The Grange advance., 1873-10-29

4
in and with writs and suits either scare Or
crush the new concern; and the country
is deprived of the improvement as we'll Is
Of the competition. aa %Ts + y,
"a THE FARMERS FOOT THE BILL. @.;.sa
You have seen the result of all this to be,
thatthe farmer and the mechanic pay double
and triple value for their tools and imple-
ments, the country is impoverished to enrich
the few, and every department of government
is corrupted that the wealthy may hoard
up additional millions. You have asked
reform your question has been again de-
clared out of order. But a change has
come. The master mind somewhere has
spoken. The talismanic word has passed
through the magic circle of your oranges.
THE PEOPLE ARE GOING ''PUT THE
QUESTION:
The people have decided .to put the
question themselves
The captains voice has been heard !;
the pilot is at the helm. The ship rights
herself and bears herself erect. She will
weather the storm if the pilot only keeps a
steady head and steady hand.
In this State the party that has just held
its State Convention has in its State Plat
form conceded to the people every demand
and nominated the candidates of the peo-
pies choice. In other States complete
victory has been won. It only remains
for the people to prepare and nerve them
selves for the great national contest yet to
come; to prepare themselves to keep and
wisely use the advantages already gained
and to go steadily forward to occupy new
ground
GOOD MEN FOR OFFICE.
To do this the people must see to it that
good men, worthy and true, are put in
office; especially careful should they be in
the selection Of good men to represent them
in the Legislatures and in Congress. If a
farmer wishes to purchase serviceable
horse, true and good, he does not take the
first one that some horse jockey strives to
palm off on him. No, sir. There must be
evidence of his good qualities; thorough
examination as to soundness fair trial to
prove that the horse is steady and true.
Men, in choosing rulers, persons to make
and enforce their laws, should certainly, in
justice to themselves, use as much care as
in the purchase Of horse, instead of stand
ing still and gulping down the first poll
tician that thrusts himself down their
throats. The people should remember that
men of solid worth generally have to be
sought after; they are not the men that
are laying around loose and waiting for
chances, as general thing. What would
be thought Of the king who should appoint
his ministers and officers without regard to
their qualifications without any regard to
their loyalty or disloyalty to him, OF his
government? How long could such king
hold his throne? Every citizen of this ma
tion is, to the extent of his vote and his in
fuence, sovereign. king, and is re-
sponsible to himself and to his fellow citi-
zens for the exercise Of his kingly power.
No one in this nation is so great, or so
POLITICAL RESPONSIBILITY
good, as to be relieved of this RESPONSE
bility, be he farmer, mechanic, Judge or
minister, or priest. God deliver the peo.
pie from clergy who are too spiritual or
too holy to perform the duties and exercise
the rights Of citizen. What would be
thought of the monarch who promulgated
laws and edicts, either tending to impov-
erish himself or his subjects, or to subvert
his government. Yet every American citi-
zen is, through his Representatives in the
Legislature and in Congress, law maker,
and, to some extent, responsible for the
laws that are passed. Then the people
should demand the passage of equitable
laws, laws that give every citizen, every
section and every class and calling an equal
chance.
CERTAIN DEMANDS.
The people should demand that railroads
be so regulated by just laws, that they may
receive \ just compensation and no more,
and that they may be open alike, and on
equal terms to the freights of the poorest
farmer and the wealthiest ring. They
should demand the opening of new and cheap
routes of water transportation.
They should demand the repeal of pres
ent patent laws, they should demand that q
law be passsd prohibiting the renewal Of
all existing patents, and Offering premiums,
if necessary, to encourage inventors, prop
erly graded and guarded bv proper ohecks