The Osceola times., 1873-10-04
The Growth of Oranges.

The farmers movement, thus far,
seems to have resulted simply in
the formation of numberlcss associ-
ations in its interest without any
very definite or consistent plan of
operations. Their point of unity
is opposition to the extortions Of
the railroads, but the difficulty of
making that opposition effective has
been shown by the establishment
of rates of freight which make an
unfair discrimination between differ
ent sections of the country under
pretense of exercising no discrimi-
nation whatever. The Illinois rail
road law was pronounced uncon-
stitutional because of this unjust
discrimination. and it is pretty clear
that the farmers will have to rec
ognizc the mutually ofinterest be-
tween them and the railroads, be-
fore they can devise any methods
Of remedying their acknowledged
grievances. There are so many in
terests to be consulted in adjusting
these difficulties that any action
stimulated by mere passion is sure
to predjudicc them and injure the
cause of the farmers themselves.
To elect judges and pass laws in
behalf of the agricultural movement
is but small part Of the effort nee
essery to establish it on a firm basis.
Thus far, the statutes passed to IA
yor the farmers have not been sue
cessful. In Illinois, one law was
pronounced unconstitutional, and
another has failed to accomplish its
object, because Of tho inability of
the commissioners appointed under
it to carry lis provisions into effect.
The trouble in these cases is that
too much is attempted at once, and
and that the settlement Of difficult
and complicated questions of the
rcasonableness of charges is entrus
ted to men ignorant of the econom-
ic laws that underlie them. AS the
west needs the railroads as much
as they need the productions OF
the farmers, any action which Grip
plies their development is injurious
to all parties. Capital which Is
needed TO. new lines will not be
forthcoming if it is in danger OF
being impaired by unwise interfer-
ence with his legitimate rights.
The Wisconsin oranges, ut their
recent meeting, asked no more than
is right, that railroads. being pub
lie highways, shall be controlled
by just and equitable laws, but the
point is to decide what legal pro
visions answer these requirements.
The question is more easily asked
than answered, and it is clear that
no hasty and ill-considered meth
DDS can solve it. Cooperation has
been successfully tried on n small
scale in Iowa, and is worth expert
menting with more extensively,
but from the nature of the case, it
can only be partial remedy.
How far The farmers cause will
be benefited by political action re-
mains to be seen. The failure of
the labor movement to accomplish
satisfactory risults by this means
should be warning to the farmers
who are in danger of being the tools
of INSCRIPTIONS politicians, anxious
only for the promotion oftheir own
selfish interests. 1t is difficult to
see how political organization
can advance the interests of farm
ers, whose claims come more prop
erly under the jurisdiction of the
courts. The reasonablencss or I'M
rcasonableness of freight charges
will have at last to be decided by
the regular tribunals, aud laws
which assume to govern them must
stand or fall according to judicial
decision on their validity or inva-
lidity. Doubtless something can
and will be done by legislative
action to redress the grievances OF
the farmers, but such action, to be
beneficial, must be in harmony
with the principles of mutuality
and justice applicable alike to the
railroads and the granges.-[ Bos.
ton Globe.