The Rock Island daily Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1872-1873, 1873-02-15
Chr 9aiIg grsns,
Saturday, February Is, 1873.
The Voice Of the Farmers.

" signed. and forwarded 10 Representative
ioLns,on The farmers demand that the
e. hill rsassert its authority and com
,ol ,be railroads to obey the laws made in
accordance with the provisions of the Con-
sttution. Had they adopted this course
years ago, the present cause Of complaint
would never have existed. But it is better
to force the issue now than to postpone II
to future period, for the sooner it comes
the better, az come Il must, sooner or
later.
Should these memorials 60 into the Leg
islature rs numerously signed as is anticl-
pated, there will be found few members
who will care 70 meet the storm which
failure to comply with its demands would
bring upon them.
To the Senate and House Of Representatives
Of the State Of Illinois;
The undersigned. citizens of Illinois
having long suffered from the arrogant
assumptions, outrages, robberies, and ex
tOrti0ns of our railroads, are moved toI
present this our memorial 10 the Legisla-
ture of the State, now In session at spring
field. We come not rs humble supplahts
begging fayors. but rs free born citizens
of the State demanding right and justice
M your hands The magnitude and vital
nature of the interests involved, demand
speedy and decisive action No other
question of such grave Importance, IN the
opinion Of your memorlalists can be
brought before the Legislature, and there
fore we invite tO It's consideration your
most earnest careful, and prompt atten-
ton. For nearly two years the legal fares
have been fixed on all railroads and dis.
ordinations in freight charges have been
forbidden BY law and yet as far as we
have been able IN learn, in not single in
stance has the law been complied with, but
has been presisteutly aud wilfully violated,
thus setting NJ defiance the authority of
the State, and systematically TObbing the
people. Shall we, can we longer submit
% this state of things Can we longer
allow the authority of our government u
be set NJ naught, contemed, and trampled
under foot, by these soulless corporations,
without losing our Independence and self.
respect and receiving the contempt of thu
world? Aside from personal wrongs, OF
which ourcitizeus so Justly complain, should
not every sentiment Of patriotism inspire
Us to make a united and determined effort
10 free our State government from this
degradation
The State can tolerate no divided soy
creignty with corporations Of its own crea-
ton As was said on another occasion,
A house divided against itself cannot
stand This Is a struggle for the mastery,
between the State and the Railroads, and
one or the other must 90 10 the wall AT
present the railroads are supreme rs far
rs they choose a. be. They have thrown
down the gauntlet, and challenge the State
20 the combat In defense of rights. no
more sacred than those Of whose violation
we complain, nearly all justihable wars in
history have been waged and shall we sit
supinely down. and tamely submit IN thes,
outrages and open defiance to our author
ity, dictated by the great capitalists O
Europe and our Eastern cities. and exact
ed by their paid agents. And who ar,
the dictators? Aliens 10 our soil whC
have no sympathy with our people, no in
terest in our welfare, further than n filcl
from our hard earnings the largest amount
possible 10 crafty their glOating avarice
That the Legislature has the power
through appropriate laws, 10 settle tn,
whole question on the proper basis, W,
have not the remotest doubt. The redres.
we propose, Is to be obtained through lega
and peaceful means. We seek nothin.
through violence or revolution and We
we are not blind to the fact that all tn
railroads in the State, with all the wealt
Of their owners, and with all the inauenc
Of their agents and attOrnies, would be a
the chat Of the threShing floor, before tn
breath Of an outraged and indignant pee
pie should they once become satisfied tina
all legal and peaceful remedies had failed
Knowing that the power rests with iii
Legislature and Executive, supported b
the people, 10 redress our wrongs we d.
mand First the establishment of tn
supremacy Of our State government in i
original integrity, by compelling the raj
roads to submit to its authority and Sc
Ond, the restoration of the violated righ
OF the citizen, by protecting him from il
suit extOrtlon robbery, and mob viOlenc
All that Is necessary u gain the desirab
end, IN the opinion Of your memOrialist
are proper laws honestly and energetical
administered. The people are aroused
and ready and eager for the contest. l.,
us have laws fixing maximum freigI
charges, as the constitution requires an
let these laws with those alread
enacted, liking maximum fares,
sustained and enforced by la
establishing a railroad police, throua
which our citizens shall be protec
ed in their rights, and all violators of Il
law promptly arresteda and brought 10 pu
ishment Let us place these arrogant vi
latlors Of our laws on the defensive, ma
ing the State the plaintiff The Sta
must fight this battle For the individu
citizen, theIlegal remedy is snare and
deusion but for the people collectivel
the contest will be short. and the victn-
decisive Let then the whole power of II
State be placed in the hands of the prop,
oihcers, Tor the special protection Of Il
citizen against railroad aggression, makir
Il their imperative duty to see that yol
laws are faithfully executed. So long ,
the railroads can make disobedience MOI
profitable than obedience to law, so Ion
Will the law be violated So long +
they antOraee upon the people to nav N
expenses Of litigation, litigation will ca,
tinue, for it does them no harm. RAJ
roads delight m law suits injunctions, a
peals, and all the endless bubbles and j
NIAAAAudblt hNldyo VI Llle courts, tnrOuf
which they keep all their profits, and Ii
people are continually robbed What v
demand is some action that will strike
their dividends and make it unproiitab
70 disobey the laws No timid, tempori
ing, halfway measures will satisfy the pc
pie or accomplish any good but the pow
Of the State must be brought to bear
once upon the most vulnerable point !.
its strong hand be placed upon every ager
conductor, or employee of the railroad
who is found violating the law let him
arrested, fined and imprisoned. The en-
lQstihe- the means, and the cost, whatev,
that may be, for the end sought, is nothir
less than the preservation Of our free il
tsltntlons from utter ruin and destruction
Millions Tor defense, but not one cent +,
tribute" -
We, therefore, the tillers of the All
with all others who may choose 10 uni
with US, come 70 the legislature with
united voice, demanding that they ena
such laws and put in execution such mea
ures as shall re-establish our State COVER
ment in its original purity and supremac
restore the violated rights Of the peopl
protect them from outrage and robber