, 1874-01-26
THE FARMERS MOVEMENT.


THE FARMERS MOVEMENT.
The Nation assumes, inn very dogmaticaI
way, that tho Farmors' Movement has failed a,,6
como to an ond, and 1t devotcB several colu1nnt
to statement Of tho cauBea of It's failuro
It says:
Yet, notwithstanding a1l this, tho Movement ha.
fataodfaiied 80 completely that there is now ltlo in
terest in the subject. No shipper expects to ship hts
goods any cheaper during tho coming year for 1t nc
trh7cler expects to carry his wife and family to the
sea-1e or lie mountain at any less cont for 1t no one
who lad hanl In tho passage Of the Illinois pro-raa
law haa the slightest expectation that It eau evor bo
enforced no railroad man believes TINT It will Pre-.
vent bis Watering hts stock; no nowanapor editor any
longcr In private convcrsaiio-what he writes fs Of
course another matter-profeszea to flua It goroua
subject.
This Is not tho prevailing opinion in the
Woss, whoro tho Movement originated and llas
mado most progress. Tho mistake evidently
grows out OF the fact that tho Natiom IL yiewing
tho Farmers Movement from long distance,
and has not the benefit Of intercourse with its
promoters, or acquaintance with tho country
newspapers, which represent tho farmers and
record tho stops they arc takiug. Evory day's
mail which VIC receive from tho small towpB in
tho Wost contains tho records Of tho meetings
OF county associations, at which reports arc
road, giving tho details Of tho ycar's pro-
gresa, and Of tho increase Of membership.
In almost overy part OF tile West these annual
county conventions arc now III session. and tho
newspapers aro burdeued with reports of tlloir
proceedings. In every dnstanoe they show &C.
cessions to membership. Instead Of dying out,
a8 separate organization, thoy aro absolying
themselves more rapidly thnn over from all alle-
glance to the old political partics and declaring
themselves independent Of them. Itisidloto talk
Of thofailuro OF movement which hns gained tho
political control Of the stntos of Wisconsin and
California; which is dictating terms to tho old
parties in Iowa and Kansas; which has carried d
majority OF tho counties Of Illinois, and
bidH fair to carry tho State at tho next general
election; which is making rapid headwny in
Minnesota and Michigan, aud which has secured
80 foar1eas and ablo a leader as Gov. Booth In
the United States Senate. II iB truo that it's
purposes arc not we'll defined, but there can bo
no doubt that among those purposes arc two
which will ultimately bo carried into effect, viz;
public responsibility in railway management, md
the modification md ultimate overthrow Of tho
present monstrous protective tariff. Tho recent
ripping-up Of rotten Railway Doards in this Stato
III one symptom Of tic strength of tho moye-
ment, and although tho pro.rata law in Illinois
has not worked vol, tho discomfort which
cauBed 1t to be enacted aud tho determination of
thoae who supported it. lave not bccu without q
wholesome effect upon railway managers. To say
that "No railroad mnn believes that It will pre-
vent Ills Watering luis stock'' botrays complete
Ignorance Of the atuation. Wo venture to say
that no railway company in Illinois would at
tempt to issue watored stock to-day any moro
than itwould attempt to issue fro and birthstone.
If there is any healthier political organization
anywhere than that which tho farmers hayo
originated in the Wost, ne do not know what
name 1t is called by. II their purposes arc not
well defined, they share that deficen-
oy with the Republican party aud tho
Democratic party. II tloso Two moribund con-
corns hayo anything to do except to de-
clare dividends among their ofllce-holdera
wo do not know whnt it is. To u.s. however, tho
main Significance Of tho Farmers Movement ia.
that it offers to those who desire reform in public
administration, and who have sought md failod
to secure it in tho old dividond-payiug parties,
an opportunity to accomplish something for tho
benefit of tho country at largo-not for tho
farmers moroly, but for all who live by their
industry, Us distinguished from thoso who live
by politics, speculation, and class-logislation,
We bellovo that Civil Service Reform, In
which tho nation has heretofore expressed
III interest, has more friends III the Farmers
Movement than 1t has anywhere elso. Wo be-
love TINT everything which Gun justly claim the
uan'e Of 1sefolm has to-day its best lookout in
TINT.
It is not true. AZ the Nation iusinuatos. that
corrupt aud designing politicians aud olico-soels-
sra have taken possession of tue Moyomout, or
have acquired any considerable standing or iniiu-
'noo In 1t. They will como probably in due time,
and in proportion to its strength and probabili.
los Of succoss, but as yot they aro few and
'owerloaB In its organization.
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