The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1873-06-06
FARMERS MOVEMENT IN
BALLARD.

The Paducah 'Kentuckian' OF the nth
inst, contains q report of the proceedings
OF a convention Of the farmers and mecban-
les Of the county OF Ballard Kentucky,
held AT the court house in Blandville, 10Th
Of May last. The resolutions adopted are
very we'll as far rs they go but they fail to
convey 20 the mind Of the reader any def
mite idea Of tho purpose OF the farmers
and mechanics who composed the conven-
ton. Aftor studying them we have come
to tho conclusion that tho convention had
an object In view but concluded to keep it
q dead secret until some future time.
Tho first resolution declares that the
mombers Of tho conv ention adhere to tho
principles Of the government as cnunci-
ated by tho fathers OF the republic, that
the states OF the union arc cocqusl in thoir
powers and have tho right to regulate their
domestic institutions in their own way,
and so forth. This Is all well enough, but
such utteranccs are threadbsre. No one
claims that the general government can
exercise any powers not delegated by the
states or the people, and what necessity
existed that required the farmers and me-
chAnics OF Ballard in con vention assem-
blod TO reiterste this old doctrine we can
not understand.
The second resolution goes back on tho
mechanics, and declares that tive the til
lors Of the soil, the men upon whom the
world relies for substance, do now come
boldly to tho front and demand that the
e, oss injustice inflicted upon us by the
politicians, salary grabbers, monopolisis
and ring masters of the land, must and
shall come to an end Too general,
good farmers, by half What injustice
have the politicians done your Have they
put on too much tariff or not enough
Have they inflated the currency too much
or has the process Of contraction been car
ried too far Have they been wise or
foolish in shaping the southern policy OF
the government Why don't you point
out the injustice the end Of which you de-
mand Who are tho monopolists and tho
ring mastersY Why are the particular
monopoles which have inflicted injury
upon you not mentioned, and the manner
In which they might be controlled specified?
Tho convention, We fear, was manipulated
by politicians who desired and got de-
| clarAtion Of principles that means any
thing and everything.
Tho third resolution is more peculiar
than either Of the others. In IL, both tn,
farmers and merchants take q hand, and
declare rs follows: "If We are faithful "a
ourselves and to each other, we shall con-
'stitute power in the land, the power
which, when exercised through the bal
lot box, will accomplish any reform
which we ~ good citizens may reason
ably demand, and while we beg to say
that we as a body prescribe no class of
men, yet, nevertheless, We say to all that
'"our uame is legion, and We "mean BUSH
ness" and In the transaction of our bust
ness we must be consulted
lNht tHo ihfucIs buu uoCuHulCs Ol tue
land, If united, would constitute an ire
sistible power we have no doubt, but that
they "mesn business" we arc not sure
What can they accomplish BY resolving
thus; THAT We are opposed to all wrong
that IL united we are irresistible; that we
mean business - This is tho substance OF
the Blandville conventions resolutions.
The farmers and mechanics, II they expect
to accomplish any good result, must spec.
lily the wrongs to be remedied and suggest
the remedy. Generalities, glittoring as
we'll as common place, are not sufficient
unto tho demands Of the hour. The farm
ers and mechanics Of Ballard are evil
IDENTIFY sound on tho great questions now
being brought before tho country, but
their convention at Blandville was not a
success in furnishing any information TO
tho public in reference to the wrongs they
wish 10 abolish or the manner in which
they propose to proceed to accomplish
their contemplated reformatory work.
They should try again.