, 1873-07-07
MR, s. N. sMuH's Address TO TIE

kAR1lEHh.
hlr. 8. N. Smith, tho Secretary Of the State
Farmers Association Of Illinois, has made n
worry complete answer to the rocont criticism OF
tho Canton Register, by his address delivered to
tho assembled farmers clubs ut Pontiac On tho
Fourth. Whntovor may bo Justly snid of hr.
Smiths former letters, uttorancee, md actions
With reference to tho Farmers Movement, he is
now ontitlod to the credit Of having givon tho
first Intelligent definition Of ita origin aud char
aotor, of tho motives which aetuata It, md tho
results at which It aims. Tile most dangerous
opposition which tho Farmers Movement has
encountered thus fur has beon from its own
blind and crooked ways, jagged in direction and
rickoty in movement. It has boon mot overy-
whero with the objection that 1t had no dohnito
purposo and no grievances which an educated
person could understand. Mr.. 8. II. Smith him
self Was ono Of tloac who Wero more or less
responsible for the cross-purposea, vagaroB, and
mistakes that were tho natural results Of con-
fusion in tho organization, There waro those
who did not want to go into politics for fenr Of
damaging the interests Of somo exiating party,
and there were others who wanted to go into
politics simply for the purpose Of utilizing the
nsateriel Of tho movement for tho benefit Of
somo existing party. Between thoao two classes
OF domagogues the roul character Of the move-
mcnt has been obscurod, aud It's roal fosce dis
eipated or miHused. Mr. Smiths address will do
much to atone for tho vaoillating policy Of the
paat, and to crystalline nll tho clements that
wonld naturally unite into common purpose
md compact organization.
Aside from the history Of the growth Of tho
farmcrs clubs, the circumstances which called
them into being, the forces that have hold thom
together, and tho progress they have made up to
| this ti1no, Mr. Smith made three points in con
nection with tho Far1nors' Movement which arc
deserving Of particular attention and prom
| incace:
F;rsDThe educational character and effect of
| the clubs and the grangos. Mr. Smith holds that
these organizations hare awakened among tho
! farmers realizing sonBo of their own roBponsi-
bility for tho existing grievances. This III true,
and It Is alao true that go general realization Of
| tho fact could mover havc boon attained by thom
| in any othor way. The farmers are conserya-
! two clans Of people, accustomed to run in ruts.
They are prone to tako things Us they como. for
better or worao.-gencrally for worso,-and to
hssume that they aro tho natural order Of oyents.
As lIr. Smith Expresses 1t, thoy adhero more
than any othor clasa to tho doctrine TINT I" what
ia, ia right" It is difficult to arouse such
a clasB under any circumstances, but more
difficult than usual in tho caae Of tho farmers.
neighbora oach ono engrossol with his own
affairs, and rarely mootug his follows In tho way
OF general discussion. Tho farmars' clubs and
oranges hare brought these people together.
They hayo prosontod subjects Of common inter-
est. They hayo kept up g correspondence
among each other. The interchange Of thought
| has giron duo prominence to the Causes which
hago led to tho expressions Of which they hays
complained heretofore separately and unintolli-
gonty. Tho educational value Of these organi-
zatons has thus been important, and thoy have
now progressed 30 far that thoy uay enter upon
tho work Of doyising romody for tho disease
which they havo studied.
Second-So long aa the farmers remained iso-
lntea, and pasaIyoy allowed things to take their
own course, tho force OF habit WAS ntrong enough
to bind them to tho political parties with which
they had boon voting. Tor somo timo nfter tho
associated movement Ind begun, iu1eed, there
waa T. very general conviction that politics had
nothing to do with their grievances. Even Mr.
Smith held to this fullacy for time. How
thoroughly it las now boon abandoned may DO
soen in tho following extract from his speech
With minority Of tho voting power in our hands,
"" nnss usuAy nes 'ae suol' anu .no o@pes o. TO-
to olico who huyo no sympathy with us and only use
tho power wo haye given thom 10 opreas and rob lis.
~ "so nS,u =, ~ '.. 'a,1t.,
II We carry out tAts declaration wo shal make muyo