Year: 1873




The recent strikes by the railroads for in
creased pay for running postal cars furnish
but another proof or the necessity Of more
definite and stringent methods OF dealing with
corporate monopoles. For six years the annu-
al pay for mail service on the railroads has
been annually increased. ani at the last ses-
SION OF Congress half million OF dollars ex-
ira we're appropriated for this purpose. With
in few weeks, and just after Congress ad
journed. and the hands OF the Postmaster
General were tied, the Presidents OF the lead
ing railroads gave the Department notice that
they would withdraw the postal cars by the
first of April ensuing, unless they were paid
about 100 per cent. in excess OF what the law,
or previous contracts, allowed. The carrying
out OF this threat would have prevented any
asserting Of the mail in transit. and would
have set the service back where it was ten
cause these Presidents saw storm brew
ing-the execution OF the threat was suspended,
not abandoned. Whether the compensation
allowed is enough or not, we do not say; hut
the fact disclosed, and most clearly obvious, is
that the public, even t5e Government, is left
at the mercy Of corporations. II these cor
poratlons may refuse to run postal cars unless
they are paid their own price. and may change
their pIice whenever the lit takes them, they
may at auy time in'erpose such obstructlors
to the rapid and faithful transportation Of
the mails, as will be equivalent to practical
suspension OF the service on their part.


Our readers are familiar with other exam
pies which have served 10 awaken serious re-
tlections in regard TO the current railway NOR
ality. and the influence which great corpora
tions are exerting upon the public cdaracter.
The turmoil among the Western farCecs shows
how they are beginning 10 feel 10 regard to the
dangerous power such corporations WELD ia
the present order Of things The very eXls-
tence Of the largest class Of producers in the
United States, not less than tae correspon-
dence upon which every sort Of business de-
pends, is declared to be at the mercy o. the
railroads. But the evil is aggravated ten fold
when We consider their control upon the public
virtue. Some OF the strong men Of the land,
of supposed elevation and purity cf character
have not been able to withstand their power
to corrupt. They made tie judiciary Of New
York Kissing and by-Gori, and filed its
State Capitol with corruption which infected
both parties.


When these corporations reduce the Leg
islatures TO serytude. what are the people
to do? What can they do? II like the man in
modern fable who spent hls days in the artd-
cial construction OF a man who, as soon as be
was made. became the master OF his maker,
these corporations also, as soon as they are
breathed into life, turn round and defy the
authors or their being. must people and
Legislatures tamely succumb, They have been
so long privileged and Petted, and allowed
freedom from regulation or restyaiut OF law,
that they really think they can treat the gov
ernment as their servant, ana not their sover-
eigu, aud menace the entue nation with q de-
rangement either OF public or private buisi-
ness.


the people need TO be reminded that they
have the power in their own bands. These cor
porotions WELD a tremendous power, for they
represent a wealth almost fabulous-surpass-
ing that OF the mlghtiest monarch; but they
may be taught TO remember that railroads are.
after all. but the creatures of iav, and have
no rights which the law does not grant. IL,
therefore, they assume unwarrantable prvil-
eges, the State can interfere and perscrite a
straight jacket. She can interfere to protect
her citizens from the despotism Of orgsniza-
tons of any kind whatsoever. IL so, then the
men who are fighting against those exaotions
which prove ruinous to the industry OF o
large portion of the people, are not beating
the air, but are engaged in work which will
sft the pretensions of the corporations, and
cause them to feel their responsibility to the
power that gave them life.