The Grange advance., 1874-05-27
The Philadelphians are besieeing

The Philadelphians are besieging
Congress to tax the western farmers to
help build up that city. In other
words they ask for millions out Of the
public treasury to cover the expense of
the great show to be held there in 1876,
We to pay the expense and give them
the profits.
MORE COLD COMFORT FOR THE CENTENNIAL
! COMMISSION.
| WASHINGTON, May 22.-The bill request
ing the President to extend in the name Of
the United States an invitation to foreign
governments to take part in the Internation-
al Exposition in Philadelphia in 1875, was
reported back to-day from the Senate Com
mittee on Appropriations with the follow
ing proviso: ''That the United States
shall not be liable, directly or indirectly,
for any expense attending the exposition by
reason Of the same"
Better for us to get in the habit OF
calling things by their right name.
Money taken from the public treasury
simply means, so much more for the in
dustrial class to pay. All these sums
are paid by the laboring class and can t
be paid from any other source Con-
gress now fights shy, but when it comes
to the pinch the money will be granted.
DoNNELLI's FoLLY.-If the Hon. Ignatius
Donnelly is led to his present extremely
foolish position regarding the railroads by
the hope Of influencing the farmers and
Changers to support him for any political
position, he is in far more need Of good
sense than we ever supposed, and needs up
braiding for his mean opinion Of agricul-
turalists. If he takes his position from
convictions of right and justice, his friends
should see that he has a snug room in the
| St. Peter institute at once, for he is a dan
| gerous man to have at large.
We are led to these remarks by the ut
terances Of Mr.. Donnelly, which have re-
Gently appeared in the public print with
! reference to railroads. Mr. Donnelly SAYS:
The question whether any proposed rates
would or would not involve the bankrupt
cy of the railroad companies, should not
| enter into the question" He declares that
"most of the roads are bankrupt now"
The country" he adds, isis too new and
| the population too sparse to support them"
If such remarks as these do not indicate
demented or insane mind, we certainly do
not understand their drift.
The farmers Of Minnesota are not fools,
and the whole people understand that the
future development Of wealth Of this State
as we'll as that Of the whole Northwest, de-
pends to great degree upon the railroads,
the only means we have for moving our
crops to market. To impose rates that
| would bankrupt the roads, would bankrupt
the farmers and every other class Of citi-
zens to great extent. The transportation
Of freight is legitimate business and the
people have no right to interfere with it
farther than to see that the profits arising
therefrom do not become 80 great as to be-
| come burdensome, and it is our opinion
| that this matter will eventually be regulat-
ed in New York and Pennsylvania by COM
petition. Mr.. Donnelly unques ionably
! tells the truth when he says that most Of
| the roads are bankrupt now, but where is
is the farmer that would rejoice to see rail-
| roading dispensed with and be obliged to
move his grain twenty-five or fifty or hun
dred miles to market, by teams.-Fari6auu
Democrat.
AS the Faribault Democrat remarks.
"the farmers Of Minnesota are not
fools" They understand the railroad
dispute pretty thoroughly The prin-
cipal evil has been that the President
and Directors OF some of the roads are
grain spectators, and act as steamboat
lines have acted. They drive off all
competitive buyers by high ireights,
then monopolize the market and give
what they please. We are not quarrel
ing with the bond and stock holders,
bus the dishonest combinations Of
officers who defraud both the farmer aud
owners Of stock
Generally the widows and orphans
who are persuaded to put their money
into railroads as safe investment, are
treated as badly as the public. The
officers and directors get the "swag"
Some kind Of difference has sprung
up in Hastings between the editor Of the
Hastings Union and Mr.. John Ken
nedy Last week the Union had in it a
curious and funny "apology" to Mr..
keunedy,which We copied as good piece
OF jocular reading. This week Mr.,