The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1873-06-14
The Farmers Declaration of Independence

|
! Instead of the old Declaration, with which
everybody is familiar, the exercises on the 4th
may be varied by reading the New Declare.
ton OF independence, as follows:
FARMERS DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.
When in the course Of human events, it be.
comes necessary for class of people, suffer
ing from long continued systems of oppres-
sion and abuse, to rouse themselves from an
apathetc Indifference TO their own interests,
which has become habitual; To assume
among their fellow citizens, that equal sta
lion, and demand from the government they
support those equal rights TO which the laws
of nature, and of natures God entities them
q decent respect for the opinions of mankind
requires that they should declare the causes
that impel them 10 course 50 necessary TO
| their own protection.
We hold these truths 70 be scltcvident, that
all men are created equal; that they are en-
dowed by their Creator with certain inaliena-
BILE rights; that among these are life, liberty,
and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure
these rights governments are instituted
among men, deriving their just powers from
the consent Of the governed; that whenever
the powers Of a government become destruc-
| tive of these, either through the injustice or
| inefficency Of its laws, or through the cor
ruption of its administrators, it is the right OF
the people 10 abolish such laws, and to insti-
tute such reforms as 10 them seem most likely
to effect their safety and happiness. Pru-
dence indeed will dictate that laws long es-
ltablshed shall not be changed for light and
trifiing causes, and, accordingly, all expert
ence hath shown that mankind are more dis
| posed to suffer while evils are suiterable,
than to right themselves by abolishing the
= LsAI at.,t,N nI mi
when Il long train OF abuses and usurpations,
pursuing invariably the same object, evinces
desire to reduce a people under the absolute
despotism of combinations that, under the
fostering care of government, and with
wealth wrlng from the people, have grown
to such gigantic proportions as TO oyershadow
all the land, and WELD an almost irresistible
influence for their own selfish purposes, in all
its halls Of legislation, it is their Tight-it Is
their duty To throw of such tyranny, and
provide new guards for their future security.
Such has been the patient sufferance OF the
producing classes Of these states, and surh Is
now the necessity which compels them 10
declare that they will use every means save a
resort To arms 10 overthrow this dc>potlSm OF
monopoly, and to reduce al men claiming
the protection of American laws TO IN equal
ity before those laws, making The owner Oh Il
railroad as amendable thereto as the " Nerle.t
beggar that walks the streets, the sun ana air
his sole inheritance"
The history OF the present railway m9hoP-
oily, is history of repeated injuries and OPP
preston, all having in direct object the
establishment of an absolute tyranny over
the people OF these states uncqualled IN any
monarchy of the Old World, and having its
only parallel in the history Of the Medieval
ages, when the strong hand was the only law
and the highways of commerce were taxed
bv the Feudal Barons, who from their strong
holds. surrounded by their armies Of vaS>alS
could lew such tribute upon the traveller a.
their own wills alone should dictate. To
prove this let facts be submitted to candid
world:
They have influenced oar executive Off
Gers. tn refuse their assent 10 laws the most
wholesome and necessary for the public good.
and when such laws have been passed they
have utterly refused 10 obey them.
They have procured the passage of other
laws, for their own benefit alone, by which
they have put untold millions into their own
ooife.>. - the injury NJ The entire CONNER
cial and industrial Interests Of the country.
They have Influenced legislation - suit
themselves, BY bribing Nena. Legislators 10