The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1873-08-23
The Battle Inn the NOrth&fe {.
THE POLITICAL OUTLOOK.
[From St. Louis Republican, Aug. 15.,

From St. Louis Republican, Aug. 15.l
The movement known in Illinois and other
States as the Farmers, and in Iowa as the
Anti Monopoly, has taken its first bold, full
plunge into politics at Des Moines, Ia, and
now it is sink or swim with it. That it should
make the beginning at the capital of the very
trvngest Republican State of the Union is a
significant fact; and that, at the first step it
takes, it should find itself face to face with the
Republican party, Is also significant. The two
facts taken together light up the perspective
before US, and show this Western agricultural
movement to be the declared foe OF the domi-
naut party in the country. Its platform in
fringes against the dominant party's policy at
nearly every important point, and there is q
clear, sharp issue made up between the two.
The Des Moines platform is an outcry against
existing public and official abuses, and as the
Republican party, which has governed the ma
tien and the States for twelve years, is res
ponsible for these abuses, the event at Des
Moines is an insurrection against the govern
ing party. Republicanism recognizes its new
enemy, and draws it's sword against it at once; ;
for it iastinctiyely perceiyes that If it do not
kill the insurgent movement, there is possi-
bility that the insurgent movement will, at
least, dethrone it. Suppose the antimonopo-
lists should carry Iowa in this struggle-and
there are some tirst-rate reasons for believing
such thing probable-suppose they elect their
ticket, and thus defeat Repubhcanism on its
very strongest greund-what then! The vic
torious movement will burst from Iowa like a
prairie fire, and enVelop the whole Northwest
in its embrace, tearing from the Republican
party six of its most loyal and reliable States
and attaching them to its own standard it
will overrun the greater part OF the South,
not only without opposition, but with wei
come from its people; and it will invade In
diana and Ohio, and move eastward to meet
it's enemy in decisive combat in Pennsylvania
and the Eastern States. Indeed, the campaign
in Iowa may prove that it is the coming party,
for though it has, as yet, no status and no re-
cognized belligerent rights, one victory will
give it both, and secure for 1t a monopoly OF
the field as antagonist of the Republican party
The Iowa Democracy, it is said, will have the
good sense to retire from the arena, and afford
it fighting ground for its first battle Then,
if it succeeds, it is pretty certain that the
Democracy in other States will extend to it
the same friendly concession, since to do SO
will not only intensity its hostility to the party
in power, but insure its triumph over that
party in the end, and thus accomplish an OBJ
| iect which the Democracy has so long attempt
ed and SO oftsn failed TO accomplish.
The platform is remarkable for it's deter
mined avowals and it's moderation; there is
nothing violent or ultra in it. Its points are !:
| /. That corporations shall be subject to legis-
| latiye control. 2. That the Legislature of the
| State shall fix a maximum freight rate on rail-
roads. 8. In favor of free national banking.
| A. In favor of such general revision of the
u
! and cotton and wooden fabrics, and reduce the
whole system to a revenue basis Onlyh-which
| lis about as good a free trade resolution as any
/ free-trader asks for. 5. A demand for compe-
| tent and honest men for public office. 6.
Repeal of the back-salary bill, with return
Of the money to the treasury. Z. A reduction
of public salaries. 8. Opposition to land grants
to corporations. 9. The prosecution of corrupt
officials as criminals. 10. a strict construction
of the Constitution. IL. The condemnation
of both the existing parties for their participa-
tion in and countenanee of the Tammany,
Credit Mobilier and back salary frauds and
other corruptions. 1t will be observed that
the railroad freight question is treated in a
single short resolution, which is model of
breYity and coed sense, demanding nothing
more than the establishment of one maximum
rate, above which charges shall not go. This
is far better than the inpraeticable anti-dis-
Termination law enacted In Illinois.
The next interest centres in the contest on
i which the Anti Monopolists have entered. IL
is no easy one; for the Anti Monopolists are q
\ new, undisciplined party, with a Republican
i majority OF 60, 900 to overcome. But they have
an abundance of spirit, and strong ticket to
4 aght for; and in addition 20 this, they have
4 these advantages: That Iowa is an agricul-
tural State--there being 900 ,997 persons en-
gagged in farming to Ill ,243 engaged in ali
/ other pursuits; that the new movement is
even stronger among Republicans than Demo-
Gratis; and that its ticket viii probably re-
ceive the support not only of the great mass
1 of Democrats, but of a very large proportion
of the Republicans. Under such auspices, it
has abundant incentives to sxertion and rear
sonable chances of fsuccess.
4
! We find the following item in the river col
umn Of the New Orleans Herald. Of the 18th
Capt. G. Devices, Jr., yesterday sold his
4 pretty little steamer Bertha to Capt. I'll. H