The independent., 1905-02-02


shown. They were surprised and con-
fused at some declarations made in
this paper during the last two or three
weeks. 1t appeared, therefore, that it
will be necessary to again state some
of the fundamental principles OF pou-
ulism.
In the first place the populists are
indiyidualistic rather than socialistic,
conservative rather than radical. That
fact was pointed out in very able
magazine article by Mr.. Albert Wat
kins, of Lincoln. Neb., two or three
years ago. 1t is only the original, mate
depravity of mankind that induces any
one acquainted with populist principles
to call populists either socialists or
radicals.
There was another statement made
by The Independent that samewhat as
founded some of the learned gentlemen
OF the university and leading lawyers
of the state. It was that in all reason,
the government has just as much right
to regulate farm as it had to regulate
a railroad. A thing cannot be private
property and public property at the
same time. The attempt to get away
from so plain proposition by calling
thing asi-public, was miserable
subterfuge. Populists deny that the
government has any right to regulate
and fix the income on private property
of any kind and when it does do so it
practices a most reprehensible pater-
nalism.
Populists do not believe that rail-
road can be private property and pub
lie property at the same time, al
though our most learned supreme court
of the state of Nebraska has SO de-
cided. A railroad is either public
highway or a private highway, and
cannot be both If it is private neither
the state nor the United States hassany
right to fix rates or regulate its busi-
ness in any manner whatever under our
constitution and form of government.
The railroads are right in making that
contention and some day the supreme
court of the United States will so de-
eide. 1t is not conceivable that thar
court when it is forced to meet that
question squarely will decide that a
piece of property can have two legal
owners at the same time, that is, that
it can be owned by the public and by
private individuals. We have had some
strange five to four" decisions, but
never a-self contradictory decision like
that
The attempt to conduct the govern
ment with the highways privately
owned has caused the courts to "wrig-
gle in and wriggie out" good deal
over such an anomalous condition of
affairs. Any number of decisions can
be cited that railroad is public prop
erty and just as many that it is private
property, but not one that it is both.
When it comes to that point the courts
evaded it by using the phrase quasi
plbiic," which does not mean anything,
quasi being a Latin wor1 that means
"as it were,' ''in manner" "appar-
entity" sa
The courts have decided that the
states and the United States can regu-
late the charges on these railroads, but
it is the> baldest kind of paternalism.
IL is assuming just as father assumes,
that his children have not the knowl-
edge and ability to manage their af-
fairs as well as he can manage them.
Now populists don't want anything of
that kind. they have no use for a
paternal form of government constant
ly interfering with their private affairs.
What populists believe is this: Ever