The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1873-11-06
From the New York Scythe.
The GRANGE MOVEMENT.
Views of Hon. AmaSn Walker
War ON the Railroads.

e You request me to give you few prac
l. teal thoughts on the Farmers Movement
q and, although much occupied by othe
engagements, | comply so far as to say
It l. That the movement is an indispen
e sible one, not only for those engaged il
: agriculture, but for all the producing
+ classes. All are injured by the oppres-
sIve exactions of the railroads; though il
: Is certainly true that, as body, the farm
ers suffer most severely, for the reason
Fthat their products are the most bulky,
e and must be conveyed for great distances.
There Is, therefore, abundant cause for
action on the part Of the farming inter
est; but all classes, except those directly
f concerned in the management of the vast
monopOlies that have been created,
should, and if they understand their true
interest will, sympathise with and aid the
Changers.
2. 1t is certain that the farmers have
become, in some measure, aware of the
wrongs they suffer, and are determined
to redress them. The associations they
have already formed are numerous and
increasing in influence. They have be-
come a recognized power in the politics
of the country. They have the requisite
machinery and strength; and the only
remaining consideration is,
| 3. Have they definite, well-defned
policy? Do they know what they want
and how to get it? If not, all their ma
chinery is of no avail whatever. Their
associations are useless for the attainment
of their great object, unless put into eff
! fective action This the Changers should
understand
L have yet seen no programme, no
platform, no declaration of principles no
definite course of action proposed; and |
yet, without such, the whole movement |
is but sham. So far as any indications |
have been given that have come under
my observation, the efforts of the /
Oranges seem directed to State issues
but these can never secure their object.
The railroad system is unit and a
mighty power, with which nothing less
than the National Government can sue
cessfully contend. Congress is the only
body that can give adequate relief; but
what would the Changers have Congress
do? As a body, are they agreed upon
the necessary legislation in their behalf?
You have probably seen the views |
proposed at the Grange meeting in Bos-
ton on the 1st of September, as publish
ed in the Boston Journal of Commerce of
the 9th of that mouth. If so, YOU are
aware that | proposed that the National
Government purchase all the railroads at
what they are really and honestly worth,
and then after establishing suitable regu-
lations, so that perfect freedom in the use
of those highways has been established,
and equal Justice secured, TO lease them
to various individuals and companies to {
carry on the business of transportation. I
That is my plan. l know of no other
that will effect the object desired.
Now, think it would be well for the /
Changers to take up their plan and ex- {
anime it in all its bearings, and find out
every objection to it, and every argument I
IL fAv0I Of IL. II found TO DO feasible {
and effectual, let oil their energies be
centered upon it, and all their elections !
of members to Congress be made to turn I
upon it. If, on the other hand, it be re- t
garded as impracticable or inefficient to {
answer the purpose, let it be rejected and t
a better one devised; because some plan {
of action the Changers must unite upon, c
or they will be no terror to corrupt poll
ticians.
The farmers are the majority of the
votes of the nation. They can do what
they please, if united but they are |
sensible class of men, and cannot be /
united upon any unwise or absurd mea- 5
sure, nor will they at all unless they can !
see clearly that they will be likely to t
gain by their efforts. T
Such are my views of the situation. / i
have no interest in the question except I
as citizen. l belong to no association. t
| care nothing for the interests of any t
political party. l am not hostile to rail L
roads, for large part of what property l t
have is invested in them but | do feel f
that their operations have become unen- 0
durable, and that every one who regards O
the general welfare should be ready to l
Join in any legal and constitutional efforts t
to put a stop to them. But in reply to l.
all this, methinks, | hear the cry of f
Capitalization !" That is indeed fright b
full word, for Capitalization is despotism, Fl
as we see in the case of the vast railroad t
that have been made. But b
deny, in the most explicit manner, that y
there is any dangerous Capitalization of
power in the plan proposed. All govern o
ments pre-supposes a concentration OF n
power to such an extent as to effect the t
object desired-the protection of the pub S
lie against crime and protection. h
But, in the case in question, if the t
Government farms out the railroads as it p
does its post routes, by a system of fair Ii
and open competition, there is and can be
40 Objectionable Capitalization of govern
nent patronage, and without patronage :
here is no corrupt influence. Centrali
.ation will, doubtless, be the rallying cry
n opposition to government ownership
put it is an utterly false one, as will be b
readily seen by those who take the trouble t
o reflect upon the subject. The object t
must be accomplished in some way is o
here any other that will meet the case v
Ifso, by all means let b
Is have it. AMAsA WALKER. 0
North Brookfeld, Oct. 6, 1873. a