The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-03-28
Ghe W(essenger.
a STRONG COMPLAINT OF .PUBLIC
DANGERS,

DYIEIldA oOOC1 = oH
lic Dangers" One danger is bitter
and prejudiced criticism and condem-
nation of public men," Doubtless
there is excess and cruel animosity as
indicated. But where one public
man" is relentlessly and too severely
assailed, scores who should be sharply
criticised escape, and have hot praise
from blinded admirers and subsidized
organs. We have no idea that politi-
clans like many New England men,
Reed included, and hosts of other dem
agogues and slanderers, have had one
word too much in condemnation of
their course. We cannot think that
creatures like Hanna, Quay, Alger,
Sherman, ct id omne genus, were ever
~unjustly assailed. Doubtless wrong is
sometimes lone to honest and well
meaning politicians, but where one suf-
fers once he is over-praised perhaps
five times.
The Observer finds another danger,
and its contention is perhaps well bot
toned 1t writes of the tyranny of
great corporations over the individuals
of a community" And yet ever great
trusts are praised and the members of
them receive incense offered by per-
fervid devotees at their shrines. In
yesterdays Messenger it was seen that
a Britisher, Professor Ashley, believed
in trusts, eulogized trusts, and was
ready to gush in their laudation.
Blessed are the ~all-devouring trusts,
Was the little song of this subject Of
John Bull. He pointed to the giant
Standard Oil Company as do all the
worshippers of the Golden Image set
up in the temple of Mammon. There
are a hundred others that have made
prices higher. Look at that curse to
North Carolina, the greedy cigarette
trust, how it has cut down prices to to-
bacco farmers from 25 to 40 per cent,
as the warehouses have declared.
The Observer complains of favors
granted to the great corporations
over individuals of the community"
1T has grievances at home, and touches
up the city railroads. We make an ex-
tract that will give information. 1t
says:
These corporations have been allow
ed privileges which are never granted
TO individuals, and most of them rem
der no adequate return to the cOmmun-
aty. Upon the contrary, they rule the
subordinate citizens with rods of iron,
give them a poor equivalent for their
occupation of the streets, monopoly of
transportation, illumination, telegraph
and telephone communication. 1t is
reclaimed by city railroad companies that
they furnish cheap transportation be-
cause they charge a moderate fare for
"a long ride, but every taxpayer is pay
ing a huge price for the privilege of
riding in thes cars. He pays for the
lying out and paving and cleaning and
lighting Of the thoroughfares through
which all these cars run, while the
companies nominally pay a small Ii
cense for their privilege. A real estate
owner pays a regular tax for each foot
of his holding. The railway company
mo. only pays no tax for the street
which it occupies, but deprives the cit
izen of his right in the street, by COW
ering it with rails, making it difficult
and dangerous for him to drive his car
riage or wagon where cars are con-
stantly running and obliging him to
give the right of way to every motor
man and conductor. For such enOr-
NOUS franchises and infringements
upon personal liberty, the railway COM
panies give in return a system of trans
p~ortation which is slow, dirty, indie
Gently crowded, and largely controlled
by vulgar, abusive and utterly incom-
petent employees.
Not a day passes without offenses
against morality and decency in these
public vehicles, complaint and protest
are utterly ~unavailing, travellers are
hustled about like cattle, slight accl-
dents are of constant occurrence, and
the public are steadily demoraiiZed by
the abuses which are inflicted upon
them, and which they tolerate in a sort
OF helpless good nature. Emboldened
by their success, some of these compa-
mics defy the people and the law"
A strong Indictment. That is the
way it is in the enlightened, upgrade
north. They do things better this way.
The conductors behave d%ecently, and
the conductors on all the long lines are
noted for courtesy and gentlemanly
conduct. Not long ago we heard a lady
tell of the coarseness, the incivility of
conductors she saw in travelling in New
England. Why do not the New York
the wrongs and offenses described?
Do the great corporations really own
the people and the legislature?