Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1874-02-12

We may assume that you pay your
debts? Yes. How much, then, has
the credit system cost you during the
past five years? Well, don't know
never figured up, but have generally
purchased on credit. Did you find that
these notes you gave for machinery be-
came due? Yes, always. Do you ever
have to sell your corn at a sacrifice to
pay these notes? Yes? sometimes at
half price, received by my neighbors,
and so continue on from one year to the
other, continually ground down, my
family often suffering for the comforts
of life.
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That manufacturers will MT deal with
us is very great mistake. While it is
true that many have farmed out to
agents certain territory, and given them
the exclusive right to sell their goods,
it is also true that there are first-class
establishments that have not done this,
and will sell to farmers agents at salts
factory figures. Yet, in order that we
may reap the full benefits to DE derived
through our purchasing agency system,
it is necessary that we should conduct
this department upon true business
principles that is, there must be a re-
sponsibility at the foundation which
will rest upon every man interested IN
this reform movement. We should all
fell that we have undertaken great
work, and that patience and persever-
ance are requisite qualities in those who
are laboring for its success. Difficult
ties will have to be surmounted, en-
barrassments will frequently meet you,
but energy and careful management will
bring success.
Having given yon rough outline OF
the work before us, and of what may be
accomplished by organization and CO.
operation, we simply wish to ask you If
you are ready for the work?
This great movement of the farmers
of the country call for vigalence, labor,
that you and have something to do be-
sides talk. 1t means that the seed has
been sown and the germ found for one
of the greatest reforms of the nineteenth
century, and it remains to be seen
whether we can properly cultivate that
germ until it has so far matured as to
bring forth good fruit. Or shall we
stand upon the brink of success or fail
ure, trembling with doubt, with fear, on
the one hand, and anxiety on the other?
All those whose tender hearts entertain
such impressions, we would ask if they
realize that justice and right are on the
one bend, while monopoly and oppres-
sion are on the other: md the same old
ruts that have been followed so long
will be continually growing deeper, and
instead of age bringing relief from toll
and freedom from burdens, and adding
happiness to be mingled with approach
ing gray hairs, that careworn brow will
but testify the continued labor, followed
by poverty, and often distress. Agri-
culture is said to be the noblest calling
that man can follow, and its status or
condition makes men slaves or free
men. We have had too much of the
first, too little of the last; but brighter
day seems to be dawning. the people
are awakening to sense of their duty
and condition, and it is believed, will
continue to labor in unity until all are
free. And you all undoubtedly can now
see the force of that old and trite maxim,
He who would be free must first strike
the blow" We should not interfere
with any legitimate calling or business,
but aim to build up those departments
upon solid foundation, and in doing
that it is necessary that the industries
of the nation should be fostered and
protected upon basis of equality, the
occupation of the farmer being second
to no other upon earth, and upon his
success depends the success of every
does, the destinies of nations on his
hands, should he not WELD that power
for the elevation of mankind, and es-
pecially that of civil life, and max it
what nature designed, the most
attractive and Independent of all
occupations and, instead of, as
now, longing for town or city
life, or a change to some distant
land, that spot which Is now called home
should be preserved, beautiied, and its
inmates made happy and contented? 1t
is for such uses that money is valuable,
and it is for that purpose, and that only,
that it should be sought. When used
to elevate the condition of the people
aid add to their happiness, it is per-
forming its legitimate functions but
when used simply to crafty selfshness
and Cypress the people, it ceases to be-
come of any use. It then becomes the
imperative duty of every individual to
assist in co-adjusting the laws, customs
and rules which govern trade, that
money shall seek its proper and legiti.
mate channels, and that oppression,
monopolies and combinations, unjust
determinations, the usurpation of rights
of the people, shall be checked and
done away with that the principles OF
right, justice and equality shall govern
all.
If this is the view of the case you
take, urge you one and all interested
in this great work of reform to organize
thoroughly, study each others wants
and needs, act In unison, help each
other, be magnanimous and just to all
and you will accomplish all your de.
sires. Already your action has beer
felt in our legislative halls, and to-day
your movements are watched and re-
spected in the chambers of the nation
where heretofore you were not known
i