The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1873-06-19

ole principle. Nor is it expedient to
Organize them among a single class
of men, thus challenging the hostili.
ty of all other classes. The farmers,
for instance, want the sympathy of
merchants, mechanics, manufactu-
rers, end all other sorts Of business
men: they desire to act with them,
and do business with them, on terms
of equality and amity, and have them
feel that their interests are ldenucai
and not anita gonistic. But a "farm-
ers' marty" assumes that farmers are
better than other people, and that no
other class has any rights which they
are bound to respect. Such an or
ganization, it is clear can not be ex-
pedient, nor long. Lived, nor become
lasting power in State,or country.
Consequently it is not wise to organ
ize one anywhere.
But there is a better reason, which
Republicans, at least, should heed.
The only result in getting up q farm
ers' party, in localities, is to help
pull down the only party that can
help the farmers. The Republican
Party is dominant in Iowa, in a ma
iority of the States, and the Nation.
1t has the President for four years,
the Senate for an equal time, and the
House for two years. So whatever
is done for the farming interest, in a
national point of view, for a long
time TO come, must be done through
the Republican party. Is it wise to
begin to tear that party to pieces, IN
townships, counties or insulated
States, upon whose GOOD will so
much depends ? Are the old enc
mics of the Republican party the
right men to advise on such ques-
ton?
But there are stronger considera-
tons than these. The Republican
Ptrty is committed, By ats past plat
forms, to the principle that anderlies
the farmers movement. THE Demo-
cratic party IS conmitted against 1T.
The old Wing party, out of which
the Republican party grew, was
committed to Internal improvement.
The Democratic ,arty was dho0yS
against ii. The Republican party,
like the Wing party, has constructed
the Constitution literally, in favor of
freedom, the Improvement of rivers
and harbors, and the development
of natural resources. The Democ.
racy has favored strict construction,
except when Slavery needed help,
and has always held that the Gov
eminent could undertake no works
of internal improvement.
The interests of the Western farm
ers imperatively call for the exercise
of Congressional power. National
curbs are needed upon railroad mo-
nopoly. Competing water lines are
required to cheaper transportation.
Rivers must be improved and canals
constructed, to let the grain Of the
West down to the seaboard at living
rates. Possibly national freight
railroad must be built before all
these objects will be attained. To
accomplish these benefcent ends OF
friendship and support the Republi-
can party of the nation is imperative
ly needed. And it can be had if the
farmers are true to their friends.
The Republican Congress is now
preparing for vigorous action upon
all the vital questions in which the
farmers are interested. House com.
mittees are investigating the feasibil'
ity of uniting the western rivers with
the ocean by canals. The necessity
of removing obstacles to the free
navigation of the Mississippi recent
ly brought a hundred Congressman
to st. Louis. A special committee
of the Senate is now collecting all
the facts involved in the problem OF
cheap transportation. The next ses'
son of Congress will ring with the
discussions on this subject, and II
will then be seen who is for and who
is against, relief to agricultural inter
ests. If the Republican party stands
firmly by its organization and integ
rity we expect to see measures Of
great Importance passed during the
coming year.
But suppose the Republican par
ty, in a State like Iowa, should be
broken off by the action of the farm
ers. Suppose that in halfthe coun,
ties they allow themselves to be
duped into a partnership with Dem
ocrats to get up farmers tickets, par
ty discipline and party pride are disre
garded. Then that will be the begin
ming of political chaos, and no one
can tell what will be done at Wash
ington, or elsewhere. The breaking
up of old parties is the very worst
time to advance important measures
1t is the time when the INSCRIPTIONS
tie venal and imprudent force thell
way to the front, and intrigue, de
ception and corruption get contro
of affairs. The farmers who go OF
into farmer parties will secure the
ill will of other classes, and of those
Republicans who stand by the ole
party Republicans will be arrayet
against Republicans class will bt
arrayed against class bitterness viii
arise among old friends who have
had the same object in view. Thu
utter division and overthrow of thu
farmers movement will be the re
suit. And all because indiscree
men are not willing to let swell
enough alone"-to stand by the par
ty that is at work in their behalf
but have abandoned their politica
friends to fall into trap set by thel
political enemies (! How many viii
be shallow enough to commit thii
folly ?-Davenport Gazette.