, 1873-06-03
THE FARMERS MOVEMENT.

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/ THE FARMERS MOVEMENT.
I The farmers Of at loaat ono. county In IL
stato Of Illinois have abandoned tho blind On
airnleBa resolving, and doc1arod for listins
and separate policy, inviting all who may agre
With thom to unite in 1t. Wo inytc attention t
tho action Of tho Livingaton County orgnniza
ton, tho proceedings Of which appear in thi
days TRIBUNE. Tho adaross, declaration
and platform aro brief but pointed
They may be ensily atatod, Oh tho
contain no surplus Of words, and over
Rentence has o1oar and unoguiyocal meaning
| It ia perhaps tho best nodded platform that ha
boon presented to tho people this year, and vii
probably bocome tho general platform Of th
farmers throughout tho Wost. It declares: Tint
having no expectation Of roliof from either Of th
o1lating political parties, tho farmers OF Living
eton County, for the purpose OF future action ant
more perfect organization, invite tho co-opere
ttoq Ct oil Glasses in establishing tho followine
principles:
!. Opposition to railroad steals, tariff etenls
aalary.grab Rtoals bank steals, and overy otho,
form Of thioYing by which tho farming and
labor clasHes arc robbed Of tho legitimate fruits
Of their labor.
q. Tho control Of railroad corporations Of tic
State BY law.
O. Submission to direct taxation and duties to
moot tho neceseitics OF the Government, but on.
position to taxation for tho benefit Of PRIVILEGED
classes.
4. That the banking system should bo opcn
alike to oil mon giving proper security aud COM
plying with law.
.. Opposition to all nd-granta to corpora.
tionH.
u Reform Of tho Civil Service, by making hon
eaty and capacity tho only valid claim for public
employment.
Having adoptod this platform unanimously,
tho Convention appointed committee with
authority to call county convention, to nomi
nato candidates for all county Offices to be e1octed
this fall.
This means buBinoss. There is son1othiue
dotinite and tangible in 1t. OF what uso ID it for
tho farmers to meet wcek after week and boat
tho air In long resolves and windy dobntes, un-
loss they intend to make themselves folt politi-
cally Tho Livingston farmers declare tho truth,
that It ia de1usion to expect my relief or roform
from either tho Democratic OF Hopublican
parties, and this must DO evidont to eyory
man. Moreover, II tho farmers and
others aggriegod by tho oxtortions OF mo-
nopoy propose to demand roform OF tho
exissing parties, thoy will receive equal
promises from both; Democratic farmers
Will vote for Democrats for of1lco, and Ropub-
[icans will yoto for Ropublicans; tho farmers
will DO therefore kept divided, and, after o1co-
tion, partioH will do as thoy like. Whom there is
work to ba done which a man can do bfmsolf
0estor than 1t can bo done by others, he Is fool
L he Bends somebody else on tho errnnd. It ia
|uRt as oasy for tho farmers Of Illinois and tho
working claesos to vote thoir own tiokot az tn |
7ote ticket made up for them by other parties.
It iR Just as easy for them to elect a man OF |
hoir Own Lind to go to tho Legislature as to
'loot q professional ofllce-sookor who Ia
oand on tho question Of decorating grayoa
md negro suffrage In tho ono caso
he man OF their Own kind has common soofa1
nd pocuniary interest with them, wl,ilo tho eon-
!eman elected bccauso Of lis party affiliations
J under superior obligation to do nothing that
will hurt tho party" Tho persons engaged In
gttculturo arc majority OF tho whole popula-
ion. 30 long as this majority Of tho population
IN bo kept divided, can be kept at sworde'
oints upon other laaues,-Bo long can the poll
clans not only govern them, but rob thom with.
ut restraint.
Tho Livingston County farmers, therefore mn
niger contont with purpoaoloss organization
ayo appointed tho proper persons to oa]l a
'unty convention this fall to nominate County
reasuror, County Clerk, Superintendent Of In
ructlon, aud all tho township oilcora. II tho
rmoFB propose to exercise tho political power
10Y hold, tAey must begin to do 30 at BONO
noi thoy can resouo their interests from tho
'nds Of corrupt partisan trailckors by dcfcat-
g those tratlokera at tho polls in 1878.
IT. having shown thoir strength this l.
Ar they will havo no difficulty in
II In oleetlng their own friouds to tim
'gialaturo and to Congress-. Liyinceton I
'unty Is ono Of tie strongest Republican coun-
~ In 1ninola but tho Republicans Of that ,
UNITY Who live by toll. aud who think thoy arc I
titled to tho fF'lits OF their own labor, 1.ayo ,
opted tho right policy Of doing tho right thing 8
the right tlme In tho right way and at tho
tut place. Tho platform and declaration are a 8
moral indictment Of monopoly In all its forms I
assertion Of popular right to throw or des- I
tiam BY legal emancipation. and purpose to /
raoyp1o until Injustice ahall bo 1emedIea aud Il