THE FARMER'S TTAR AGAINST MONOPOLIES. 251 



public. Each of the great railroad monopolies has its 

 representative, who does on a small scale that which 

 Vanderbilt accomplishes in his regal style, and each is 

 dangerous to the community, as being engaged in a 

 struggle against its best interests and most cherished 

 rights and privileges. 



Such vast power as these men possess would be a 

 source of danger in the most disinterested hands. It is 

 doubly so in the hands of men who are engaged in such 

 a warfare against the public as the railroads are now 

 carrying on. The people owe it to themselves to cur- 

 tail their powers, and to render them harmless by sub- 

 jecting them to a series of regulations which shall 

 compel them to respect the rights of the community to 

 whom they are indebted for the very existence of their 

 roads. 



The people have the right to do this, and it should 

 be done promptly. There is no necessity for placing 

 burdens upon the roads heavier than they can bear. 

 They have a right to a fair return for their investments, 

 but they have no right to plunder the public. A series 

 of wise and liberal regulations will protect the people 

 against railroad tyranny and extortion, and at the same 

 time enable the roads to do a profitable business. 



