Year: 1874


ing internal improvements was precise
ly right. Capital should seek its own
level and find employment through pri-
vate enterprise, unaided by the federal
government. But this good old doc
trine was hardly ever observed, and has
almost become dead letter. So far Is
the south is concerned, vely little bene-
fit comparatively has accrued from pub
lie disbursement. The north, on the
other hand, has been an enormous reci-
pient of government bounty. The
south, therefore, is entitled to
some fayors from congress; and the


more aid she can get therefrOm, for her
own substantial veal, and relatively the


benefit of the whole country, the better.


There is one grand railway which the
south needs, and that is the Texas Pa


cific. With very little aid, other than
their individual fortunes and the back
ing of great corporations, the gentlemen
connected with this enterprise have


made immense strides toward linking
the south with the Peaceful Sea by
bands of iron. The true route from New
York to San Francisco or San Diego is
the southern air-l line. Had there been
no war this is the route which would


probably have been fixed upon, instead
of the Central Pacific. Had it not


been for the disturbance of the
finances, since the war, work on


the southern route would not have stop


ped for a single day. Difficulties of an
extraordinary nature have arisen, ID


consequence of the monetary crisis all
over the country, and the work is tenn


porarily suspended, awaiting future


plans for urging it forward. The ordi-


nary sources of assistance in the United


States-private capital-have, for the


moment, become imperative. European


capital has grown timid, and is not at


this time available. There is only one


powerful agency that can be brought 10
bear successfully, and that is congress.


That the south will be pTofited in all


parts by the early completion of this


railway we think indisputable. That


the south is justified in claiming some


share of the public favor for internal
improvements nobody can deny. If
the power disposed to grant the neces-


sary aid can be secured against the pos
sibility of loss, We see no reason why
there need be any hesitation in the
matter. If valid security be not possible
Of ObtaiDment, there is the end of the
matter. But it is believed that the secur-
ity is ample, and can be placed beyond


peradventure. The people Of the north


and west have been immensely the


gamers by the Central Pacific, costly


and ice-bOund as 1t is. The south should


have her route to the Pacific and to


Asia, If il can be legitimately acquired


by timely and well-fortitied guarantees.


Such a route completed, we believe it


would be the more popular and better
paying of the two. 1t would inevitably
create activity in all railway centers,
open vast regions now isolated or unpro-
ductive, and bring unusual streams of
trade and travel to our interior and
seaport cities. Until we are placed on
something Ike business equality with
the st ctiOns beyond Us, our improve
ment must be tardy and even problem
atical. For these reasons, We are in
clined to use extraordinary exertions to
compass that equality, or chance of it,
in the commercial race with our north


ern neighbors. Trade with the Pacific
slope and the Orient has grown to gi-
gantic proportions, and the limit is
almost beyond computation. This We
can share, at the very least, by having
railway connections such as the north
possesses. Our route would be the pre-
ferred one in winter for freight and
travel. Self-iuterest will lead thou
sands this way, and thousands would
for the mere novelty of the thing, if for
no other assiguable cause. Large
emoluments would necessarily halt at
various points on the main line. Many
strangers who came to Tidicule would
remain to make common cause with US;
many who came merely out of curiosity
r-N, - rsrr
industry would have probably sudden
impulse given lt-maBufactures, min
ing, commerce, immigration and agri-
culture. The railway system of the
north has in a great measure made that
section a prosperous and populous re-
gion. A railway system in the south,
which embraces the continent, would,
in the tide of time not very remote,
bring to this section the agencies of
power and wealth now in allegiance aud
only waiting legitimate development.
As we understand it, this is not project
to serve any special locality or interest,
but to inure to the general good
of all. 1t will be q fruitful source
of revenue and welfare to the eni e
south and the common country. No
one State or portion thereof will grasp
the lions share. The chances for all


will be relatively even, at the start, af-


fording fair opportunity for honorable


competition in friendly struggles for su-


premacy in riches, civilization, art and
science. Investigations growing out of
the affairs OF the Union Pacific railway,


which revealed the existence of cor


rupt ring known as the credit mobilier,
have caused the public to be suspicious
of all schemes looking to congressional


aid. This suspicion is a proper one, but
| it should not destroy really import
ant projects, free from faint of cOrrup-
| ton, and for the furtherance of which
indubitable and satisfactory security
can be given. In case the Texas


Pacific railway company can be proved


blameless as to their intention, as they


certainly are striving for the welfare of
the south, cOincidental, of course, with


their own; aud if they can furnish guar
antees that will not fail to honor every
advance made them by the United
| States congress, a little assistance ac-


corded them at this juneture may not
be detrimental to any portion of the
/ pountry and may DrOVe of inoStimahla