Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1873-09-04
Facts for Farmers.

these oranges, not one exists in Con-
necticut, Delaware, Florida, Maine,
Maryland, Nevada, New Hampshire, or
Rhode Island, and 1907 OF the whole
number are found in the States of Hi
nois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Mime
sofa and Nebraska. 1t will be seen that,
formidable as is this order, its great
strength is confined chiefly to six grain
growing States. Bat chiefly because of
this concentration in States of large and
constantly increasing political power,
the order has been marked as the prey
of the demagogue, and has encountered
a danger its founders did not anticipate.
Formed for the purpose of tightening
the toll, increasing the knowledge, cul-
tivating the fraternal feelings, and adj
vancing the material interests of the
farmer, by means distinct from govern
mental action, it has been dragged into
political discussions. 1t has been over
taken by the misfortune of Democratic
courtship. 1t has had fastened upon it
an auxiliary organization known as the
Farmers Association, which has taken
a direct part in political affairs, and
given a severe blow to the independence
of the judiciary in the late election in
Illinois. Finally, it has SO fallen that a
political mountebank like John b. Grin
nell thinks he can use it to reach his own
ends. LII the Patrons viii calmly con-
slider the history Of the past few weeks,
they will see that their strength has be-
come their weakness, In attracting to
them the political marplots who carry
destruction wherever they go.
There is ample evidence that the more
discerning members of the order are
aware of its danger. A distinct warning
has just come from Mr.. Parsons, State
Master of Minnesota. Being informed
that certain oranges in his jurisdiction
have appointed delegates to a State
political convention, to be held on the
I'd OF September, he calls upon the
offending oranges to recall these dele
gates, since their appointment was a
direct violation of the laws of their
order, and he says Of the policy of the
step they have taken
eve lay no claim to any control
whatever over so-called famers conven-
lions. But oranges or Patrons of Hus-
bandry are prohibited by the law which
gives them existence from engaging in
either religious or political action or
discussion. This prohibition is imposed
for the best and wisest of purposes. 1t
is our only safeguard against sure and
speedy destruction. Upon obedience to
this law depends our very existence as
an order. 1t is with profound regret
and modification that have witnessed
this departure from our cherished
principles. Just as success is within
our grasp, and our labors are abolt to
be rewarded by an abundant prosperity,
are We to forget our mission, and barter
away our beloved order for a mess of
political pottage? Are we to lose sight
of the grand objects before us-the
social, intellectual and financial regen-
Grafton and elevation of our class
which should make our order perpetual,
for any considerations of temporary ad-
vantage or of doubtful expediency ?"
These words from one in whom they
have placed confidence should convince
the patrons of the dangers before them,
and induce them to avoid those dangers.
The hardships which attend agricul-
tural labor in the West may, however,
overcome all considerations of prudence.
When farmer is forced to burn corn
for fuel because extortionate freight
tolls have shut him out from market, it
is natural he should undertake to seize
any remedy which appears to be within
his reach. 1t was inevitable that, when
the patrons became sufficiently numer-
Gus to constitute the balance of political
power in great States, they should en-
terrain the idea of solving the transport
tation problem by the direct action of
Government. It was not strange that
they studied the maps of their country
to discover where new water outlets
might be made to the sea, and having
discovered them, as they thought, were
convinced that the National Treasury
might be used to make canals. Know
ing as they did that they had suffered
from the rapacity of railroads, it was
natural they should view these corpora
tions as enemies of the public interests,
and forget that they had just rights
singular that very many of them took
an exaggerated view of their own rights,
and imbibed G false notion of the pow
ers of Government which should be ex-
ercised in their behalf. The patrons
have therefore been drawn by natural
influences, which it was almost impossi-
bic to resist, into the arena of politics
Seeing State governments within their
grasp, and hoping to exercise con-
trolling influence upon that of the ma
ton, they could see no reason why they
should not set to work and right their
wrongs without further delay. The
matter being in this condition, it was
certain that the Democrats would step
In and offer to do the job for the pa
irons. Considering, then, the dangers
which threaten the oranges from all
these causes, and of the great interests
to all classes of the questions involved,
it has become important to inquire what
are the required remedies, and how
they can be attained.
There Will be no dispute, we pre-
sumo, if the proposition that such a
remedy should be preferred as will do
the farmers the most good, while doing
other classes the least harm. 1t will
not be denied that railroad corpora
tions have some rights under the law,
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