The Rock Island daily Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1872-1873, 1873-03-13
ADDRESS TO THE FARMERS,
By Hon. John II. Bryant,

poet WIN. Cullen Bryant, delivered the
following address
Mn. president, AND FKILow- CITIZENS
As some Of you know, was for many
years an active ant-slayery man. / felt
earnestly and deeply ON that question. |
was convinced that slavery must in the
end perish, though did not see exactly
hcw, until the rebellion came. ielt II l
could live t0see my country freed ron non
that evil could die content and llke I'm fl-
con could exclaim, Now Jet me depart 'o'
mine eyes have seen Thy SALVATION
did not then see that ahothet PoNeI
moro ;nsiJ;ou. more relentless and oppres-
si,,a ,g.s r,.tcnine itself upon the yitals Of
tbc nation and fast undermining the lib
crt;sS oft,g people. II 4 now eight years
- ,,y attention was first turned 10 this
.nbicrt Of railroad eucruachments, and the
danger we we're 10 FROM their assumption
of power During all that time and even
further back these corporations have been
strengthening themselves In every possible
way, and intrenohing themselves more
firmly in power until in this state they
now bid defiance 70 all laws enacted TOT
their regulation as well as 70 the people
and their government
Mr. President, II these things are to
continue. ii this assumed supremacy OF the
railroads over the people Is 20 be perman
ent. our government l. no longer one OF
the people, BY the people and for the PEG
pie except In name, and we are nothing
more than mere serfs-the profits OF our
labor. all our surplus earnings, being seiz-
ed upon and appropriated by our heartless,
tyranical masters. The right 10 tax is one
Of the highest prerogatlves OF sovereignty,
the highest next to the power TO declare
war belonging to governments. Ii is alb
solutely the highest possessed by the State
under our form Of government But here
is a power which claims not alone 20 be
eoeuual with. but superior 20. our State
government claiming not only the right
to tax at will, and to any extent it pleases,
but also the right to levy war upon the
people and wiring from them by brute
force their illegal and extortiouate de.
mands. The tyranny under which we sui.
fer will BECOME no more lenieut OF reason
able by indulgence or delay on the part Of
the people but will become more rapaciou-
and continue Ia encroach upon our civil
franchises until il has firmly entFenehed
itself In our halls Of legislation and the
executive mansion and seated its craven
tools upon the judicial bench, said II
this state Of things is 20 continue we shall
hc no better than sertS But what
better are we to-day, with this unlimited
power " taxation in the hands Of
souless corporations corporations that
die not with the generation
that called them into existence, but live on
and on Should Vanderbilt purchase one
Of our railroads what would he buy? Not
alone the track and rolling stock, engines
aud depots, but the right 10 tax the peopl,
according TO his g pleasure. Ant
when he buys that he buys the profits %
your labor, and II you submit 10 the exac
ton you are serts toiling aud sweating il
his service l. not this so? Corporation
have no ouls--ngin,iiyidual responsibility
w this respect they are far worse than III
shareholders, bad As some OF u though
they were Shareholders were individual
men Of like passions with ourselves
They had human hearts aud sympathics
had conscience and Scr.e of shame q
which men could appeal JcSidc- the high
cr attributes Of honor. and sense at lu,
-ite humanity and right which were fro
quenty exhibited Not 81 with these cuI
p1rat1u, thcy have nothing human j
them ~ which We can appeal unless II
their grlspiug ayaTiCg and rclcutc-s 'r
amy. both of which grow hy what the
feed upon
Mr. President the great danger m til
movement is. that many viii hoclWr III
rrurlrcd Ut the obstacles and delays TIA
lin in the path t. victory but ] tru
these fear, may prove grpmdcs. Raj
road men are already rrNbhccyiug taiiul
from the prospective Indifference q" u
people and the decay uf their enthusiasm
L AZ ~. tss
interests at stake are tuu vast too vital
be- suffered ~ fail for any reason, mn,
less for want uf perseverance and zeal
our part The Bloomington convent,
passed resolution THAT those citizeus
the State WHO rendered the legal fares
conductors II railroad trains were in Il
Inc NJ their duty and were entitled TOP
lection by the authorities Of tho STATE
Mr. President, 7 think they are more TIA;
Ia the mere line Of duty. | think they a
patriots in ~ doing, iuasmuch as they a
NOT only exercising a personal legal RICH
but are indicating the authority and Iii
nifty of their State government from Il
teebleuess and contempt into which II n
fallen. And should any of our citizens
assassimtcd by these railroad hUmmr
and hired hullics, under thesc cirauusta
rc-. they would be- martyrs In the cause
liberty. and wuuld Ne canonized in I
hearts Ut the people
The prophecy of the mother Of the Ia
Hon tlwen lioyejoy, ia regard ~ dare
and It, extinction was. that il could ncy
hc abolished without the shedding Of h
man blood that without this there c1u
bo no remission That prophecy was #
hlled And g. 10 possible that the ~
way ont Of our present trOHble j. thrsu
the same ordcal2 | do not know how n
may be-, but this do know. that II :
railroad corporations wish to bring d1l
upun their heads the swift VSnCeancc
the people they have only 10 persist
their course Of violence and outrage un
the lie Oi some citizen n sacrificed
This may and probably viii De
- blister warfare lingering bong
Through weary month ana weary year
y GINNING WRuysWeapOucd throug
Hangs on or front and dauk and rear
Wen nerve our pirits 10 the proof.
Md hlcnoh not NJ nnr rhusrn lot.
The timif good may stand alnof
The sage may frOwu, yet faiut We not.
Norbced the ahsr TOO surely cast
Tue foul and Kissing bolt oi scoru
Por with 0ur sida shall DIV ~ at last
1he victory Of endurance born"
Mr President and gentlemen | SON
times near " salu Iudt tuiS movement
gotten up BY certain busy. bodies and de
agogiesl who are seeking to ride into Of
on the popular wave do not know n
this is There may be such persons,
ought ] know ] can only answer for q
this do know, thatiF | isgs an aspira
tur office ! certainly should not stand alC
or Join tic railroad interest expecting
reach my goal with any great certainty
expedition. II is probably through I
ballot that the reforms We seek are Ia
reached, and ! expect and | SUPPOSE
all expect. that many persons will
elected 10 office because they support II
cause and are also honest aud canal
And ! hope no others may be elected fir,
one end Of our State to the other, III
this matter is settled in favor of liberty a
right and the authority OF the State e,
eminent be re-established
As for myself, Mr. President-for 1
derstand some persons are afraid ] ent
tain ambitious designs--as for me, the o.
position wish to occupy in this confess
that Of high private | should as Sc
think to contend for the leadership o.
crowd If V1eFt u hO ware skri uiuc tn nnf ,