, 1873-05-30
aomblancc of blnthor, that no close our rop1y at


lilo lneot1ng OF tho National Agricultural
GongroaB at Indianapolis finds its frat i,npor-
tanco III showing tho strength OF tho farmors'
organizations throughout Tho country. Twonty~
four stnsos arc represented from Vermont to
doorgia. and this mcans that tho far1no1B aro
Wheeling into limo with tho purpose Of protect
ing their own interoats In their own way. It Ia
significant tllat they aro coming noaror togotllor
by moans Of tl'oir local organizations In tho
North md South, md in tho East aud Wost
Their sectional inserosts are not always idontt-
ea1, but thare socms to DO n good comprehension
Of tho fact TINT tllelr general intoreats
nro tho Same, and TINT thoy aro powor-
ful enough to protect thom by unity
OF aotion Ninety aoclotIes aro reported
as represented with 15o dologatoe in all; but tho
most remarkable atntomont Of strength is found
III the Third anntal report Of tho Secretary Of tho
Congress, who says TINT thore arc already 0,000
agricultural associations In tho country, which
have an aggregate membership Of 4o0,o 900 farm
ora. This estimate evidently includes al1 tho
State, county, aud town organizations, the clubs,
grangos, univoralslos, boarde, councils, and
patrons Of industry. Two-thirds OF thosc naso-
oiations it is announced, have been organized
within tho past SIX monthe, or uinco tho atton-
tion Of tho farming community has boon
directed to tho special hardships Which It
ia ca11od Upon to boar in q bad \yenr.
It Is fair to prosun1o, therefore, TINT tho ma
5ority OF thoso sooietios hava boon organized
with tho practical purpose Of putting down tho
ubuaos TINT arc responsible for thoir present suf-
forlngs md thoroin diffor iron, tho for1mos MI
socsatoua of far1nora organized aimply with d
giow to tho advancement Of agriculture as a
scionco, md to promote tho local interests Of
particular SECTIONS. In their now form, tleso
far1nora' associations havo scmi-polltical char
motor, and, although there is no pretonso or pro-
fession Of political purpose, they cannot fall to
'oxort strong influence in the shaping of future
political oyonta Of primo importance to tho
country.
Many Of tho subjects reforrcd by tho 1ndian-
apo'is Convention to special committees for dis
cuaaion aro Of n claaa interest to tho farmers
alone, ,--atoh Us motorology and corn crops, llor-
tieulturo aua entomology. Otllors, however,
s1'cl1 as the railway Bystamt the transportation
problon, society organization, agricultural COL
lcgeH, and tho public lands, sro Of general ip,-
port, and the resolutions Of tho indianapolis
Congress- on these subjects will bo Iuoted for
with iptorost, though thoy will not necessarily
express tho sott1ed convictions of tho minority
OF the farmers, because OF tho incomplcteness
OF tho representation. the newnoHs Of tho orga,l-
izstions md tho lack Of instruction to delegates
Tic question Of transportation, for instance,
Which ID tho most important Of oil un-
dor present consideration, has not boon
boforc tho farmers long enough for thom
to understand it fully or suggest an
Intelligent and practical rou,cly. From prcB-
ont indications, it is not probable tint tho IT.
dianapo1ia Convention will givo FREQ Trade any-
thing life tie consideration which its Importance
domauda. THIS principle is the foundation for
every adequate remedy Of not only the trans-
portation question, but Of all tho othor grioy~
| ancoa Of which tho farmers complain. 1t ID
probable that before this fact IL fully recognized
by the farmers, tboir causo will be 1,arauscd by
litical parties and don,agogueB, nud their movo-
! mont will DO diverted III variety Of directions
favorable to everything else except tloir relief.
It is, perhapsi too carly to expect in q conven-
| tion Of partial representation TINT tho op-
| preston Of the protective system ahould bo
| clearly developed and generally understood,
| hut no sido-hghts against railroads md
middfo-mon will he1p them out Of tnel1
present embarraasments. Until they unito
| in common effort to break down the systom
which coorcoa from them tho pnymont Of 30 por
cont additional upon tho implements they use,
tho clothes they wear, and the transportation Of
their grain, and which dobars them from com.
petlng on equal torms with tho paupor labor oi
Europe, their conventions, congresses, and
societies will fall short of TINT practical scope
for which their organizations would otherwise be
| efficient.
Tho farners arc stopping halfway when thoi,
natiopnl eonyentiona ignore this great abuac u,,.
dcrlyng all their troubles to discuss tho profits
Of mildlo-mon. Those, though they may DO OK
ccBafve, furnish at least tho compensation of con
yonionco and service. 80 tho railroads, though
they may DO extortionato in their cllargcs In aont
caacs, layo facilitated tho exchange Of COM
moditics. and brought markets to agricultura
actions TINT would otherwise hayo becu Hllut
out from Il aala Of thoir productions. THO tarlil
a1ono, created for tho benefit Of monopoliets ii
all lines, Offers no compensation, no conyen
ionco, no service whatever to tho farmers, bu
only ostortion md oppression ut orory point i
dooH not roloyo taxation it iH largely reBppnsi
bio for tho oyorchnrges of tho railroads it rop
rosents one-thtrd Of tho cost Of every in,plo
mont which tho farmer uaos, and oyor,
article Of clothing no and hia famil,
wear; it increases tho cost OF production
1t diminiaheB the value OF agricultural products
by lowering the e1changeahlo yaluo Of all OK
ports md 1t iB tho single olomcnt Of Tho Gov
crnment which untlertakoa to throw the burden
OF m iniau,ty I'LL upon au Innocent clues, ant
bestow its boneflta upon q guilty olass. Ih