The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-07-16
How tho Democratic and Republican Parties
Have Failed to Win the TillerS OF the Soil.
Why the Farmers Abandon the Back-Pay
Grabbers-An Army Useless In Peace
and Navy Wastefully Managed
A Scathing Denunciati0n by
One Of the Smith Family.
Governor Palmer Walks Into the
Washington Harpies.

The year 1878 will to the West, for some
time to come have novel significance In
connection with the festival set apart In
i77o. The "Farmers' Fourth" just celebrated
for the first time, should not be overlooked
or under-estimated by any one who is watching
Che progress Of the great political movement in the
West, as 1t is the first step towards national or
general union Of the farmers. The oranges and
STATE associations have served to impress upon the
people In their various localities the common char
acter OF their wants and the necessity which ex-
listed for common action. The idea OF q Farmers
FOURTH" day wherein the farmers all over the
Northwest should meet and discuss the expressions
of to-day rather than those OF centuary ago is
one fraught with serious import TO the politicians
and parties, and IL will not amaze your CORE
spondent il an echo OF yesterdays utterances
should swell to potent voice in 1876.
THE MARTYR FARMERS OF TO-DAY.
The general tone OF the various speeches,
whether delivered by lawyers, farmers or politi.
clans, was invariably the same. The tyranny OF
England ninety-seven years ago was declared less
tntolerable than that under which the farmer
groans to-day at the hands OF monOpolists and
monopolies OF every description. The power OF the
farmers to reform all abuses OF this description and
the necessity that they should exert this power
was insisted upon. notice that some Of the orr
and outspoken, declaring that the present move
ment ranks with the crusade for abolition and
predicting for it results not less grand nor bene
fcent Another point l notice, and it deserves
special attention, because the speakers who stimuli
tane0usly presented 1t with such surprising unani-
unity did so without previous consultation or
agreement, and evidently gave voice to the senti-
ment OF the farmers everywhere. 1t is this
The farmers VIII not enter politics under
any banner but their own. The democracy
TO them Is obnoxious and dead saddled as 1t Is with
its slavery and war record and the manifold
sins OF Tweed Co. The republican party has
always hitherto commanded the steady support Of
the farmers and the honesty OF this support cannot
be questioned when Is remembered that the fiscal
policy of that party has always been Of character
to shock and impoverish them. But beyond the
Protection issue the lofter OF official
ruption. The Credit MOblier disclosures involving
men who had been dear to the West beyond meas
ure. followed by the shameless back pay steal, gave
the republican party shock from which 1t can only
recover by ceasing to be the republican party
shat is, by aburing all its present practices and
casting overheard all its present leaders. Adding
TO this the fact that in almost every Western State
where the republicans have held undisputed sway
for many years rings and frauds of every descrip-
ton have discovered themselves, and 1t will not be
to the republican managers the conduct OF affairs
they can carry on themselves Hope still pervades
the hearts Of the party leaders that
THE FARMERS CAN YET BE wHIsrLED BACK INTO
byresoutions and pledges but so far as State cleo
farmers possess the power and know that they
possess It, No better proof OF this could be found
than In the recent elections for tue Judiciary IN
this State, where tho farmers elected their Judges
In the fifteen districts which they contested, anu
where the republicans, with $1,000 majority IN the
State, only ran three party candidates, and they
Prominent among the orations delivered yester-
dsE were gwen a. Springfield rim by Hon
Pontiac by s. NJ. Smith, secretary Of the State As
ISOLATION, and consequently to be regarded as the
.mOuthpiece OF the farmers of Illinois.
Cove nor Palmer has paid special attention to
the farmers movement from its earliest inception,
and is understood to have cherished the idea or
which should avenge on the administration the
rout OF the Greeleyites last year. He has already
Farmers Rights and Wrongsn-one last January
and one at the Anti-Monoponsts' Convention. The
sIudad mans e,tSsr o those but renera1 re-
.sembled them In matter aud style.
1.-The danger" he SAID, (which most threatened
the liberties OF the people was their Willingness to
sconfde the duty OF protecting their rights to
others, their unquestiOned reliance in the sum-
serve their rights and the completeness with winch
they surrender the right to think freely and act
government nearly perfect. and II all Is not well
with the people, II their labor IS not rewarded and
they. are oppressed, the remedy is in their own
hands.
.,AIl, - continued the Governor, "is not well with
ms IN Illinois. We justly complain OF the enormous
burdens to which our industries are subjected,
either in the shape OF taxes or by the faithless
ness or
GREED OF THE AGENTS OF rBE GOVERNMENT
or by the graspinG exact0ns OF the carrying in
terest. The government will need for its expenses
next year $685. 256, OF which the share Of illinois
Will be excessively burdensome, when added to the
War Department asks $S2 $4,000, while the wheat
crop of Illinois Is $2s. 75500e. The naval establish
s5,7o0,O0O or more than double the cost or main
tanning the government OF Illinois; the Executive
more to snow the exsr ava prodigasy Of the
shsred alike in plans to deplete the Treasury. We
dent ever earned So 900 2 year; that military
establishment costing $3S,0o0oo0 Is
AN UNNITIGATED EVIL.
In our state and local governments there II the
same tendency teextravagance and waste, and
which Is still more dangerous and insulting to the
people-there is the pretension that onical life 20
slevates the oficer above the people who pay him
q style becoming his advanced station.
as it," continued M. Palner-after scathi NC
Matt Carpenter for his ''nsolenr statement that
gentlemsn"-"consistsnt with Jour manhood and
selI.respect lsnger to endure the anectations and
Have you so little confidence in yourselves and
countrymen as to give the whole wheat crop OF
nsS, Ss Z. us m ; Of ans
Tor large expenditures is the apparently
easy manner In which the largest amounts OF rev.
enue raised, by excuses on the products OF dis
teres and breweries and upon imports. Taxa
ton Is q necessity, and the objects already chosen
judIcally selected but IL must not be forgotten
that the grain fields are taxed In the duties on
alcohol, and the consumers Of our foreign importa
tons bear their share Of the tariff burden. do
not propose to discuss protection and free trade,
but am oidfashoned enough to believe that the
only protection needed BY the labor OF any people
Is TO be relieved from burdens and that while sub
sides and bcunties taken out OF the pockets Of the
people and bestowed on individuals are captivat-
Ing to the II, AQination, but faacious and decep-
tive in TACT and results The soundest political
science is that which provides for limiting the
sphere Of government to the smallest NUMBER OF
wis OF CONGRESSIONAL INTERFERENCE WITH
RAILROADS -
Taxing mn specially the railroad question, Mr..
Palmer declared against direct Congressional or
iegislative interference to settle the preDiem.
Nan hall mi