The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-05-19
THE FARMERS CONGRESS.
PRESIDENT JACKsON,s ADORE,

PRESIDENT JACKSoN'S ADDRESS.
SENSIBLE sPEECH-HARMoNY URGHD-THR
RAILROAD QUESTION = MODERATION AID
vIsED.
ATLANTA VIA NASHVILLE, May l3.-The
Agricultural Congress assembled in this city
at 10 O'Clock this morning. A large number
Of delegates were present. The convention
was called toorder by President Jackson who
delivered the following address: 1t gives me
great pleasure in the discharge Of my duty
as the presiding officer of this honorable
body, representing the great agricultural
interests of our nation to greet you on this
annual reunion Of the representatives of
sections forth, south, east and west This |
great force of national intelligence must
ever command respect and confidence |
Tor its utterances and exercise |
material influence on the measures |
OF national estate legislation. We as one
closely watched. We are suspected and the |
suspicion is often expressed that these agri-
cultural associations, whether limited or
national, will degenerate into political parti-
zan agencies. trust. gentlemen, our
measures, our action, will steadily and
uniformity be such as to convince the ns!lon
that our great end and aim is to build up
and defend the rights and interests of agri-
culture and give no aid or countenance TO
political demagogues or partizans, who may
chance to foist themselves on any of our
organizations for the sake of personal pre-
| ferment. Yet it will be our constant right,
as 1t should be our aim, to promote
among the masses of farmers a more
intelligent understanding Of political econ
omy In Its relation to agriculture by papers,
discussions upon finance, taxation, COM
merce, ETC., to the end that we may select
such REPRESENTATIVES, state national
whether from our associations or outside of
them, as will be likely with ability inteo-
rity and diligence, to sustain and advance
the cause of agriculture. The farmers have
greater Inducements TO be patriotic and
conservative than other vocations. That
is the business which sustains the govern
ment, and the government must sustain il.
The tree that bears the fruit must be
nourished and protected. The feelings
and desires of the farmers remain uncared
citation, the petitions and wants of bond
holders, or the combinations of an Office
seeker are OF more moment than
THE PRICE OF WHEAT,
corn, tobacco, even though that price in
wolves q loss to the producer. He then felici-
tates the congress on the good results of the
i organizations of the past two years, urges the
necessity of cooperation and union, illus
|
= mlckles make a muckle." Let then the
$ coral reef and the bee hive be a
part OF our symbolic language, which pro-
!. perly interpreted means industry, persever-
!. ance, lf-reliance and especially union OF
. forces. Let all in our ranks aspire to be blrt
y privates. Let none be found more solici.
tious for official position than for the success
: of our cause. Let not the variety of one or
4 CARNATIONS or flags or officers or locality be
: any obstacle TO the advancement of the great
and common object which we are seek tt
!, promote. Let harmony prevail throughout
: our extensive camps. He urges the
obliteration of sectional antipathies; the cul-
S tivstion of good fellowship and brotherly
love. Let our constant endeavor be to re-
. move all hindrancns to the steady advance o
n our local and national organizations, and lei
S the wise heads ofour assent lies be ever Ia xeC
for the contribution of valuable, practica
ideas, which will helpto enlarge the horizon
3 of a general intelligence. skill and prosperity
y He then discusses the contemplated increase
e OF the organization from year to year and to
!. secure full representation at their annual
meetings suggests the necessary amend
j ments to the constitution to meet the expect
9 ed exigencies. He then calls attention to
: some Of the burthens which agriculture has
TO bear and says our government has. in
3 times past, dealt out our public domain with
!, a lavish and profigate hand to provide
|. hCmesteads for immigrants from foreign
lands as well as for natives and very large
}, and liberal appropriations of this publ,
!: treasure have been set apart to aid and en-
: courage railroad enterprises; and yet thes,
/ advancements to public works have beer
:, coupled with no restrictions on
J, RAILROAD TARIFFS
for the protection of the population. induced
n by government bounty to settle on or nea
e the line of their work. In word, nothin,
], has been done by the government policy {,
bring about cheap transportation, and
e very much doubt whether the railroads.
: honestly and economically conducted, coulC
y afford sufficiently cheap transporsa
: ton for as bulky commoditie
Il as corn and grain. Beside
there is not a sufficient number of railroad
It for the transportation of the products of thu
; grain producing region of this country.
y seems to me that the Improvement of waite
,, routes, the opening of new canals is a ne
cessity. We should approach with grea
g care any action leading to the disturbanc,
of vested rights by legislative enactment
Railroad charters are In the nature Of con
n tracts. and it would be unwis,
a and unsafe to establish the precedent of vi
n olatiDg contracts, though / am awar,
!. that an eminent journalist thinks the pas
senger and freight traffic on the railroad
It roads. The remedy lies in examining
p whether these companies have violated
j, thsir charters. If so, annul them and begir
. de moro. And permit me in this connec
n ton, gentlemen, to remark that the mos
( effective method to reduce the cost of trans
n portation is to encourage the building o
i manufacturing establishments to work w
the raw material. In falling back to the
ranks, and laying aside the regalia of office,
l. which i propose doing at the close o
our present session. let me assure
- my fellow laborers and brethren of the pillow
that though my sphere of operations may bt
n more crcumscribed, yet my zeal in the cause
r we have at heart will be nowise abated AS
e citizen. / deem il nay duty and privilege al
= it is my desire, to contribute my mite TO the
d elevation and enlightenment, the progress
d and refinement, the culture ana influence o.
that class which, like the granite that Under
n lies our mountains, chains and sustains tn,
II burdens of the government, while it gives
y strength and durability to the great princi