The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1873-09-11

Mr.. w. G. Flagg, of Madison, Ill, spoke
interest of the anti monopoly movement
In effect his address was as follows:
He would consider the conditions and
causes Of the farmers organizations. Fa-
cilities of travel have almost obiterated
time and space, and with this change has
come tendency towards democratic re-
publicanism, which would equalize all man
kind and make then, kin. Hence also has
come the custom of ASSOCIATION of those
who have common purpose. OF the pop
ulatiOn of the great Northwest So per cent.
are farmers, settled upon 6509S5 farms,
averaging 173 acres each, the whole land
thus occupied being valued at $9.262 SOB :
S6l. Their annual production is $2474,-
53S COS. Looked at in this numerical
duction. these farmers have enormous so
cial and political powers. "A large per cent
age of the manufacturers of the country are
their immediate dependents; trade and
transportation also depend mainly for their
support upon the success of this agricultu-
raj class. In thrift, vitality and natural
ability they have no superiors.
Such being the case, it would be natural
to suppose that they would have large in
terest in legislation, and impress their
litical institutions aud policy of the coun-
try. But what are the facts? To what eX-
tent has this agricultural class led the
thought and shaped the policy of the ma
ton? In the long run. and upon vital
questions. there is no doubt that the intiu-
ence of the farmers is irresistibly felt.
Slavery was reprobated by them before il
was condemned in the cities. No agricul-
turai district would tolerate the corruption
of a ring so long AS New York did /; but
granting all this, it must be acknowledged
that the farmer Is easily hoodwinked, easily
led astray by fuent takers, and never indie
pendent in carrying out policy of his own.
Being man rather OF thoughts than OF
words, he is easily made the prey of plaus-
IDLE pretenders.
From these various conditions have arisen
the various causes of the present uprising
in those parts of the country where the ag-
ricultural class is most powerful and intel
ligent. These causes may be summed up in
the word monopoly" First is the giving
to railway, express and telegraph corpora
lions powers which are perverted TO unduly
taxing the people; we give the land, and
when their projects are completed, they
charge enormously for the use of the facili-
ties they offer. A railway corporation
which has obtained right of way and a
subsidy of $4,000 or $4,000 from a town
or township. refuses to do the carrying
trade for It, either by absolute refusal or by
rates for transportation that are
prohibltory. This railway corporation at
most points will have monopoly of the
business, because no other com pa
ny will risk the expensive outlay to COM
pete with it; and at points where there is
com petition, coordination will sooner or
later bring agreed rates, so that. in the long
run, and at most points, the shipper and
consignee of goods cannot claim just rates,
but must submit to such as are imposed
upon them.
"Of all governments" says Henry G. Ca
rey. "most exhaustive and oppressive lie
that of the transporter" Hence comes what
Mr.. Adams calls the transportation tax"
an amount collected OF the producer and
often far beyond the legitimate
cost OF transportation. which goes 70 swell
the ill-earned gains of the railway lords.
An aFistocracy OF wealth, often Of corrupt
aud interruptions men, is thus built up in
the midst Of our republican institutions,
and il as essentially It war with the demo-
cratic idea Of African slavery or Romish