature
may lawfully exercise the power to en-
act IL. The bill gives TO the railroad
commission the power to determine
wether railroads charge excessive rates
for the transportation of commodities.
aud to restrain them from making such
charges. Clearly this is in the inter-
est OF the people. They should not be
subjected to excessive burdens In pro-
viding for themselves those necessities
which belong to mankind in a social
aud civilized state. The most worthy
efforts of philanthropists aud political
economists the past 100 years, have
been directed to the vital point OF
cheapening the cost of living. II peo-
pie habitually pay more for what they
consume than the thing consumed Is
worth, there is a gradual waste o. sub
stance. 1t is equally clear that no per-
son. natural or artificial, has moral
right to charge to the consumer or pro-
Queer greater price for the commodi-
tv than it is worth. II he should do So
he gets something for nothing. He is
guilty of moral theft or robbery. In
morals it is more despicable than win
ming money by gaming, because the
former may be done within the forms
OF human law and the latter Is done
outside the forms OF human law; and II
has always been the contention of the
democratic party that legalized ROB
berry, robbery under the forms OF law,
such as is committed under protective
tariff. is more despicable than the act
of the highwayman or gambler because
IL adds cowardice TO turpitude. The
ordinary gambler aud robber take the
risk OF detection and punishment and
may exhibit amid general immortality
degree of manly courage. But he who
takes something without returning an
because be is not restrained
by a penal code, is neither honest nor
Now the democratic par
ty. through the McChord bill, simply
proposes To prevent by law. the rail-
roads from making excessive charges
against the people: that IL, from taking
something for nothing, from resping
where they have not sown. IL is not In
tended to destroy. TO cripple or To i'm
pair railroads In their great and bene
fetal work, but only TO keep them by
inst laws, as even the best OF natural
persons must be kept, within salutary
limits. To do this, works no wrong 10
railroads. The old maxim Is that right
wrongs nobody. That public institu-
tiop which cannot subsist without OPP
pressive exactions from the people who
maintain IL, should cease business. IL
corrupts itself and ruins its constituent
CIV by one and the same act 10 much
concerns the people that railroads
should not make excessive freight
charges. There may be but few ship
pers. but those who consume the arti-
Gle shipped are legion. When the le-
gion purchase, the charges for trans
portation are added TO the price paid.
The merchant who sells to the farmer
must have cash. carriage and profit.
How does il occur that the Legisla-
ture has the power TO prevent excessive
charges This is question one may
put. He says TO himself, any
private person may ask and receive Tor
his commodity just what he pleases
and the Legislature can not lawfully
prevent him and why may not a rail-
road do the like? The answer is plain
and IL grounded In the difference be-
tween the measure OF rights enjoyed by
the private citizen and corporation
enjoying public privileges, Such a cor
poratlon is public institution. In It's
creation IL is given some powers which
ordinarily belong to the sovereign or
the State. Among these powers is the
right TO condemn and appropriate any
citizens property for it's own use
against the will of that owner. IL Is
permitted by the State to do this only
pom the theory that 1t is primarily to
exercise all its powers for the use, ben
eft and advantage of the people and In
no single Instance against their inter-
est. This Is the contract between the
people and the railroads. The people
their Legislature, say to the
promoters OF railroad, we will give
your company many of the sovereign
powers which we alone possess; among
them the right TO condemn any indl-
viduals property for your own use II
you will operate your railroad first Tor
the advantage of the people and sec
ond, II aught remains for the advan-