Year: 1873

comes, ''show the railroad corporations


what he knows about railroad law" It is


said that he has already told the farmers


of Framingham, in his own State, that he


is in favor of making the railroads sort


of government highway, over which each


man can run his own car, under proper


regulations.


This story about General Butler and


the railroads emanates from correspond


ent writing to the New York World, and


though Democratic authority is always to


be questioned when treating Of Eepub-


licans, we give the story as it relates to


railroads in Massachusetts. It is said


there are certain provisions in the charter


Of the railroads in that State, which pre-


scribe that after the earnings of these


roads amount to certain percentage on
the capital, under certain defined and to


be defined conditions, the railroads may
revert in some way to the State. This re-


version, however. it is said, can not be eff


fected without the unified action Of the


Legislature and Governor. The earnings of
the Massachusetts railroads are said to have


long ago amounted to the percentage pre-
scribed in their charter provisions, but as
there never has been Governor. or Leg
islature that had the courage or thought


it worth while to meddle with railroad
influence in that State, nothing has been
done to enforce the law in regard to
them. The right Of reversion, if en-
forced. it is contended, would add mate
rally to the revenues Of the State. IT is
said that General Butler proposes to
enforce the laws in regard to railroads;
and that he has given the people Of
Framingham an inkling Of this in telling
them that he was in favor Of making the
railroads sort Of government highway,
| over which each man could run his own
| car under suitable regulations. Well, no
| one should object to the enforcement Of
the laws. President Grant proclaimed in
his frst inaugural that be would enforce
the laws-a duty imposed on him by the
constitution-and his faithful adherence
to this wise determination has endeared
him to his countrymen. If General But
ler aims to follow the example of Presi-
dent Grant in this respect, and proposes
to enforce laws when he becomes Gov
ernor that have been permitted to become
Of k,,&o
by doing so confers great benefits upon
the people generally, and the farmers spe-
cially, he will be entitled to the thanks of
all who can appreciate acts intended for
the public good. Certainly the effect Of
such conduct would not be confined to
Massachusetts,. It might be expected to
have an influence il every State where
the people are actually suffering
from the ex:ortions Of railroad incorpora-
tions OF otherwise. If General Butler
desires to be Governor simply to redress
the wrongs Of the people Of his State his
ambition is most praiseworthy. 1t should
secure for him unanimous vote; but this
can hardly be expected, even in good old
Massachusetts. where the Democracy, in
days gone By. suffered so many defeats at
the hands of its ancient foe-the Wing
party-led on by the giant intellect of
such gallant champions as Webster and
Everett. Of the East, and Clay. Of the
West


His election viii te bitter pill for
our Southern Democracy" who really
love to hate the man who restored New Or
leans to the Union and made its rich rebels
divide some Of their wealth with those
whom the rebellion had reduced to point
of starvation. We are inclined to think
they would view it as an upward tenden-
cy'' Of General Buffers political prospects
that might possibly result in bringing him
prominently before the American people
as presidential candidate; and as much
as the Southern ''Democrazy' find in Our
worthy President 70 dislike at present, they
would undoubtedly be the first to consent
that he should serve a third term, and
would vote for it if by doing SO they could
check the "upward tendency" of General
Buffers political career. No man ever
more thoroughly took the starch out Of the
upper crust Of our Southern secession
Democracy" than General Butler when
he was here in 1862, and for this reason
the organs of that class Of politicians
at the present time make him "a shin
ing mark" for their political sharp shoot
ing. They never knowingly omit a shot |
at this great chieftain, not only Of Massa-
chusetts but of the Union. And now when
they are made to see more plainly than |
ever that his star is in the ascendant, the |
public should not be surprised at the |
sharpshooting that is already heard along
the entire line Of the enemy. But it is
very apparent that the enemies of repub-
lican principles and government. in this
country will meet the same determined
resistance in the future that has proved so