The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1874-09-24
Extracts from the Address Of the In.
dependent Reform Party to the
People Of Illinois.

People Of Illinois.
Prior to the election of 1872, the Re-
publican party in Congress used its
power to prevent exposure and punish
ment, and never did anything in this
direction until absolutely compelled by
outside pressure. The Credit Mobilier
scandal came out in its glaring colors,
by reason of some Of the rogues
among themselves. :.
Senator Morton says the ''Republi-
can party is Of the people and against
monopolies.' Never did monopolies
gain power and riches faster than since
the party came into power. The tariff,
finance, railway and water transporta-
ton questions, are of vital Importance
to the people, and especially to the pro-
ducers Of the West.
The policy of the Republican party
Of the country has been eminently salts
factory to the monopolists. =
Upon the railway transportation they
say: eff the company charges too much
no one is obliged to employ it. The
producer does his own carrying before
the railway is built. He has the per-
feet right to do so after it is built"
What railroad king would talk in more
insulting language to the producer than
the foregoing quotations from this Re-
publican Congressional Committee!
One of the causes Of corruption : in
our form of government, is the exist
ence of large numbers who have no con-
fidence in the practical working of the
theory of self-government.
They look with contempt upon farm
er's movements and abor unions. All
true friends of a government of the
people will rejoice in any and every
honest effort by farmers, or any other
class of laboring citizens, to inform
themselves about their rights and du.
ties as citizens =
Pomp, style, extravaganza and a
propensity to waste the hard earnings
of the producers in glittcring show, is
as true of Washington as of Paris or
London. The European Governments
are kept in style to suit the A1istoc-
racy. Our Government has within a
few years made rapid advances in that
direction.
To bring this Government back TO
true Republican simplicity is task of
some magnitude.
The monopolists Of this country are
just sach creatures as those Of Europe.
Those who have been ruling and shap-
ing laws to suit their own private in
terests, are combined 20 keep the peo.
pie from combining. The monopolists
support the Republican party. Some
Of them call themselves Democrats,
merely as blind to keep down any
new combinations likely to defeat the
party in power.
Reforms come, or are brought about
only when the masses Of the people
free themselves from Old party ties.
bad men" in power never were
known to'reform themselves.
One o, the abuses that is corrupting
our political system badly, is the prac.
tice of nominating men who have
money and are willing to spend it in Sc
curing their nomination aod election.
For instance Bill King and Strait. Ed.
ASr1.MoSopoL1sr.]
The State of Illinois has q peculiar
interest in this reform movement, BY
reason Of its remoteness from the mar
kets Of our own, as well as foreign,
countries. We cannot thrive upon the
g.ories or misfortunes of the pas... Old
party names and partisan feelings must
be thrown to the winds If we would in
stitute measures Of relief from the mis-
rulings Of the past. We earnestly in
vite all friends of reform and retrench-
ment in the State to join US in the eff
fort to regulate the great corporations
Of the country, to get their products to
market at reasonable figure, and to
elevate the masses.