The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1873-05-10
STILL PICKING AWAY.

the simplest syllogism is an incomprehehSipIc
mystery and whom one cannot even have me
satisfaction of bcrating for williully ms
STATING an argument, for the reason that II is
evidently done with no vicious intent, but
from sheer stupidity. Yet in something that
has assumed the form 5f controversy Tor
month or two past between the FREE TRADER
and the Ottawa RepajlicdA, the careful reader
can discover sort of ineligible purpose on
the part of the Republican, which, though
hard 10 extract from its articles, is capable OF
definition. The RtpnbljcdI' is the organ OF a
tolcrably shrcwd, but not over intelligent or
honest CLIQUE of radical politicians about OF
tawo who stand in considerable awe of this
movement of the farmers against monopollcS,
and knowing how the very lite of the repub-
lican party hangs on the support it receives
from the monopolists, desire 50 10 run the
farmers, movement of this county and con
rrcssional district, at least, that ii shall not
hurt the republican party. These gentlemen
are apparently quite willing that the farmers
shall organize all the associations or oranges
they can, and even elect county officers and
members of the legislature provided they
will stick to the republican party in all mat
tiers pertaining to national politics. Though
maitaInning stoutly and pcrslstently that the
democratic party is dead and buried past all
chance of resurrection, they see its ghost IN
every shadow, and shake in their boots at the
sight of the apparition like Belshazzcr at the
writing on the wall. The RcpUJfcaH, there
fore, As their tin whistle, continually pipes To
the farmers that the great evil of the day
the fl,qcns horreHdum that keeps prices o.
grain down, puts up hardware, lumber and
groceries, and, in short, causes all their grey
anccs and Affections, Is the local railroad
monopoly. Compel the Illinois railroads to
carry corn for instead of 10 cents bushcl'
to make no unjust Determinations and obey
the laws" of that amazingly astutc and incor-
rupt body, the Illinois legislature, and all
their griefs will vanish. "The Repubttcdh
would have the farmers understand says
that sheet, rising into pompous grandllO-
uuence, that the railroad question is not
tritling question that can be settled by the
passage of set of resolutions, or even by
law of the legislature, but, taken in all its
phases. is the most difficult question of the
day. if not of the age. The railroad power
is now the greatest mOncyed power III the
land-pcrhaps in the world. 1t holds mort
cages on all the property OF the country can
make its own. figures and foreclose at pleasure
II dcfics even the Federal Government to re-
sist its power, and the issues once raised
must be met or the people sink into position
of vassalage.'
The FREE TRADER in no way under-cStl-
mates the gigantic proportions OF the railroad
power: but with all its stupendous proper
tons, maintains that it is but part of system
of monopolies, other branches of which, like
the shipping, salt, lumber, iron, steel and
other rings affiict the farmers, ten times-yca
Il hundred times more gricvously than the
railroads. And the FREE TRADER goes FUR
thcr, and insists, with the ablest publicists OF
the country on the subjeCt-(Charles Francis
Adams. David A. Wells, the Ndtt0n &c.,
that 1.-THE farmers will wage vain and fruit
less war against this giant railroad monopoly,
unless they strike at the sources OF what Is
corrupt in their power, and first among these
is tariff hgislattoH and all its appearances, mi
other uords, tie question IF transportation 'SI
part and parcel Of tie tdrif question:, and ca''-
not be dealt ,riM apart from 1t. Transportation
is made dear by the dearness of supplies; that
is to say, the railroads are taxed enormously,
and through the railroads the farmers, for the
benefit of special industries. There can be
no cheap transportation without cheap iron,
cheap cars, cheap stations: and, what is more,
there can be no market for American produce
abroad so long AS the sale of all foreign com
modtics, except gold, is made as difficult AS
high duties and vcxatous custum.housc regu-
lations can make it. Agricultural produce ut
the west is now "A glut; it must become more
and more of glut, if either more railroads
are opened or the cost of transportation on
the present roads is diminished, as long aS
new markets are not provided, or, in other
words. rs long as access to the crowded re
gions Of the old world is artificially impcded.
OF course there may come Il time wheh 'hcre
will be population enough in the west to eat
up all its corn and pork; but, at the present
rate of agricultural and railroad dcvclope-
mcnt this will not be witnessed by either the
present generation or the next, and the cry OF
the Oranges" ought to be for clearing OF
the outlets to the old world in all ways To
secure this, it is not enough TO cheaper trans
we have to offer n market to the
foreigner for his commodities in order to get
him To take ours
OF course all this will involve complete
ovcrturning of the legislative system of the
party now in power, all of which might be-
very disastrous to the great republican mo-
nopolv of credit mobiler thieves and salary
grabbcrs; and while we have no idea that it
will restore to power the democratic party