Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1873-05-23
A Few Words with tho Farmers.

CnaC SUR SnOulu DC maze some
where and public attention aroused.
The corporations have had it all
their own way quite long enough.
Whether this movement is to sue
coed in any large sense, depends
chiefly upon the farmers themselves.
If they keep it in their own hands,
| give it the proper stamp and dircc-
ton, resolve at the out-start to pur-
sue ouly attainable and clearly use
full ends, and to pursue these only
in the Use of legitimate and we'll
chosen means-the movement, in
this case, cannot fail to be of great
and enduring public benefit. 9th
erwisc, it will probably soon fizzle
out and be forgotten, if indeed it
does not work positive mischief to
the very classes and interests it was
started to befriend.
The farmers are quite right about
the necessity for action (; they are
right, too, in thinking the time OPP
poltune for their purpose. Recent
events have prepared the public to
listen to the recital Of their griev-
ancas with attention and sympathy,
and to cooperate with them just so
far as their action is seen to be well
considered, judicious, and practical.
But they cannot understand too
clearly that their opportunity bris-
ties with dangers that the men
who undertake to navigate new
reform need to have all their eyes
and wits about them at every mo-
ment. Even a slight deviation from
the true course is very apt to mean
shipwreck.
For one thing, the farmers need
to be constantly on their guard
against the extremists. We do not
say, against the theorists; "the
looker-on (theorisD often sees more
of the game than the Players, and
is capable of giving sound advice
at critical points; it all depends on
whether he theories wisely or fool
ishly. All extremists are theorists,
but all theorists are not extremists,
by any manner Of means. Our ag-
ricultural friends do not need to
have the extremist defined, or de-
scribed to them they will recog-
nize him when they see him, and
they may count with absolute conf
dence upon seeing him. Wherever
they are gathered together, he will
be in the midst of them, with his
crude motions and unfeasible plans,
his paradoXical rhetoric. They
should not permit themselves to be
too much worried or distressed by
this, as though some strange thing
happened unto them. All the older
reforms, anti-slavery, temperance,
woman suffrage, have had the same
experience, run the same gauntlet,
been tried with the same fiery trial.
1t is very disagreeable, of course.
Bat there will be no great harm
done, unless the farmers are foolish
enough to mistake these shallow
takers and hobby spurrers for
hcaven-sent leaders, and to attempt
to follow them. That error would
undoubtedly be fatal metcors have
their uses doubtless in the economy
of nature, but they won't do to steer
by.
The farmers cannot realize too
thoroughly that this is serious job
they have taken in hand, and a big
one. Arrayed against them is the
most powerful single interest in the
country. 1t occupies strong posi-
ton. 1t is entrenched behind huge
ramparts of statute books and judi
cial decisions. 1t has many and
powerful allies it already owns
congressman and Legislators by the
hundred, and it can buy more if it
needs them. How to deal with this
great railroad interest is an exceed
ingly knotty problem. 1t has given
headaches to some of the most acute
thinkers to be found in public or in
private life if the farmers expect
to solve 1T by holding mass meet
ing and passing set Of resolutions
they are booked for disappoint-
ment. If they rightly comprehend
the situation, they will be careful
not to go too fast or too far, they
will be distrustful of all short cuts
and Morrison's pills, they will keep
cleaFof all entangling alliances with
the government ssumptionists, or
the Observation-Disclosures. More
than this, they will recognize the
fact that low frelghts, although very
desirable, can be bought at too dear
a price. There arc possessions that
an American citizen ought to value
even above a fat pocket-book there
are things more important even
than moving the crops.-SprinNteld
Republican,.