Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1873-07-01
ttForthe sp,,st Of Jeffer.on.1
TO THEsFARME Frs iOFlJEFFERSON.


Equal and exact. jastice to ali special pfivi-
ieges to monet"
Il have adopted the above Ian uage, of the
immortal Jefferson, as afnaotto, in the few res
marks Il desire to make, to the farmers of
Jtferso's county, not only OF tho Importance
but of the necessity, Of denomination, land union
to a naan-and without the least regard to
party-if they would secure for themselves
'seaual aud exact justice" and in despite of
the Especial privileges" now secured to; Banks,
nd'railroads, and otherlmonopolies; and by
which they, the great farming interest of this
country, are being, rapidly, brought down to
the condition ofs.hewers of " God and drawers
of water"ito these same monopolies.
The'frst men'to move in this great cause,
were the iaborers, and mechanics through
their "trades.union )" and allsirave heard of
the .siabor reformers" and the "labor' council;"
and, of their different organizations first, and
in the advance; and, fortthe reason that, re,
lying ON their daily toll for their daily bread,
they we're the'first' to feel'the effects of these
monopolies7; and the more especially from
their close connection with the farmers; for
when ehe' latter are impoverished, of course it
is out Of theirFpowersto employ or+sustain the
former. !
But, at length, the sturdy farmer, himself,
with all his means, and boosted independence,
finds, that unless he unites, at once, with the
laborer and mechanic and all other producers
Of the wealth IF the nation; he, himself,
Sserfand Joay-scrvant, of Lord!y corpdrations:
and, hence, this great movement of the proud,
unwhipped, unsubdued, unterrified farmers
of the great West, to assert their rights, and
liberties, and FRANCHISES, and to'unte with,
and act with all the producers Of tho land,
until all these corporations and monopolies are
brought down from their arrogant, and ex-
:travagant, and insolen. pretentons, and
especial privileges accorded them by bribed
legisation-to the standard of ''exact Jus
tice - and equal rights-and not jot moro
with individuals!
This; then, is the, now, combined 'move>
'msnt Of the laborers, the mechanics, the
tarmers-and, Gf they will understand their
true interests) of the merchants and the manu-
facturers-agninst both the Banks and rail-
roads, especially, and all other monepolies {:
for all'these men who produce the material
substances that. arc the corner St ne and
basis of all civilization, are equally interested
in "cheap prod uction" and in s'cheap trans
portation :" :Chcop NANCY is the parent of
"cheap production" A .frefz>rote, per mile,
and no discrimination, in points or distances,
81 wv poACh9 Va ShSap tldus
To secure these indispensable benefits and
just rights not only to farmers-the corner
stone of all industry-but equally to the
laborer, and merchant, and mechanic, and all
producers connected with them, there must be
organization, against the mammoth legislative
organizations, to-wit: Banks, railroads, in
surance companies and other monopoies
Without organization nothing can be effected;
for taken singly the monopolies can devour-
and swallow US up as easily as the Cyclops did
the comrades of Ulysses, and one after the
other, IN his internal cavern.
The clubs and oranges Of farmers now
forming through all the States. and at length
in our own splendid county, will enable us to
maintain our rights, and farmers generally to
hold on to their Inheritance, the soil. IF we
adopt them and spread them, until we touch
elbows all over the county and country, we are
saved. IF we fail to do so, our nominal
ownership may continue for while longer.
but all the nett proceeds will 90 to the mo-
nopolies, over food and raiment, and in the
end, as we are now mere renters of our own
property, we shall become the serfs and ten
ants of Banks and railroads
I trust. then, that the farmers of Jefferson
will be wide awake TO their interests, and inn
pIore them at once, every man of them, to
join either an open club or a grange, as he
may prefer. They are operating 10 4he same
direction, but I am inclined, from recent oh.
servation, to think the Grange the most eff
fective machinery for our purpose and safety.
OBSERVER.
Summit Point, June 20, 1873.