, 1873-03-04

THE FARMERS IN COUNCIL.
Tho meeting ut tho eourt-houae on Saturday
laat was not largo ono, owing to tbo extromoiy
coid weather md rough ronaH. But, considering
tho circumstances, tho Attendance was conBid-
orcu far. Several prominent farmers who could
Toacli hero by rail were OIL hand, and lively III
terost waa fe!t by Ill in regard to tho permanent
organization md tho principles that should
govern It.
From tho inception Of this movement tho
question that has most frequently boon askod is,
can or will tho farmers unto cordially on plat
form OF principles which will command tho
respect of NIL ,o3asaos Of producers and upon
which practical issues may DO formed, with the
assurance TINT they will rccovo tho support noc-
osaary to bring about practical results. On tllis
question the truo friends Of tho movement hnvo
hnd fenrS and ita enomios hnro Ind llopos. Tho
aiiof aS loa nyo INDUCED ffSoly in prophecies Of
or popular assemblies composed, to grent OK
tont, Of mon not accustomed to taking part In
doliberGtiyo bedica going to cxtson1os. They
have calculated on THO liability Of such bodies to
bato, which would eyont,tato ln diaagreo-
mont ne =. and anarchy,. and thereby destroy
Inc hive ooon9y os Ggon Of ,d tho 0rssna0n; They
ntorardod with apoog1os For tho o99ostion
lraoticed by railrond companies. In word,
they havo aaid Tint tho present oxcitomont ID
away as Hoon US tho sonson Of navigation opens
and frcighta aro somowhat reduced. Wo con-
fees we havo llad aome fear8 on this quostion.
y; Gps thus tyr tho management Of afrairs has
msnt. Tho State Convention II Bloom loom
ington,,, with consunmato skill, excluded
al disturbing o1o1nentn from thoir
,l," declaration Of PRINCIPLES; Tho mcotiug at this
place on Saturday last hcsitated to adopt, and
finally postponed, tho confederation Of, tho plat
form Of principles proposed by Mr.. Lynch, not
because the underlying principles aro unso,.nd,
but because it contains somo things on whicl,,
men may honestly differ, and TINT aro Of little
practical Importance in this movement Tho
docaloguo and tho declaration Of Independence
arc grand productions in their way, bnt would
not bo considered just tho thing to attach to tho
constitution Of @ fnrmerB club.
So far "a tho railroad question is concerned.
there Ia no noed Of charging vennity md corrup-
tion on our State GoTernmonta. 1t is but n
short tfmlo since that tho people wcro anxious to
naye railroads built On any tozns, and our Log
granting charters without any reservations Of.
Any kind. Senator DouglnB gained grcnt "ponu-
nrity with tito people Of Illinois FOR procuring n
1laln!d-grant which heourod tho building of tho
Illinois Central Railroad. 1t was regarded Of
incalculahlo valuc, rs meeng Of developing the
resources Of tho State, aiid tho fact that it has
since become QUO OF tho most oppressive rnonop-
olieA o. IN TUG State docs not argue tint. tho orig
inal projectors wcro yonal aud corrupt.
Lot tho producers take things jntst as thoy
now find thom. Tho question ia not how tho
abuscB of which thoy complain havn been brought
about, but how to correct thom. Tho Constitu-'
ton Of Illinois, in ite article on railronds fur
niahos platform on which all who arc acsirous
Of reform can stand. It contains all tho pritlo-.
pies embraced in Mr. Lyncll's propositions TINT
aEo applicable In tho proHett btnte Of tho case.
Tho principles put forth aro radical, and thoy
arc Expressed clearly, conoaoly, and with force,
t is tho only platform on Which wo eau stand.
when To aro called upon to fAco railroad
tls , must be fought. let uh plant our
mado in conformity Thereto and insist That
SSorpora55ions oboy them tho same rs individuals.
minor details, Us eeemB to DO tho opinion of tho
supromo Court IN Its atosr acclsloh, tho Lcgis-
1aturo can amend until wo shall got IL Inv that
can BIO vigorously enforced. When it beeomcg
Hottlel question that railroad charges can aud
must bo regulated by law, Of Which wo entertain
! no doubt, tho battle mny 10 considered as won,
but it will not DO won without struggle. : -
There are other parties md monopoicR which,
in greator or loss dogrce, opprean tho producer,
but they can be mot and defeated by protective
organizations. Thus lur tho movement givos
promise Of succosB.
4Hrnk fIn