432 THE GROWDSWELL. 



justice. Long since the corporations have ceased to trust in 

 appeals to juries, such as are commonly impaneled. For 

 what man competent to weigh evidence does not evade the 

 jury box if he can? 



These questions intrude themselves in determining what 

 is a reasonable rate. The companies are mulcted upon every 

 opportunity, and the numerous depletions necessitate the im 

 position of high rates. 



The people complain of being overtaxed. Then, why do 

 they create the necessity ? However flatly the leaders of the 

 anti-railroad agitation may deny that their misguided action 

 has precipitated the existing crisis, it is none the less a fact. 

 Their threatening attitude destroyed confidence in American 

 securities. Why should a foreign capitalist invest in a West 

 ern railroad in whose management the owners are told they 

 shall have no voice? Practically, the farmers of Illinois, 

 Iowa, and Wisconsin say to the capitalists, &quot; Come, and build 

 us railroads ; then we will run them, and you shan t put in 

 a word.&quot; The moneyed men are not such fools. They are 

 independent ; we are not. They can live without us ; but 

 can we thrive without their help ? They gave us the start. 

 Have we enough to carry us through ? The vast territory 

 west of the Alleghanies is comparatively undeveloped. There 

 is ample room for millions more of industrious men. How 

 can they be induced to come ? What agency has made the 

 country inhabitable? What has shortened distances and 

 lengthened life by saving time ? What has enabled us to 

 compass in one day what consumed a season in the time of 

 our fathers ? The steam-engine. Who now shall run it ? 

 Shall experts, who comprehend the laws of motion, or shall 

 it be left to men whose primal qualification is that they can 

 distinguish a short-horn from a Galloway ? 



Ignorance and folly never exalted a nation. Certain 



