Year: 1875



 Union and Central Pacific railroads, and have descended upon their victim like the wolf on the fold. Regularly as the sea- son comes, the winds and waters and snows gather from space and seem to se- lect this devoted line of land for the grand yearly high carnival Of the elements. Each season, the telegraph or what is left of it, tells of the fierce assault of the storm from it's high laid ambush; of the satirical washoutS and demoltions and bIockades along this emblem of mans prowess; of stornd-bound passengers ea- gerly availing themselves of the long sought chance to find ort what patience and canned oysters will do fer the mind diseased; of delayed love letters resulting in images torn from hearts forever, or un- til the next mail; of western merchants imprecating for the return of their more certain "steamer day." and eastern mer- chants praying for grace their hearts to soften; of life long attachments from a confined association of few weeksi Of the entertaining romance in one volume year that the immaculate management of these roads is determined, in the face of heaven, to rebuild their road so as to out last the golden macadam of the new Jeru- salem; of seemingly endless chapter of monotonoas damnation. Were you ever there? No! Well, If you are man Of family and love your wife and children; if you are a constant attendant upon di- vine ministrations aud enjoy the peace that passeth all understanding; if your walk and conversation are void Of offense toward God and man; if you contribute regularly of your means, to keep those unfortunate people on Greenland's icy mountains; if you have all these pleasing traits and rejoice in all these good works, and if you wish to become just the oppo- site kind of fellow; if you wish to lose your young gazelie and have your life blighted and blood turned to gall, just get stuck on one of those everlasting railroad breaks.

 But the most permanent injury likely to result from these yearly breakups is the unnatural appetite which their regular re- currence is fastening upon an unsuspect- ing nation. Nations are but individuals grown great" in mum bers, and retaining in their changed state all their original faculties and propensities. Now it is with in the Knowledge and experience of even children that the most nauseating eXperi- ment can soon become a fixed habit riv- eted with iron bands. Instance, tobacco and vinegar bitterS. Another well known fact is that the individual, (and so the na- tion.) falls into habits and uses as the leaves fall on the gentle breeze, so softly and gently as to scarcely notice descent until the rude shock of contact. Can il be that this great American nation is re- sistlessly drifting into a morbid state whose cravings can only be satisfied by the yearly increased quantity of breakups on the Union and Central Pacific? We recognize the startling nature of this h. Quiry, and while we are not of those who would needlesSly disturb the surface of political economy ner unnecessarily agi- tate the old ladies of the nation at their tea, we are also not of those who cry peace when there is none. We call upon the na- tion to go into a severe cross examination on this subject We caH upoE the states men of the country tOlay aside all modes ty or bashfulness and to calmly ask them selves if the morbid stimulus Of these reg ular Pacific breakups is not becoming a necessity to them, without which they would feed lost. And recalling to their aroused conscenceS the general surprise of the people at the Texas Pacific defeat in the last Congress, we would nail their wandering attention with an inquiry whether this defeat was not brought about by their besotted attachment and growing slavery to the intoxicating breakups. Ifl it be so, (and it must be SOL they need not fear that confession will result in vitu- peration and obloquy. If confession shall show that their taste for breakups has be- come irremediably fixed, (and it must be so fixed, if at all J we shall say to them as we say to the inveterate opium eater, -' continue 10 eat that you die not" But we want this confession as an opening wedge for our own relief. There are a number of people in these United States who, through less exposure to temptation, have not acquired a taste for breakups and who could actually live and be hap py from year to year and never feel the need of them. This unaddicted portion would not deprive you of your little com forts; your nature demands such things, take them and God bless you; but don't force down our throats thing we don't like, don't hanker after and that makes us sick and also makes us swear. Keep