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Show IVING VOL. 3. Successor to THE SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24. 1897. IT IS NOT TOO LATE. Some people have an idea that because th street car and other franchises have already been granted for a long term of years ahead that there is nothing that can now be done in the way of reform; that the reform spirit has manifested itself too late; that any move in that direction would only be locking the stable after the horse is stolen. T such we desire to say that nothing is farther from the truth. While it is an awful fact that these franchises have been granted for long terms and some of them regranted. it 'is still a (act that they are in easy reach of the people and caa be restored to the people just as though they had not bee granted at all. Many people suppose that the government cannot tmdo what it has done; that after it has graated a franchise or given a warrantee deed to property that such franchise or iprop-ert- y is out ol reach of the government entirely. Such 5s wot the case. For 'instance: You, a private citizen, hold a warrantee deed for a piece of 'land. By your abstract of title you will discover that at some time in the past the gcnenfl government gave a deed to that property, in which it agreed to defend the holder of the deed from all right, titles and claims of others. Yet theigovernmect trot release its own cflaim, as such; it . does retains a right to exact a certain amount yearly as taxes, and this amount must be paid by the grantee by a certain time, and if not so paid, the same government that granted it comes in, confiscates the property, puts it up for sale and sells 'it to satisfy its claim. This it can do and does do every thing year. Then, in fact, there is as a warrantee deed, absolutely. . This point needs not further elucidation. The government does more 'than that. You may hold a warrantee deed to a parcel of land. That deed may be from the government direct to you, or it may have come down to you through others it matters not; and you may have paid all the claims against it in the way of taxes and it is still in reach of the government, which can come and take it whenever it appears that the public weal demands it. In case of war, the government can confiscate and take possession of it at any time. Upon this proposition we need not further argue. But there is yet another wr.y, and the one to which we wish to invite your attention more fully. There are certain institutions which are considered public in their nature, such as streets and public roods. These institutions are considered to be a benefit to the whole people and necessary to the welfare of the public. So the government claims the right, and exercises that right, too, of taking possession of the property for public use, by paying the owners what the property is worth. If a disagreement arises as to the real worth, it is settled by arbitration. The owner is compelled to accede to it. This is called the right of eminent dnmain. These streets and public roods usually remain the property of the government; or, we might say, remain public property. Rail mads are public highways, but are usually considered the private property of r com pany. They are considered quasi-publi- c institutions, but are given all the powers granted to what are considered public institutions in the matter of right of way. The promoters obtain a charter from the government to build a railroad from one point to another. To build it they must have a way over which to build it They proceed at once to make such terms as they can with those over whose lands they pass; but in case of emidisagreement they exercise the right of nent domain, just the same as applies in the opening up of streets. They can go where will or wish of they please, regardless of the the people. This is done under the plea that it is for the public good. Now all property, as we have shown, is liable to be taken for the public good. The only question in this whole controversy is: Are the railroads themselves subject to be taken for public use, as is other property? Upon the answer to this question hinges it all. We say, they are. implies The very term "government have must to A power government power. That is a not it else government. govern mo-suc- h INTER-MOUNTAI- ADVOCATE. N NO. 37 J tl'1 u'lmbor is on tlio lnixl Abraham Lincoln once said: "There can tu'.uiujr yimr uumn, ynuM buttei f Jr J new uiiclity iiiiick, on that m be no vested rights against human rights. R fiimt iHiitt. Noiih s titimlwr uf (lu will lx MMit for a lumcnr tima t f The grand old commoner was right in both . nor ou fur, crodit, paid tiy , law and equity. The right to life, lilerty and the pursuit of happiness of each individu.il "Once more it has been necessary to stands, and should stand, above and over a mind Charles Foster of 0! other rights. When, in the course of human he issutd an order lor plates for n onds at the close of the Harrison admir events, a corporation, for private gain, overrides and imperils the interest, happiness and tratiun, in anticipation of a treasury defied. It is queer that he should deny this fact, life of the people, it is not only a right, but that his order survives in the considering it is a duty of the people to throw off such torm of an official document, says The oppression. If it cannot be done in one way Boston Herald. His forgetfulness is not at all it should be done in another. There is no jueer. He has an Ohio memory. Herald. use in quibbling over terms. We remember And once more we deem it necessary to if reading somewhere of a certain peopl remind The Herald that the plates ordered ho were being oppressed by the governmen jy Charles Foster of Ohio under which they were living. One particular were used most inordinately by the which The Herald helped to way of oppressing these people was to comthem This on to tea. a Herald tax seems affiicted somewhat The elect. pel heavy pay in so injustice yrith forgetfulness as well as Mr. Foster. The outraged the people that they, the absence of any better method of doing best thing, to our mind, for the two old busiit, went forcibly on board the ship and threw hulks to do is to leave the bond-stea- l all the tea into the ocean. Of course, this ness alone by saying nothing about it. was the very worst form of anarchy, but they did it; and, strange to say, there live today We were very forcibly impressed by the men of moderately well balanced minds who language used in a "card of thanks pubactually commend them for their rash act. lished some time ago in one of our exLater on these same people met in a great changes. It was a case where the father had convention and openly declared that govern- killed the mother and then himself; and the ments are maintained for certain purposes children, no doubt inspired by some zealous and "that whenever any form of government religionist, published a card thanking ihrir becomes destructive of these ends, it is the friends for their sympathy, kindness and asfight of the people to alter or abolish it." sistance, in which appear the following words: Notwithstanding their great anarchistic ten- "We bow in humble submission to the will dencies, these people became a great nation of God who, in His wisdom, has thought and were more or less respected by all the best to separate us from our patents. Such world for a long time. We opine that if we sentiments, to us, seem a little hard on God. only had a few such men as those who It certainly makes him responsible for the Tke Deseret News a few days ago con- attended the tea party referred to above, suicide and mnrder. tained a communication from the pen of one there would soon be a change in matters A. A. iRamseyer, advocating the teaching of and Hon. Jo. A. Parker, editor of The Free things in this country. religion in our public schools. He opens the PopRepublic at Louisville, and the discussion by declaring that "it is much to be Rockefeller has given $250 000 to God ulist of the State of Kentucky, leading has found a regretted that the public schools today are again, and we are still paying twenty cents Republican in the person of Hon. J. G. for the kind of oil that costs less than apt o turn out infidels instead of Christians, a cent apoorest to gallon pump and refine. God must Bailey who is willing to cross swords with by omitting from their regular curriculum the be getting quite rich through his partnership him in a forensic battle. They publish He does not with Rockefeller. Wonder what he is doing study of the Word of God twenty-tw- o places where they meet in pi bli: favor the teaching of sectarianism but thinks with all these honest dollars? Perhaps he is debate. There is sense in that sort of camreligious sentiments ought to be instilled int$ buying up the oil fields on some of the other paigning. The trouble in Utah and most when the Sender minds of the children. He ascribes lanets and preparing the way for John n other places is that the Republicans church are too A or organ-zatioother over. any the cause of so many persons willfully swear- le passes that would touch a gift from Rockefel-e- r cowardly to meet Populists. This is particu-lafl- y is accursed. Appeal to Reason. ing to lies in court to be this same want of true of Utah. And, by the way, the teaching the Bible in public schools. He We do not believe that John D. Rockefel- Democrats are no better. suggests the propriety of all the churches ler has ever given God a dollar. Nor do we getting together and rigging a sort of new believe that John thinks he has. The facts The Broad Axe refers to Pat Lannan as Bible, giving only such passages are that the orthodox teachers and preachers "the All as would be acceptable all around, to be used to God a great many mean things; that we have to say is that if his bologna up charge His proposition is ridiculous as a Seat-boothey assert that he has been the author of compounds were as badly selected and as enough, certainly, but it shows the spirit of some of the most outrageous cruelties on incongruously mixed as is his politics, it is these people. It shows that the church realrecord; but the meanest thing they or any no wonder that Josh Billings, in speaking of izes that in order to get a child to swallow one else has ever said about God is that he is pionkeys, declared that "the munky etes the Bible he must be taken young; for after that a man duz eksept bolony partnership with this conscienceless thief. reason once gets a hold on the mind, the We refuse to believe that such a God of everything in so doin he shows moar sines sausage, and job is more difficult, if not altogether impos- mercy, truth and justice would be found in of resen than he duz of instinct. sible. Reason may be dwarfed if commenced his company. We have too much faith in in time, but after it once takes possession of the The fight last fall was one in which the goodness of God lor that The truth is the mind it is not successfully handled. Rea- that John gave these "honest dollars to the issue was clearly drawn. That was a fight son and religion can no more exist in the church, and not to God at all. God has of the classes against the masses. The same mind at the same time than a thing can not seen a cent of it and never will. Instead classes succeeded. The city campaign this be both black and white. Henoe the great of his giving it to God or for Gods cause, he fall is a sort of vest pocket edition of the ' necessity of "instilling religious sentiments in gave it to close the mouths of the preachers same. It is a fight of the money-bag- s against the tender minds of the children. from talking against him. In short, Johns the great laboring, producing classes. gift was only a bait to assist John in stealing A It seems rather tough on God for the money is as a thousand dollars for every one he pretend to say, as they do, that he is runsure to displace and supersede a interest-bearin- g ed to give away. It is his corruption fund, preachers is the country. It seems to us that it money as a combined harvester to his advertising fund; and he would no more ning displace the flail and sickle, or an Elgin give it to the church than he would put it in would be better both for God and the church With the entire dis- the fire, but for the fact that he to saddle the responsibility upon the gold-buwatch is the hour-glass-. expects a big interest-bearinor somebody else. g money we shall return for it. If giving it to the devil would placement of see the abolition of the appallingly enslaving yield larger returns to John, then the devil If the wealth produced by labor does not This will mark would have institution of interest-takingotten it instead of the church. belong to him who produces it, to whom an epoch in the human history more conse- No, Brother Wayland, we think you ought does it belong? Now, we have plenty of quential than any of record before. As it is to apologize to God at once. God is not the to answers that publish space may be to be a matter of education do not neglect to guilty of the charge that you insinuate, at all. sent in to the above question, so dont be do your share in educating your neighbor The Swiss government has so far been backward. and also strengthen yourself at every opporgreatly encouraged iii its assumption of conIt is a fact worthy of note that even the tunity. Labor Exchange checks are very trol over the railroads of the country. Two close to a mercenary, plutocratic press has not had one money. have been made to expend word of commendation for loans have been placed by Exeter branch for Arrangements the cowardly depthe sheriff that and $5,000,000 during the coming year upon shot down one year absolutely the defenseless uty without even clerical fees! Penny Press, Ex- equipment of the lines, and the operation miners. The Tribune even has been silent. will be wholly public before many weeks. eter, Cal. The experiment of government ownership cf The Republican party is a great party; it Under the Single Tax, city land, the railroads in Switzerland was attempted only has been on all sides of all questions. This great natural reservoirs of wealth and fran- after the fullest discussion. The referendum is more than true regarding money. The chises will bear the bulk of the burden of on the subject resulted in an overwhelming Democratic party is no better, only that it taxation, and its weight will be shifted from vote in its favor. It is already announced that manages to be on both sides at one the farmers whose land has little or no value radical reductions in rates are to be made. Grover Cleveland pays taxes on $130,-00- 0, save what speculation has given it. At any New equipment has been liberally ordered, in or less than of what he is rate, the taxes of the farmers will be reduced spite of which the first year under national over Freemans Labor Journal, ownership is calculated to net the treasury worth. This goes to show that he can lie as well as steal several millions. Toledo Union. Spokane, Wash. jower must not only be greater than any rther power within or under the government, but it must in the very nature of the case be more powerful than the ayeregAte of them all. This must be true in a despotic government, else the despot could not govern. It is true of any other form of government. In the United States we have or at least we art supposed to have a popular government, where those who govern receive their power by the consent of the governed. So, to sa that the government has not power to enforct its edicts, or Co say that some power witkii the government is greater than the government itself is to admit that a part is greate than the whole, which is not true and shouli. not be true. Then it is safe to say that anything that is created by the government must in the very nature of the case be a part of the government, and under control of the ' government os a whole. Now, reverting back to the railroads, we believe they are the creations of the government of the people and whenever the general interest of the government- - the people. demands that franchises be abrogated, all the government has to do is to take possession of them under its right of eminent domain by paying what the property is worth, just the same as it takes other property for public use. What is true of railroads 'is true of city railroads, city gas and electric light plants or city waterworks. The fact that these companies hold franchises for twenty or fifty years does not affect the case one whit. So it is not too late. ui-- -i- urruiiKi-uioiit- I ry y Demo-administrati- on, en k. gs g. tif. one-thirtie- th one-hal- f. 4 f . A |