The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1873-04-19
ABOUT D0OGING.

1t is very silly prctence,that ofthc Ottawa
RepuJltcdH, that there is any difference be-
tween The position of that paper and the FREE
TRADER, or between that paper and any other
ii the state so far as we know, on the question
whether the railroads of this state should be
compelled to obey the constitution and laws
in prohibiting eXtortion on the part Of
the railroads or unjust Determinations in
their charges for ircights and fares. That is
a point on which all the newspapers, politi
clans, public men and voters of every class
except the owners and managers of the rail
roads themselves, profess at least to be per
tcctly agreed The trainers Of our state con
stitution were agreed on that point, when they
inserted the clause which compcls the legisla.
turc TO pass laws to punish such eXtortion and
unjust Discrimination; The legislature was
agreed on that point when it essayed to pass
laws in conformity with the constitution; and
the Supreme Court is agreed in expressing its
readiness to enforce such laws,
Nine-tenths Of the people of the state, with
the Legislature and the courts being thus fully
agreed and standing on one side with the
railroad companies and their pensioners on
the other, what more is there to do? Shall
we proceed ri It armis to enforce the laws?
Our Legislature has just passed law reQuir-
ing the railway commissioners, on the com
plant Of any citizen, to take the necessary
steps to have the laws against the railroad
companies enforced by the coHrts at the eX
pcnse of the state; and at least until the at
telapt in that way has been made and ,taijed,
we presume nobody is foolhardy enough to
talk about force and arms.
Then the fight is over? SO far as the battle
between the farmers of this state and the rail
roads is concerned it is virtually over. They
have attained everything that can he attained
at present, at least, in legal way. OF course
it is not pretended that the farmers should
therefore gather up their arms and retire from
the field. They must stand fast to their posi-
ton, They must keep up their guard lines
keep out their pickcts watch the movements
Of the enemy closely, and take good care that
he RECEIVERS none of the ground lost or gains
any other advantage But the first battle,
which was short, sharp and decisive, has been
won, and the fighting, until the enemy shall
break out in new quarter, is over.
But where the FREE TRADER and the Re
ppbiicaR are net agreed, is exactly here: The
railroads arc but one branch of vast system
of monopolics in this country, all brought in
to being and fostcrcd by state or national LEG.
islatiOn and many Of which are robbing the
farmers ten times, nay hundred times more
grevou>ly and outrGccously than the rail
roads, and the FREE TRADER contends that
the fight Of the farmers, having accomplished
all they can for the present against the rail
roads, shall be enlarged, SO as TO grapplc with
these. The FREE TRADER has been en-
couragcd in urging the farmers Of La Sale
county to take this step from the fact that in
Kansas, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and at numer'
Gus local meetings in this state, the farmers
have already enlarged their platform so as TO
embrace the whole range OF swindling and
blood sucking mOnopoics. But the Ottawa
R6puJljcaa, with the whole tribe Of radical
politicians, having from the beginning stood
in deadly fear that this farmers movement
might result in something that would injure
theradical party, opposes this enlargement of
the battlefield for that sole reason; and vast
numbers of the farmers, who care more about
the republican party than their own good, we
are sorry to see, have caught the same infrmi-
ty. To attack the tariff, the shipping and cur
rcncy monopolsts is necessarily to attack the
very vitals of the republican party and they
dare not do It.
Very well IF the farmers of La Sale coun-
ty as body say 50, we are content. Let them
cling to the radical party and thus fight the
battles for the monopolists as of gore. But LET
Us tell them this: The short, sharp fight with
the railroads has opened the eyes of thousands
to the vast piunderings of the great horde OF
other monopoles, and the democratic party
taking up the ti@ht where the farmers leave
off, will yet win in spite of the perfect Grill
and incxorable discipline Of the great but cor
rupt republican party.