The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1873-08-29
Chaf for Farmers.

Three Democratic conventions, helS
in the widely-separated States of Maine
Maryland and Ohio, have within few
days passed resolutions which are chief
ly significant for the desire they express
to convert the discomfort among farmer
into capital for the Democrats. With
out any definite idea as to the causes o.
character of this discomfort, the conven
tons in Ohio and Maine resolved as fol
lows
"That, although always constituting
large ma ority of the American people
the agriculturists have never demand
ed of the Government, State or Federal
any special privilege; have never In
tested the halls of Congress or the Leg
islature with lobbies and rings, but, on
the contrary, have suffered under dis
eliminating and unjust laws until for
bearance has ceased to be virtue. We
hereby pledge our sincere and honest
efforts to obtain for them redress OF
their grievances, and equal and exact
justice. "
In Maryland, the convention, having
better taste, said more briefly:
That we earnestly deprecate the un-
Just and discriminating laws under
which the agricultural interests of the
country have suffered, and we hereby
pledge the best efforts of the party TO
obtain for them redress of their griev-
ances and equal justice. >
But the spirit of these resolutions is
the same, and they have common pur-
pose. The Democrats, seeing no hope
in anything else, have determined to at
tempt to rebuild their shattered party
on the discomfort among the farmers
The idea is not altogether devoid Of
shrewdness, and in endeavoring to carry
it into practice the Democrats will have
the benefit of experience in such mat
tiers. Since their political fortunes were
wrecked in the destruction of slavery,
they have made everybody's wrongs
their own, provided, always, that every
body was white. In all these efforts
they have failed, and we see no rea-
son for believing that in the present
case their failure will not be equally
notable.
The American farmers are not fools,
although Democratic conventions APP
pear to assume that they are. If they
read those resolutions, they will read
them with sufficient care to separate the
wheat from the chaff. Their first diff
Guilty will be to find a reason for be-
lieving that the Democrats, having the
opportunity, would practice the gospel
they have taken to preaching with such
fervor. There is nothing in the history
of the Democratic party to prove that
it is sincere in this sudden sympathy
for the farmers. 1t certainly was not
looking to the elevation and interests
of the agriculturists" when it fought
SO desperately in Congress, and after
ward in the field, to keep millions of
tillers of the soil i'll slavery. The farm
ers of the country cannot forget that it
was the Democratic party which tried
to degrade and cheaper their labor by
keeping it in competition with that of
slaves. 1t is nothing to the purpose
that the crops of the two sections of the
were, as they still are, radically
different. The great fact in Democratic
history which the farmer cannot forget
s the persistent disregard it showed for
he rights of man. Because of this
act, they must necessarily doubt the
of this new conversion.
But admitting that the Democrats
will do all that they can, the farmers
will naturally inquire what it is they
IAN do as political combination. The
thief purpose of the farmers organiza.
ion, as it affects other classes, is to OBJ
ain cheaper transportation. 1t is an
admitted grievance that the moving of
,rops is altogether too costly, and the
armers are seeking among themselves
or remedy. In the main this
earch has been conducted with a for
,earance and intelligence that cannot
De too highly praised. Where they
lave erred it has been due to the
of demagogues, who have
,ot ahead of the Democratic party in
wearing hay-seed in their hair. Indi-
idual farmers have given utterance to |
TASTY expressions, but the oranges
ave not declared that forbearance has
eased to be a virtue. What can the |
Democrats do to help the farmers
When they get control of the Federal
government do they propose to move
he crops at the public expense, or to
Ass law requiring the railroads TO do
at specified sum? Or do they pro-
ose to enter upon gigantic series of
1ternal improvements by the Federal
government and furnish the farmers
nth new and cheap lines of transporta-
on to the markets of the world? There
J no farmer silly enough to believe that
ne Democratic party would do anything
the kind. There are few farmers
no would not resist the Democratic
arty in a policy which would be so
lbversive of the fundamental princi-
les of the American Government.
Nor could the Democratic party do
luch more if it controlled the State
governments, unless it possessed them
u, and was animated everywhere by a
urpose to sacrifice all interests TO the
bod of the farmers, which is not prob
Die. Our present railroad system is
rgely of Democratic creation. In itsin.
ncy the party was dominant in MANY
the States. The unjust and dis
laws" are largely of Dem
ratio manufacture, and most of them
ave been on the statute books for wears.
he Democrats, if they were in posses.
on OF the State Governments. might
something to relieve what they call
N