The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1873-12-11
TRUE AND FALSE IDEAS.


subjoined article in the Western Rat-
raj, one of the best agricultural pa
pers in the West, and by the way a
strong Grange advocate. 1t appears
as a communication, ofcourse, and is
not endorsed by the Rural. The ar
ticle presents at least some true ideas
though the writer is possibly a lit
tie inclined to be illiberal
Railroad monopoly is only one
manifestation of the deadly disease
which has fastened itself upon the
vitals of the country, and will, if
some radical remedy is not applied
utterly destroy the life of its victim.
That evil, that disease is extrava
gance. Extravaganza in eating, in
drinking, in dress, in almost every
habit of our daily lives.
The farmers of the west must not
expect to permanently better their
condition by waging a warfare upon
railroad monopoly alone. Railroad
monopoly is merely on outgro with of
this same prolific extravaganza.
Where railroads are robbing the pro-
ducer of one dollar, whisky, beer, to
bacco, gaudy dress, stimulatlvebever-
ages, as tea and coffee, and demago.
gismare taken hundred /; and at the
same time poisoning the physical,
weakening the mental, and corrupt.
ing the moral man.
Farmers of the west Do you ex-
pect to overcome the monopoly of
the ten fold monopoly of the secret
lodge ? What do you suppose child
ish mummery of initiation, the regalia
of "Grand Master" of a "Flora,' y
or Pomona" the windy effusions
of estate Secturer," have to do
with the question of grain tariffs be-
tween Chicago and New York, and
the price of wheat in Liverpool ?
Such things may do for children who
know no better, but for grown men
and woman there certainly is some
thing better than such aimless non
sense.
Have we not free speech, a free
press, and the right of assembling
ourselves together to sonsider what
is for our good Have we not every
open and fair means of making our
wishes known and their powers felt !?
Do we not elect the men who make
our laws, those who adjudicate upon
and those who would execute them !?
Is not the power in our own hands,
and is it not amply sufficient if we
will but intelligently express it
Are we living under a despotism
that we must assemble in the dark
ened rooms, with closed blinds and
bolted doors, with sentry standing
guard that we may discuss the ques-
ton of our most common needs =?
Look at New York and New En-
gland, see the evil which labor.
unions have brought upon the labor
ing men of the East. Thousands
thrown out of employment just at the
beginning of winter ; want, and per-
haps starvation staring them in the
face. Those labor-unions instead of
teaching the working men habits OF
economy, health, and true patriotism
have only labored to instill in their
minds the idea of an utter and ire.
concilable antagonism between labor
and capital ;-an antagonism which
does not exist, and will not, if men
only be wise and not follow the lead
ership of demagogues.
| 600 hu tho nana,u tho Al Fo,n,
er's Convention recently assembled
at Chicago declared for free trade,
or, at least, against protective tar
iff. Is this the voice of the people
of the Northwest ? l think not
for one cannot subscribe it. 1t looks
too much like track of such politi.
cal dead-beats as j. r. Doolittle or
DavidA. Wells.
Our needs are open, fair, full dis
cussion of our grievances by neigh
bors, club, press, pulpit more manu-
factories, less extravaganza; more
intelligent appreciation of the situa.
ton, less secret demagogism more
money spent for good papers, less
for lodge room fees and feasts less
acres and more manure and cultiva.
ton. Use money, not abuse it don't
expect that you can use tobacco and
whisky In moderation, with no dan
ger OF using 1t to excess. Were there
no moderate sinners, there would be
none who make it business of their
lives. Whatever Injuries physical,
must degrade and lower the mental
and moral. And above all else, re-
member that, for people to be di-
vided into warning secret orders,
means bloodshed and death. Re.
member the Ribbonmen and Orange
men, and the 18th of August, 1870.
Let it be reminder to US all.
K. G. w.
State Center, Io,ca.