The Rock Island daily Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1872-1873, 1873-09-17
From the y. y. Tribune.
Farmers and Politicians.

The whole country has watched the cx-
change OF courtesies between the Farmers
aud the party politicians at the West with
an amused sort of interest On the one
hand we see a great body of hard working
earnest men, suffering under bitter and
prolonged grievance, aud determined IN
right themselves, at whatever cost tO old
political associations and preiudices. Ou
the other is a mob Of perplexed leaders
utterly nonplussed by such extraordinary
manifestations of the popular temper, an
scurrying hither and thither to get ia the
van OF "A movement whose direction they
have not yet made out. I'm fact. since the
memorable uprising of 1851 the West has
never till now been stirred by any great
overmastering popular impulse In the
presence OF a cOmmOtion Of thi. kind the
common politician Is powerleS- lie can
lead no longer; he must follow with the
others and unless he Is very adroit he t.
found az the tail of the procession. iii,
difficulties in the present case are enor-
mously enhanced by the fact that the Far
mers themselves have not yet found out
exactly where they are going They look
askancc at the white handed gentlemen
who travel around from Grange meeting
% county. fair, with soiled boots and hick
DRY shirts, hay seed in their hair and back
pay in their pockets. They read the reso-
buttons Of party conventions, pledgiug syn.
pathy 10 the oppressed sons of toll, and
they ask incredulously what those politi-
clans mean 10 do for them In day the
whole fabric Of party has brokeu., down.
The differences OF Republican aud Demo.
crat, the quarrels of Liberals and Radi-
Gals, are suddenly found tn be unmcaung
nonsense in the light Of the one practical
question of the West.
Aud yet the Farmers War. as il is some
times called is destined 10 have a great
political influence. 1t has already reused
the people from that Indifference u pub,
lie virtue which we have looked upon a.
one Of the most dangerous symptoms u
the times. and has taught them that 1t i,
more important H. ask about their caudi
dates whether they are honest and capable
than whether they have the support oi
the regular caucus and always hurrat
for the regular platform The Farm
ers believe they are fighting for their live,
against the money Of the railway corpora
tons aud when they turn for reiiet t. the
Legislature and to Congress, they find III,
railway agents controlling the caucus. set
ting up their creatures at the polls. or gp
ing into the lobby and buying legislator
ready made. They know now that the,
mustselect their representatives from bet
ter material and by better agencies The,
have lost their faith in platforms, and thei
respect for the caucus, and hence the el
forts of the two parties in the West to SC
cure the adhesion Of the Oranges have re
suited thus far in complete failure II thu
Farmers do not nominate men Of their own
they will doubtless vote in most cases
strictly eclectic ticket.
The effect Of this will be 10 raise tin
standard Of the party nominations Meth
err side can afford TO present candidat
whose character will not bear the closes
examination. We are not sanguine enough
TO predict that permanent publication o
official life will follow; but ii we can onl,
check for little while the decline Of pub
lie morality, if we can only Danish few O
the venal legislators who buy office for tn
sake Of the profit they can make by selin
themselves in turn, we shall feel that tn
Farmers Movement has accomplished
great good for the country at large. IRE
spective Of what it may do in the matte
for which it was especially organized