608 THE IMPENDING REVOLUTION. 



trifles. Yet the farmers have complained, and, complain- 

 ing in vain, have got angry." 



For years the managers of railway systems have been 

 controlling the greater part of commerce between the 

 States; for years the people have been robbed by these 

 modern uncrowned but no less powerful kings. 



There seems to be but one remedy for the evils grow- 

 ing out of our present railroad system. It is for the 

 government to take absolute supervisory control of the 

 roads, or, by right of eminent domain to become the 

 owner of the roads by gradual purchase. In advocating 

 this remedy we are not unaware of the fact that it is stoutly 

 opposed by the adherents of the two great political parties 

 in the country, and by the subsidized press. But for many 

 reasons which it is not our purpose do discuss here we be- 

 lieve it to be the only correct solution of the transportation 

 problem. The roads are public highways and of right 

 ought only to be operated for the public good. Any sys- 

 tem that is not for the public good that is detrimental to 

 the public welfare is and of right ought to be subject to 

 public control. Men talk about "Chartered Privileges" 

 and " Vested Rights." If a " vested right" becomes a 

 nuisance a public wrong it is no longer a "right," 

 vested or otherwise; for a right can not exist in a wrong. 

 If such was a fact a man's right to carry on a slaughter 

 house within the confines of a densely populated city could 

 not be questioned, provided he held a deed to the property. 

 No man has a right to operate against the public welfare 

 and against their expressed will. 



Private interests must give way to public good. There 

 is no reason why all the highways should not belong to and 

 be under the control of the government. England owns 

 and controls the greater part of her railroad system. Prus- 

 sia owns about all of the 20,000 miles operated in that 

 kingdom. France will, in a few years, have acquired, by 



