Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-02-20

But il is long lane that has no turning.
The Tweed explosion, the Credit Mobilier
villainy, the Salary Grab, the enormous and
daily defalcatiOns Of public officials all over
the country, could have but one effect upon
people accustomed to gather the dollars
singly, by hard labOrious toll, that they see
their " servants " stealing by millions. They
are Owaking fast to the folly Of giving pub.
lie Office, involving the handling Of public
money, the control Of public property, or the
disposal Of valuable franchises, to men whom
they would not trust with dollar as indi-
viduals. They understand, at last that
cigars aud champagne, fine houses. fast hors-
es and fast women-all Of which seem indis.
pensabloIto the Office holder of the time-are
pretty costly Injuries, and that the pretty
cost comes out Of their own hard earnings.
The people are finding these things out,
and hence these fears, these tremblings, these
cursings, in the houses of our political lead
ers." 1t looks as though the people would
be round at tho caucusses this summer,
q sticking their noses in their own business, A."
and oh! what woeful smashing of states
that will make Truly these gentlemen
politicians, shivering in their broadcloth,
have our sympathies. We are sorry for
them,--vcry sorry that some are not going
to be sent to the states prison, instead of
simply losing their grip on the Offices But
going to the states prison for malfeasanco in
office, or for stealing from the public funds, is
"played out, " even in Vermont.
The republican party is strong by numbers
aud by party.spirit in this state. Against
its old opponent, 10 any guise, it is invinci.
Bile. But it is not invincible to the feeling
Of distrust and disgust that is spreading
through its own ranks in regard to its lead
ers The voters of Vermont desire an hon.
est administration of public affairs. They
have awakened to the fact that this can on
| ly be had by honest nominations 70 Office, in
which the popular will and not private in
trigue shall determine who are to serve us in
places of trust To obtain this object there
is now organizing peoples wing" to the
dominant party, the object Of which is to
smash States break up rings, and havea new
deal. This wing embodie what there is of
the farmers movement in this state, so
far as the members of that movement are re-
publican, and it has the sympathy of honest
men everywhere.
We have taken pains to consult with the
dissatisfied farmers in various parts of the
state for the purpose Of asoertaining their
views, aud we believe they may be expressed
briefly as follows, in regard to the next ell
cotton:
FrRsr-A farmer, utterly independent of
all rings, for governor.
SEcoND-A legislature free from the con-
troll Of rairoad-rings, and determined to as
sert and maintain the supreme authority of
the State over all the corporations it has
created.
THmD-An equalization of freights, by
law, so that individual farmers, farmers
clubs and oranges, may use the railroads as
freely and cheaply as any other class.
FoURTH-An investigation in relation to
the agricultural college fund, and its misap-
plication.
This, as we understand it, is what the
Farmers Movement demands, and what
it will aim to obtain through the pres
ent republican organization. If, however,
the wire-pulers are too strong for them in
the convention, it remains to be seen what
second course will be taken.
To prevent misconception, and misrepre-
sentation, we will add that by the term
"farmers' movement" we do not refer to the
oranges. The farmers movement no doubt
includes many graugers, as it does many
men who are not and never will be grangOrs,
but the oranges, as such, are constrained, by
the very constitution of their order, and by
every consideration Of wisdom and policy, to
steer clear of all political complications.