, 1873-03-31
THE SPRINGFIELD CONVENTION


who will meet together in tho State Capital, to
consult upon questions Of tho day which |
vitality concern thom. and unto thomBolyoB
more c1osoly together for Bo1f-protoction
against tho o1actions Of monopol1es,
which aro dovouring their substance. Tho
gravity Of tho situation justiaos this meeting.
Tho primary object OF this Convention is to urac
upon tho Legislature promptneeak rssiid dispatch
In rorfeoting moasuros o.. -foliof. This, hovov-
or, Ia hardly necoas.Ary. Tho Legislature, which
ombracef. n4any farmcrs In its organization, mp
c.oiatea tho Importance OF tho situation end on
tllo worry day upon which the Farmers Asaocia-
tion meots willhayo under consideration the va
rious bills which aro intended to moot the caso.
It ia making "a rapid progzosB as could bo OK
pected. Iasty action III such an important
mattor rs this ie to be deprecated. It might
only bonont nobody and do tho farmers serious
harm, in putting of still further tho remedy for
the OWLS OF which they complain. Thoy have no
roason to doubt that tho Legislature will devote
itself to this important naattor with duo prompt
ness and energy.
The little cloud which was no bigger thnn
mans hand, q fow months ago, has now u.s.
sumod large proportions. Tho farmers Of Illinois
have novor boforo boon in Il position whero they
could wlold 10 much influence in determining tue
complexion OF current events. They axo now
I Joined togothor into an oarnost and compact
organization Of 100,0 900 mombore, with tho power
| to do almost anything. Noyor boforc hayo thoy
had such an opportunity to loaVe last
ing impross upon tho moro important
| iHauea Of the day, and to infuso
their own, ideas with tho body polite,
Tho ti;no ia ripo for tho farmers to form tho
nucleus Of a party organization which ahall EN-
brace all classes who aro nov, and have been Tor
long time, suffering from tho tyranny and OK
tortiona Of monopolies, and who eco no preaont
way ont OF their bondage. Railroadmonopo1ieH
serious as thoy aro, aro not tho only grievances
under which tho people are groaning aud tho
whole country will listen with eager attention
to the farmers, If they spoak ont boldly and
firmly againBt oil thcso evils, md demand TINT
not only tho unjust determinations and high
chargeB Of railroads, but also tho systom Of pro
tectivo tariffs, which oompels both farmers mud
railroads to pay bountios for tho nocossarica OF
life; which lays Its excessive lax upon oyory
tool aud machine which tho farmer uBeB In his
labor, and oyory blanket and carpet ho brings
into Lis house oyory piece Of lumber in hs
buildings aud foncing; every pound Of aalt aud
| oyory yard Of cloth which lie llscs. Lot thom
condemn the corruptons which arc running riot
in tho administration of public affairs, and do
mand that tho frauds and dofnlcntions, tho pick
ingB and stcalinga Of ofIlco-loldors, shall coaBe
Lot thon condemn the fragrant waste Of the
public money aud lands in tho form of subsidies
to ateamboat and railroad corporations, procured
by corrupt influences. Lot thom demand that
the civil service shall bo purified, that tho Gov
ornmcnt shall fulfil it's promises to carry out
the regulations which have been mado, and thai
tho service ehall never be disgrnced again By tle
appointment mud confirmation Of such culprits
as Casey and Holden. Lot thom act tho seal q
their condemnation upon thoao Congroasmer
who perpotratod the SALARY grab, and lot thon
domnnd that Tho inlquitous bill bo repealed
! 1QD6c AIo llutktEd "! LIlo bihfod* AloIueAky IL
condemnation OF Which tho farmors should OK
press themselves id mo uncertain mannor, and
for the suppression Of which they ahoud oarneztl
labor. This beneficial result, which would bo
blessing to the whole country as vol as t
themaolyos, it ia within thoir powor to accomp
lish, II thoy havo tho wisdom and courage to d
so; and their action will bo followed by til
farmers Of evory Northorn state, md by tn
overtaxod and oyerburdonod laborors Of tn
South.
It Ia useless to look to any existing party 70
tho correction OF thoao evils. Tho object 70
which tho Republican party was organized wa
tho overthrow Of American slavery aud it
adjuncta, md, when 1t accomplished that, its TOO
mission was ondod. There ia nothing lei
for 1t to do but to make money for its loadert
and thts 1t is doing; its only public mission
meanwhile, being to hammer away at tho dca
> corpae Of slavery. Since Its last gathering q
! Philadelphia, 1t Inns not accomplished eiugl
:, substantial measure Of good to tho country ,
0 largo; on tho other hand. when glasing evil
have boon brought to its attention, 1t las prove
ttaclf Incompetent to suppress or ofrcctual
/ condemn thum. The Democratic party ia In