The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-11-29
Tho Propaganda OF Disunion and
Hatred.

Railroads used TO placate predatory
Legislatures. They employed lawyers
for tho purpose. Railroads had no
choice. II was pay Or be plundered.
Lawyers OF the Depew type minimized
tho blaclmail which was universally
comprehended to be blackmail and &C
quiesced in az such. There was no illu-
sion ON the part Of the public respecting
It's nature. It was condoned, not con-
demned. In fact Mr.. DEPEw would
probably observe, in this later stage Of
his practical philosophy. that il was part
Of the political system Of both parties,
practised by the one in power, denounced
by the One out of power.
From minimizing blackmail with
money IL was but a step to acquiring
privileges and exemptions by the same
means. Thus it came about that an
excellent understanding grew up all
ver the country between the railroads
and the Legislatures For a time it be-
gat comfort; but there is an unwritten
law touching corrupt relationships; cor
ruption yer breeds corruption within
corruption's self; and with the appetite
on each side growing more and more
Unsuitable disruption came.
Tho lawyers who manipulated the
Legislatures saw the value Of the knOwl-
edge they had gained and presently
themselves levied tribute on the now
defencelass railroads, coupling their
new industry with the most passionate
espousal OF the moral and destructive
preoepts Of the Presidential tho United
States. When the word went forth from
the Great Executive that II the several
States did not bestir themselves to regl-
late and chasten their creatures the
corporations, the Federal Government
would speedy relieve them Of that privi-
lege and duty by new constructions
Of the Constitution then every black
mailer and demagogue in the country was
on the alert.
The old railroad lawyers. rich in the
knowledge gained in the service Of the
corporations, blossoned forth into re-
formers and patriots. and committing
Mr.. RoosEvELr's text book to heart
made the air to seethe. This they did
in defiance OF his bitter but truthful de-
nunciation Of them and their entire class,
he having with unerring acumen detected
them a. infringers and pirates from the
start. and gibbeted them accordingly in
a message to Congress. The railroad
lawyers did not care. They had a real
audience for Once in their lives, an
audience warmed up and prepared for
them by Mr.. ROOSEVELT himself, and they
addressed themselves to the task.
1t was not long before the propaganda
Of destruction and confiscation outdid
that of Mr.. ROOSEVELT himself. The
obscure and shady lawyer became the
States most noted and conspicuous son,
and upon the wave Of hatred and malig-
nifty he himself had started rode trium-
plant into the States highest Office while
the corporations fled to the cold but re-
ceptive bosom Of the receivers.
Chaos has ensued pretty generally
where this has happened. II is not
everywhere that Mr.. ROOSEVELT has
been able to ensconce a Judge who Is
properly saturated with RooseveItian
contempt for the Constitution and for
common sense, whence It has resulted
that there are arising on all hands omi-
nous conflicts between the Federal and
The State authorities. wherein the curious
feature is developed that the i'll paid and
mcOnsidered Federal Judge proves to
have a rooted respect for his calling, for
the Constitution and for his obligation
& the law Of the land. Il is an inspiring
spectacle to see some Of these Southern
Judges handing down decisions in the
teeth Of an infiamed mob. led by a Gov
ernor Of the State-handing down deci-
Ficns as if they had an army to enforce
them when there Is nothing to sustain
iicm but the courts own dignity anu
s-nse Of self-respect.
In the sinister unrest and turbulence
in which Mr.. ROosEvELr's long and ardu-
u agitation has plunged the country
il is TO the bench that honest and law
abiding men look for the rees,ablishment
Of order and stability. The example
which the Supreme Court Of the United
States has air. ady more than once al
forded. and the growing gertrude that
the Federal machinery Of Justice Ia only
IN small part perverted from les legiti-
mate rlaatiSnsth esa sEs thias tAat