Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-08-14
PATRONS AND RAILROADS.


The auti.grange papers have made con-
siderable use Of the wrong idea that the
Patrons Of Husbaudry aud the farmers
movement are opposed to railroads, banks,
and other powerful interests. To assert this
is about as sensible as to claim that the pro-
hibition Of political discussions in the grange
will bind the members not to NEEDLE with
politics.
A late number Of tho Boston Journal
mentions an appeal Of the state grange Of
Texas to other state oranges to join them in
n memorial to the general government ask
ing for aid and encouragement toward the
building of the Texas Pacific Railroad, aud
says: 1--WE could hardly believe our own
eyes," &c.
The farmers Of our country do not want
to introduce class distinctions, as has been
repeatedly charged by partizan journals, but
to bring about reform. They care not
whether this reform be within or without the
regular parties, SO that it be truly reform.
Class distinctions in politics is one Of the
evils which they wish to weed out from our
nation. Railroads have in many instances
been oppressive, which was but natural re.
suit of their power, and which we presume
might have resulted from the possession Of n
like power by any other class. But they
had the power and it was necessary, in order
to break that power, that the class who sat-
fered by its unfair use should combine.
They combined aud accomplished this end in
some Of the Western states, and more needs
to be aud will be done. But as fer any hos
tility to railroads it does not and never did
exist. The farmers of the West, AZ Of the
rest Of the country, recognize in the railroad
one Of the most, if not the most, important
means for the development Of the resources
of the country, and while opposed to the ex'
tortions which have been practiced by them,
and determined that they shall be stopped,
they are as ready as any class to lend help
ing hand for the advancement Of honest rail
road interests.
The Journal manifests symptoms Of .
change, and we should not be surprised t.
see it speaking good words of the granger
by.aud-by. Ibis taking advantage Of the
appeal OF the Texas grange to announce thai
the grungers have made change OF base
when in reality the action referred to is di
rcctly in accordance with the principles anC
character Of the order ever since its iucep
ton, looks like smoothing Of the way for I
1 change in the treatment Of the order at tn
hands Of the Journal. We give portion
of the article referred to, which speaks a
strongly in favor of the grange as that pape
!. has been wont to do in opposition
They knew that in building up the pros
perity Of the West, no other one agency be
J, gins to compare with the railroads; the
/. | only hoped to increase their real eificiene
by reducing what they believed to DO thel
d extortions SO that both the roads and tn
communities they served might prospe
without injury to each ether. The first e
. feet of their movement, however, was felt
/. be antagouistic. and it was so. 1t cripple
tho roads, hurt their credit and impaire
o their resources. The grangerS themselye
|. must have felt the evil cOnseq uences, moi
withstanding they may still be convinced {
7. the iightfulnesS Of their claims. The trut
+ is, power leads to abuse in all hands. FS
years railroads have been tho pots OF tn
o government, and land grants of imperII
n grandeur, political influence almost irresist
Bic and the command Of the money mark'
u to any extent, naturally led to "A domlneel
: ing policy in the matter Of freights and fare
which continued till it aroused the reactio
Q, of thu grange movement. And now Ill
3. power OF the latter tends equally to abus
unless the reminders Of seli-interest sha
D make themselves felt more promptly. w
It infer from this Texas case that such Is a
ready the fact, for We now see the same o.
III ganzation that was originally arrayC
A against tic railroads ut work in the
behalf. Thus not only the oranges, but Il
D. whole community will in time come TO Us
% the proper discrimination in this matter. d,
ing all that can DO dono for the advancement
OF railroads, but keeping them within boun'
In and freeing them from abuses.