The Placer herald., 1872-11-30
TO THE FARMERS OF CALIFORNIA.

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of society, the address of the Farmers IN
ion, proceeds as follows:
In PLACE of the master, he has by his own
neglect, by failing TO keep up with the spirit
Of the age, by want of assnciation for mu-
,ual, individual and general improvement
and for the promotion and ennobpg of his
own calling. BY want Of combinations for
the protection Of his own interests against
the association Of other cIaeses, he has become
practically the slave Of modern society. TO
"A great extent the lands he culliyates are
morigaged to the banks and mon;ed men of
the towns and cities for the loan of the very
money which they have accumulated by his
oppression, and he is compelled 10 pay uch
rates Of interest as their greed may dictate.
Even worse than this, by the political nhu-
encc of these money loaners and their assoel-
ates in interest, our laws are so made that
The borrower is required TO pay the govern
rent taxes, both ON the land and money lor-
rowed as well as on the growing crops, plan
red with that borrowed money.
Again. when HE farmer is so fortunate as
to produce a surplus, and desires 10 send that
surplus to the best markets, whether at home
or abroad, he finds that not only The carrying
facilities of his own county,, but even those
of the high seas of the world a.e as efiectu-
ally united and combined against i'm as if
owned apd controlled by one man. And not
withstanding the article he has for sale bears
high and remuneraive price in those mar
kets, the exorbitant freight demanded and
forced from HIM for moving it leaves no
profits.
1t is a mortfyins aud humatirg fact to
the farmers of this State, who haze this year
produced 20 ,0C0 ,OC0 bushels Of wheat for
export, that one man 10y lis combinations
with capitalists, railroad, steamboat and yes
sci owners, has almost as complete control
over them and their wheat as though that
wheat was bis own property and they his
slaves, That one man has the power to III
force his will or wish in regard to the dispo-
sition and price Of that wheat with the same
absoluteness as though he had the whole
force of the government at his command.
This is not only very nlorlifyng and hu-
initiating fact to those farmers, but very
expensive one, costing them in the aggregate
from S15 ,0OO 600 to $2O, 900 ,OGO.
Another reason OF complaint may he men
toned, the habitl,al exioriion, 10y many of the
| thousand ana one Illutie IUtil, tHdt III t'hS
State stand between the producer and the
consumer, and demand and receive the lion s
share of eac, article they get their hands on,
for the performance, TO ii large ext ut, OF an
unnecessary labor. The custom Of these
men have grown to be SO burdensome and
exacting and so oppressive both to the pro
ducer and consumer, that in many portions
of the State, large quantities of pershabe
products, such as fruit and vegetables are
annually allowed TO go to waste rather than
send them TO market, and the producers are
unwilling losers OF millions.
By the combinations Of the dist Hers OF
whiskey in the Atlantic States and The man
ufaciures and sellers of poisonous connections
in our own State, the introduction and use OF
our own pure products of the vine, both
there and here is not only prevented, but
our manufacturers are forced to pay an eXac-
ting aud unjust tax upon every gallon pro-
duced, thus discouraging and gripping an
industry which with fair show would soon
become one of the most profitable in the State
and Weld an annual income of millions to our
farmers.
We copld 90 on paping the causes of COM
plant, nd the disadvantages under which
we, as "A class, are laboring bnt farmers
need not he told of their grievances. Their
bitter experience This year should be sufficient
to arouse them TO sense OF their position
and to impell them to think and act for them
selves before the power TO DO so Is entirely
wresied from them.
The remedy lies in our own hands. We
must assert, recover and MAINTAIN our origi-
nal and riaAifu position in the body polite.
Being the nursers and supporters, we must
resolve no longer, Voluntarily to remain The
slaves Of non prodncipg classes. Let as learn
and understand our real position Let us
enter this struggle, for a struggle it really
will be, not for ourselves alone, but Cor our
pos,erity--for the good Of The Stale and nation
for the perpeluality Of the reality of repub-
can institutions. For, rest assured that
when the agriculture of cur country shall be
pernenanly subjected to any other interest
and shall cease TO prosper, then her hand
maids, manufactures and commerce and all
the other industries will lnger, and in time
die for want of ood History repeats itself
and the fate of ancient Carthage, Troy and
Babylon, Greece and Rome, may serve as
warnings to us.
Then let us be up and doing. We must
meet our oppressors with tie same means
they have invented to use against ms. We
must form associations with which 10 meet
ASSOCIATIONS. We must make combinations
with whcih to oppose combinations. And
first of all we must have good understand
ing among ourselves.
We must establish mutual confidence,
become acquainted with each other, compare
notes and exchange ideas, frequently associ-
ate and talk together. And out of this So
cia intercourse and mutual interest will grow
plans for the attainment OF our just and hon
orable aims.
A good beginning has already been made
| in the ORGANIZATIONS of Farmers Cluhs and