The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1873-07-18

1iS farmers organizing for, and
when do they expect to accomplish
the reforms which they advocate /
Their time, labor and money are
all valuab bic. Oranges and other
associations will reqaire a good |
deal OF those articles, aud their
members will not long invest them
without some important results fol-
low. What can the associations do
TO curb monopolies If their influ-
ence does not reach with heavy
hand into legislative halls and the
courts of justice? And in This line
OF acii Oh what can they do indi-
rectly, as ''third party" - par
ty without q platform or candi dates,
declaring itself incompetent to har-
moniously nominate or support the
kind of men who ought TO make
and administer the laws? What in
flucnce has such party ever cxer-
cised, or ever will? What does orr
political history teach us on this
point? We do not remember of
any organizations on this basis hav-
ing accomplished any public re-
forms worth speaking of. The ex-
pertinent of influencing politics
and yet keeping out of politics, is
like that of trying TO pillow field
without going into the field or tax.
ing hold of the pillow. Farmers
never raised crop by sitting in
! profound debate and passing siren
G mons resolutions that the crop must
be raised, and raised free of weeds,
). and of the best quality. And nei-
j Their the farmers or any other class
I of people will ever raise q good crop
: of Office holders by declining to
nominate or elect candidates. In
directly the oranges will not accom-.
plish enough to make it worth while
3 to carry them on. 1t is votes, and
votes only, that Office holders re-
= spect. Acting directly, as an avow'
: ed political organization for the pur'
Q pose of filling the offices with mel
o who will make and execute laws il
favor of the people, and who vii
be capable and faithful in their Off
:. ciaI duties, the farmers associa
: tions will certainly and speedily
settle the question of their useful
! ness and of their existence. If they
? cannot manage to put such mel
v very generally into Office, they arr
Is not worth bothering with, and will
v die for lack of vital energy and prac
teal objects. If they can manage
to use enough sagacity, judgemen
ri and unselfish public zeal to do this
" and thereby secure the public re
J. forms that all good citizens SO nfucl
10 need and desire, they will be pos
AZ tive success, and live long enough
m to accomplish their mission. NJ
N party should or can rule longer thai
D. it rules for the public welfare. Ant
a. if in an earnest and honest effort Il
20 do this, the farmers association
If fail through the same human weak
q nesscs that beset all the successive
10 movements for public reform ant
of progress, they will at least demon
II strate that they are not the chosen
N means of grace, and get out of tn
" way for some other and capable re
70 formatory movement, in which tn
farmers as well as all other homes
citizens can take hand. No use il
d wasting time and labor. The worl
Le can be done only by direct aud pos
g tive action, and if it cannot be don
ct in this way it cannot be done by
10 sort of guerrilla political wa
ID which no class of practical men viii
t. carry on for any length of time. C