Year: 1873

The cause Of the people is marching
onward with dauntless stride, conquer
ing and to conquer. The Legislature
Is now organized, with the exception
of few minor attaches to be chosen
by the Assembly. Thus far the anti
popular influences have not succeeded
in carrying single point, and there is


reason to believe that they will here


after be equally powerless to promote


evil or prevent good legislation. The


election Of Estee as Speaker, through


the concurrence of both Democrats and


Republicans, was q just Reorganization


by the House of the predoninating


independent sentiment of the State.


In that body, whose blood is drawn


fresh from the public veins at every


session, and which consequently indi-


Gates more accurately the latest


changes in the currents Of popular
thought, the new political movement


has fair plurality of representation,


which would have been augmented in


to majority or even tOtality had


the Independent organization been.


more seasonably and generally inau-


gurated. 1t was eminently proper


that this newest political birth, upon
which the people have SO unmistakably


bestowed the badge ftheir favoritism,


should receive considerate attention at
the hands of its elder bretheren; and
therefore the elevation of Estee to the
speakership was graceful tribute on
the part of Republicans and Democrats
to the majesty of the sovereign masses.
In the Senate, the contest for Presi-
Il ~ Ia l.


road and anti-railroad fight. We do
not wish to be understood to say that
all the Republicans in that body are
railroad men. On the contrary, some


of the staunchest opponents of mono
poly are to be found among their num-


bers. But unfortunately, they are in


the minority, and by supporting the
party candidate give aid and comfort
reluctantly, no doubt-to the popu-
lar enemy. The railroad managers


strove for control of the Senate, and
the disposal of it's important chair


manships through the Republican Or
ganization. The election of Evans
would have been claimed, and must
have been conceded, as q railroad vic
tory. To prevent consummatiOn so
| devoutly to be abhorred, the Indepen-
dents, who are numerically weak in
| that branch of the Legislature, joined


with the Democrats in support Of


Irwin, in whose election a popular tri-


umph was achieved more signal even


than that already gained in the House.
| The Senate was the railroad strong
hold. If it had been possible to effect


a combination strong enough to con-


troll its organization, form its commit
tees, and warp its legislation to suit
the pleasure Of our railroad magnates,
| the course of benefcent legislation
would have been effectual clogged.


However strong hand the Assembly


might have extended to protect public
interest or redress public wrongs, its ac-
tion would have been paralyzed by the
Senate. For all legislation affecting


railroad interest there would have been


a perfect deadlock. Aware that the


control of this single department for


defensive purposes was equivalent to
dominion over the whole Legislature,
the railroad managers concentrated all
their forces to effect its capture. The


fact that they were defeated after
three days struggle, demonstrates at


once the desperation with which they


fought, and the hopelessness of their


being able to seriously interfere with
the future current of legislation. The


fight was fair one on their chosen
field of combat, and their defeat was


railroad Waterloo.-[Sac. Union.