Northern Ohio journal. [volume] (Painesville, Ohio) 1872-1896, 1873-09-13
PoIsttcs and the Farmers.

Politics and the Farmers.
The present movement among the
farming portion of the country, extend
ing as it is.with wonderful rapidity into
all the Western and Middle States, be-
comes endowed with special interest by
reason of the uncertainty which exists
as to its probable effect upon the politics
of the future.
The recent elections in the extreme
east and the extreme west-points as
far separated as possible in feeling and
local interests-show, by the vast falling
off In their popular vote, that there is
widespread and deep-seated indiffer
ence among all classes of people as to
the Questions at issue between the pres
ent parties, except as they may involve
the distribution of honors and profits.
The Outs want to getin aud the Ins want
to keep their places and emoluments;
but as for essential or even important
political principles embodied in the
platform of either, the one would be
lust as acceptable as the other to the
main body of the American voters.
The Democratic party has become so
weak and demoralized that practically it
has ceased to be power in American
politics and, as the st. Louis Republican,
once the leading Democratic paper OF
Missouri, says, "has dwindled to such
feeble proportions that in some States it
is invisible and in others insignificant.
Its enemies no longer fear it and the
once great autocrat of parties has sunk,
like Spain among European nations, to
a third-rate system. Indeed, it has
ceased to be fighting power and does
not, at this time, possess grain of inf1u-
ence in National Politics." In view of
these plain facts the new organization
becomes doubly significant.
Springing into existence among class
of people never before banded together
it has spread and grew with power
that marks the presence. of some great
question as its vitalizing influence. And.
unuuestionably the farmers throughout
the country, in rallying and combining
to combat dishonesty and fraud-to re-
sist the entertainments of corporations
and to protect themselves from the tyr
amy of monopolies-haxe recognized
and acted upon the real issue of the day.
They see that while the attention of
The pubic has been drawn to discussions
respecting tariffs and free trade
and reco6struction by one process
or another, corporations have been
formed, with charters granting
them Utmost unlimited and Irresponsible
powers, which have already steadily de-
veloped their possibilities. of evil until
they have the agricultural and most of
the other great interests of the country
in their hands, and bribe Legislatures
and buy up courts and put their retain
ed attorneys upon the bench. They see
that, if some restriction is not put upon
the action of corporations, the whole
country will practically be under their
control, and the Government will become
their agent and engine. They see that
the. real question is not one of revenue
or currency or negro suffrage, but
whether corporations or the people shall
rule the country; whether the farmer
and manufacturer and merchant exist
for the profit Of the railroads, or the
railroads were built for the convenience
of the people, who gave them all the
rights and privileges they possess and
can cancel their charters the moment
they cease to be servants and become
oppressive. And seeing and acting upor
all this their future course is worthy o.
the closest scrutiny.
Already the people of the West hav'
begun to meet the issue in determined
and significant manner. The election
of Mr.. Craig to the Judgesbip in Illinoi
over an able and popular opponent, VIII
was supposed to be committed to tn
interests of the railroads; and the cleo
ton of the Peoples ticket in California
over both political parties, which wer
controlled by railroad interests, not onl
shows the vitality of the new move
ment, but proves that it has grapple
with the real political issue of the da
in compelling the country to choos
whether it shall be governed by eorpt
rations for their profit, or by the Who'll
people for the benefit of the people.
To be snre. the Oranges proper al
declared not to be primarily polite;
in their objects. But supplemented {
they are by local country organization
whose only object is to deal with polit
cal and social questions by means of til
ballot, their influence is shown in the
effects and. the new *'Farmers Nov,
ment" promises to be that coming way
for which so many have so long waite
and hoped.
In this connection we find
the New York Nation a pertinel
article which says that
letter of some importance from
j. Wilkinson, General Deputy Of the N
tional Grange of the Patrons of Husba
dry, has been published. We say ir
portant, because Mr.. Wilkinson's OPT
ions, considering the influential positit
he holds, may probably be taken as a
thoritative. Mr.. Wilkinson makes
very clear, if any light were needed up'
the subject, that he and several hundr'
thousand of his fellow -citizers mean
exercise the sacred rights of petition al
DECENTRALIZATION this winter very aetivel
He says that the Constitution contains
clause giving Congress, power TO regula
commerce among the several States, al
that although it is true that the clause
dead letter so far as railroads are co
cerned, tswe do not intend it shall r