The Rock Island daily Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1872-1873, 1873-10-28
Why Farmers Should Interest Them
selves Personally in Politics.
THE INFLUENCES OF MIDDLEMEN---oLD
AND NEW FARM LIFE---TRANsPORTA-
TON, &C., &C., &C.

Tho accumulation of the farmers OF the
Irnitad States into one guild, II perma
nentlv carried forward in the spirit OF its
;ncent;on will lead 10 consequences o. the
h;,I,as, I'm nortance. | understand that,
,rL;Io = nortion of the work of the patrons
nj Uusbandry, like that OF the uason:'
DAD Fellows, and other similar tIa'eIni
ties is secret, while it has eert5ll ues;ees'
orders. honorary titles anu ueoo'aVi ''
these are mere incidents 20 Us genera W
;ects--that II means business not SHOW
thot its substantial design Is 70 Improve
tho material interests rae mental ana NOR
W ,Larac,sr and social privileges OF the
~ o, Of the largest and most import
nle . noJ ,jassdal interest OF our country.
9 ant ~ ~ ari in what way this design shall
h mo S"s6mpiished will depend upon the in
s'ageut efforts and patient cooperation of
ihe members themselves.
THE FORMS AND SYMBOLS OF THE ORANGES.
There may come time when all the
observances and ceremonies with which
societies Of this kind hedge themselves in,
and the forms and symbols with which
they endeavor TO make their proceedings
attractive, will be banished by that severe
taste which loves TO contemplate truth as a
pure abstraction But that time is very
distant and the millennium will tread close
upon its coming. Some of the critics who
are wont 10 sneer at the official titles and
degrees conferred by the oranges would
be giddy with delighted vanity if the mean
est and most profigate monarch who ever
sat upon throne would salute them as
''Sir Knight"
While the soldier follows the flag with
inspiration OF courage, aud will lead for
lorn hope for the sake of ribbon; while
the parade is bright with the glory of gold
lace while the church has it, stained win
dows its organ and choirs ministers their
gowns and bands and surplice while ey-
cry state occasion or event has its pre-
scribed ceremony while colleges and uni
versities annually pepper US with A. Ms,
ID. Dis. and L. Il. Dis, while everybody
who is a member Of the civil government
is "Hon. and everybody who is not is
Col, or Esq, why should not indus
try, too, have its colors, and holding its
patent from nature, confer its titles and
degrees2 Why is not the knight of the
Plow' as honorable title as the knight
Of the Garter?' or why not the decoration
Of THE Horse" be worn as proudly as
that of the Elephant" of Denmark, or
Black Eagle" of Prussia? Since from
the constitution of our nature the forums
aud shows of time are part of mans life
upon the earth, we need not reject these,
which are images of peace, the coinage Of
civilization, while clinging 10 others which
are emblems of war or relics of barbarism
Whoever has studied the growth of our
population must have observed an increas-
ing tendency toward
rArrrt8 Attn
and that in the large cities-centres of cap
ital, commerce aud manuiacturers-the in
crease is in greater ratio than in the small
err which depends upon the local trade for
support 1t is noticeable, too, that cities
where population and capital are concen-
trated have year by year a greater relative
influence in shaping the general policy of
government. In them public opinion is
massed, and can be thrown Immediately
upon any given point. They support the
great newspapers, attract the leading men
and surplus capital The great moneyed
interests, and schemes which have in cities
their centres are never without special
and plausible advocates They organize
lObbies, and have agents and attorneys be-
fore every important legislative and con
gressional committee Their influence is
thus felt directly and specifically at the
time aud place where il is wanted. To
illustrate No capital of the same amount
IN this country. perhaps in the world has
IN the same time averaged rs large profits
upon the investment as that of the nation
al banks The security for their bills Is
government bonds, on which the banks re.
ceive interest The medium with which
they redeem is government notes The
number of banks is limited, 50 that they
have a monopoly Of the privileges they enjoy.
THE INFLUENCE or THE BANKS UPON TILE
CURRENCY.
1t is probable that, but for the influence
Of the banks themselves and the public
opinion they have been able to create, the
government, handling, as it does annually.
from one hundred and fifty to two hundred
millions in gold and collecting and dis
bursting in gold and currency every year an
amount equal TO more than half the entire
circulating medium required by the bust
ness of the country, with a credit based
upon a continent, and supported by the pa
triotism and interest Of the whole popula.
ton, would long since have furnished the
currency direct, making the profit on cir
culatiOn common benefit and have made
its exchangeable value equal to gold. The
people themselves are entitled to whatever
profit there is from the circulation of bills
or money which could have no value but
for the credit given by them, and for whose
redemption their own bonds are pledged
The problem is not difficult one, but its
practical solution has never been earnestly
attempted. If any banking house enjoyed
the credit, commanded the resources, and
handled the money the government does,
il would find no difficulty in making it,
bills OF par value with gold. Whenever
any financial policy is proposed it is wall
street that is heard FIRST, because Wall
street, having a special interest, will speak;
second, because we are apt 10 c0ncede that
Wall street, having made this subject a
speciality, has right ~ determine. In
truth, the Wall street Interests should bear
about the same relation to the industrial
pursuits of the country that the hands on
the dial do to the machinery of watch.
If the handspring aud wheels are right,
You can easily adjust the hands 10 register
the movement.
Our tariff represents no general princi-
pie or policy either Of protection, Incl
dental protection, or revenue only" but
is patchwork clearly disclosing just how
far such special interest seeking protection
WAS able ~ make itself heard.
THE PUBLIC LANDS FOR ACTUAL SETTLERS.
If there is any principle Of governmental
policy upon which all party platforms and
public speakers, candidates Ofiice-holders
and newspapers agree it is that the public
lands should be held for actual settlers. Il
the sentiment could be put 10 a Dir0 roc,
vote, one universal "Ayel" would go VI
from sea to sea.
But we haye have had land bounties Il
soldiers for military services, land scrip Il
agricultural colleges for educational pur.
poses, land scrip for the extinguishment Of
Of Indian titles, swamp lands 10 states fol
reclamation purposes, Immigrants to rail
roads-and somehow these do pass into
the hands of spectators, for the most part
and the chorus of that very musical motto
in American politics, Homes for the
homeless" dies away on the ear.
| instance these illustrations not to find