The Rock Island daily Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1872-1873, 1873-10-28
Why Farmers Should Interest Them
selves Personally in Politics.
THE INFLUENCES OF MIDDLEMEN---oLD
AND NEwFARM LIFE---TkANsfOhfA-
TON, &C, &C, &C.

while portion OF the work OF the ianV
OF Husbandry, like that OF the uanl- |
Odd Fellows, and other similar e!oes'
ties, is secret, while il has ce ,rt
orders, honorary titles ana ssne sh 90
these are mere incidc1ts es' NY enoN"
iects--that 1t me9Bs pr u VI iuipiOne
th,t he s,bstapfidl doe mental and NOR
,ha ,a.,er;,I iaterenl privileges of the
~ aL.-a,,sr aragest and most import
o..,bsrs ac ,fial interest Of our country
81 1sd.bd in what way this design shall
TSwmplshed will depend upon the in
heent efforts and patient cooperation of
ne members themselves.
THE FORMS AND SYMBOLS OF THE ORANGES.
There may come time when all the
observances and ceremonies with which /
societies Of this kind hedge themselves in, 4
and the forms aud symbols with which
they eudeavor 10 make their proceedings /
attractive, will be banished by that severe
taste which loves TO contemplate truth as
pure abstraction. But that time is very
distant and the millennium will tread close
upon its coming. Some of the critics who
are wont 10 sneer at the official titles and
degrees conferred by the oranges would
be giddy with delighted vanity il the mean
est and most proAigate monarch who ever
sat upon throne would salute them as
'Sir Knight
While the soldier follows the flag with
inspiration OF courage, and will lead a for
lorn hope for the sake of ribbon; while
the parade is bright with the glory of gold
lace while the church has its stained win
dows, its organ and choirs ministers their
gowns and bands and surplce while ey-
cry state occasion or event has its pre-
scribed ceremony while colleges and uni
versities annually pepper US with A. Ms,
d. Dis and l.. Il. Dis, while everybody
who is u member Of the civil government
is Hon. and everybody who is not is
Col, or ESQ, why should not indus
trg, too, have its cOlors, and holding its
patent from nature, confer its titles and
degrees Why is not the knight of the
Plow' a. honorable title as the knight
Of the jarter?' or why not the decoration
Of THE Horse be worn as proudly as
that OF the Elephant of Denmark, or
Black Eagle OF Prussia Since from
the constitution of our nature the forms
and shows OF time are part Of mans life
upon the earth, we need not reject these
which are images of peace, the coinage OF
civilization, while clinging to others which
are emblems of war or relics of barbarism
Whoever has studied the growth of our
population must have observed an increas-
ing tendency toward
CONCENTRATION IN TOWNS AND CITIES,
and that in the large cities--centres of cap
ital, commerce aud manulacturers-thei in
crease is IN greater ratio than in the small
er, which depends upon the local trade for
support IL is noticeable, too, that cities
where population and capital are coneen-
trated have year by year a greater relative
influence in shaping the general policy of
government In them public opinion is
massed, aud can be thrown Immediately
upon any given point They support the
great newspapers, attract the leading men
and surplus capital. The great moneyed
interests, and schemes which have in cities
their centres, are never without special
and plausible advocates They organize
lobbios, and have agents and attorneys be-
fore every important legislative and con.
gressioual committee Their influence is
thus felt directly and specifically az the
time and place where il is wanted. To
illustrate No capital of the same amount
IN this country perhaps in the world, has
in the same time averaged as large profits
upon the Investment as that of the nation
al banks The security for their bills Is
government bonds, on which the banks re.
eeivG interest The medium with which
they redeem is government notes. The
number OF banks is limited, 50 that they
havea monopoly OF the privileges they enjoy,
THE INFLUENCE or THE BANKS UPON THE
CURRENCY.
IL is probable that, but for the influence
of the banks themselves aud the public
opinion they have been able to create, the
government, handling, as il does annually,
from one hundred and fifty to two hundred
millions in gold, aud collecting and dis
bursting in gold and currency every year an
amount equal 10 more than halt the entire
circulating medium required by the bust
ness Of the country, with credit based
upon a continent, aud supported by the pa
triotism and interest Of the whole popua
ton, would long since have furnished the
currency direct, making the profit on cir
culatiou a common benefit, and have made
its cxchangeablo value equal b. gold. The
people themselves are entitled 10 whatever
profit there is from the circulation OF bills
or money, which could have no value but
for the credit given by them, aud for whose
redemption their own bonds are pledged
The problem is not difficult one, but its
practical solution has never been earnestly
attempted II any banking house enjoyed
the credit, commanded the resources and
handled the money the government does,
il would find no difficulty in making its
bills OF par value with gold. Whenever
any financial policy is proposed it is Wall
street that is heard. First, because Wall
street, having special interest, will speak;
second, because we are apt o. cOucede that
Wall street, having made this subject
specially, has a right % determine. In
truth, the Wall street interests should bear
about the same relation 10 the industrial
pursuits of the country that the hands on
the dial do 10 the machinery Of watch.
II the main spring and wheels are right,
you eau easily adjust the hands 10 register
the movement.
Our tariff represents no general princi-
pie or policy either Of protection, Incl
dental projections, or revenue only but
is patchwork clearly disclosing just how
far such special interest seeking protection
was able ~ make itself heard.
THE PUBLIC LANDS FOR ACTUAL SETTLERS.
If there is any principle of governmental
policy upon which all party platforms and
public speakers, candidates, ofiice-holders
and newspapers agree. it is that the public
lands should be held for actual settlers. If
the sentiment could be put 10 rira D0ce
vote, one universal Aye would go up
from sea TO sea.
But we have have had land bounties to
soldiers for military services, land scrip to
agricultural colleges for educational pur-
poses land.scrip for the extinguishment of
of Indian titles, swamp-lands 10 states for
reclamation purposes, Immigrants to rail
roads-and somehow these do pass into
the hands Of spectators, for the most part
and the chorus of that very musical motto
in American politics, Homes for the
homeless, dies away on the ear.
instance these illustrations not to find
fault, but to show how much and how nat
urally legislation is influenced and directed
by the immediate interest which presses
its claims at time, place andoccasiOn. One
positive will effects more than an army Of
neutralH. Tine man xyhe L,o..,, l.