, 1874-05-06
THE INDEPENDENTS,

Thoaa who lavo believed that tho farmers
were not going into politics Tin spite Of the fact
that thoy carried majority OF the counties in
this State at the last county oieotiona) will have
their eyes opened by the proceedings Of the
Bloomington meeting which We print this morn-
ing. This moeting was OF tho Advisory Com
mittee Of the State Farmers' Association. There
we're eixty-dve delegates present.. repre-
seuting hfty.two counties. One after
another tho delegates declared either that
they wero instructed to vote in favor Of taking
Independent political action, or that their con-
stituonts we're strongly inclined that way. And,
when the vote on this question waa taken, there
wero only two delegates who preferred tho bonds
Of old party thraldom to political Independence.
Tho entire proceedings OF the dhy show beyond
doubt that the farmers Of this State hayo
concluded that tho War OF tho Rebellion is
over, and that thero are now other battles
to fight in THO cause Of political indo-
pendouce, reform, aud economy against
the common encmios Of corruption and monopo-
1y. Tho men who met at Bloomington yestor-
day partially represented ! ,21G Farmern' Clubs
that have been formed in this 6tatc, and they
claim the political co-opera ton Of 100000
voters, or nearly two.thirds Of the voting popu-
lation Of tho state. However this may be,-
whether tho Bloomington Committee over
estimatod the strength behind them Or not,-
there was an unmiatakablo unAnimity in tho de-
sire to shake OF all old political bondage and
start out aneH.
Tho Advisory Committee posaesang full au-
thority from tho Decatur Convention, have called
Convention At Bprlngheld, Wednesday, june
10, aoven days prior to the meeting OF horcgula1
Republican Convention. The basis Of rcprcsen-
tation agreed upon finally, sfsor much dis
cuas!on, was one delegate for every 5000 Of
population. Tho objection urged to this basiE
WAS the danger which occurred to some Of the
! gentlemen Tint the politicians might thus BE-
enabled to "gohble" tho movement.
good answer was made to this By
tho delegate who said that any man attending
! the independent Convention atspriugtiold voult
| certainly bo read out Of tho party to which III
had previously belonged. Nor waa the apprc
henHion concerning tho delegations from lsrgs
oitea welt-founded. Thore IL powerful anti
monopoly, anti-csuous, and anti-corruption elo
mont In tho cities and towns as we'll as tht
rural districts. which is equally disguatod witt
tho frauds that arc being exposed from day to da.
In Washington, aud with tho part5'spirit whicl
would hold down the people to tho abuae
they have borne too long. The farmers wou1s
commit soriouB error In hrraytng thomselve
against tho oitios md towns, whore they vii
find genuine sympathy md material eo-opcsa
.ion With cvary honest effort to inaugurato
now err in American politics.
It vas tbs province Of thts Advisory Com
pittee to teclle whether or not the farmer
should take independent political action, and. !
case OF decision In tho affirmative, to eall col
voutton aud fix tho time and place. This ha
been doue. between now aud June 10 the CAT
vass will bo made which shall decide tho prir
oIples then 10 bo announced, and these principle
will undoubtedly exert = largo tnauenoe on IL
Legislative aud Congressional elections next sAl
At all eveuta. political Independence has bee
en1phstioaily declared.