, 1874-06-10
COLFAX AND THE. CiRANGEIS.
Letter from, tho tlom. Schuyler Co1fnx
IL tho Patrons VI Etuabisndry OF
WunnsIA County.


Wabash County.
6ourH DEnp, 1nd., juno q. 1874.
Nix DEAR Sin: On my return home from
spcaking tour, received your kind note, in
tho COMMITTEES Of Arrangements Of ths Patrons
Of Husbandry Of Wabash County to invite INC to
address Grange picnic iu that county, to bo
ltod ncar North Manchester on the l7th inst 1
haye 10 1nauy pleasant recollooions OF your
county during thorough canyRss Of 1t i'll my
younger years, III 1851, md llayc received so
inRny evidences Of the goodwill OF itB citiaonB
daring visits to it sinco tlaon, TINT would with
great pleaaure accept this invitation with which
have boon l}onorod, hut for an engagement. OF
homo mouths standing toapcak on that very day
at collcge-conlnacncoment ut Oliyet,! Micf.
Entirely removed NOW from political poaltion
or political candidacy, can say, without nlis-
construction of MY motives, that tho evils Which
the Grange organization WaH primarily intonded
to correct or modify wero pointed out warningly
by mo in Fourth Nf July Grafton two yoars ago,
before tho organization llad attuinod ita proBont
prominence. but hnye always recognized that
wrongs; and thar this great question must be
Hettled, and can only bo enduringly settled, on
thu bagis Of right md justice, and upon those
principles Of equity which hayo been potential
In tho settlement Of all the great questions con-
fronting us in our. recent history. THUS, while
all must acknowledge their great uaofllness
in developing tho RESOURCES Of tho nation,
and opening vast aroas Of our interior
to sattlomont and Improvement, re all sec plain
~ that railroads can more do without tho pro-
ducers than the producers can do without thon.
Aud all should concotlo that, az railroads can
only be built by the exercise Of the Statos right
OF enlinont domain, under charters aB public
highways grantod by the people through their
Legislatures, thoy havo no more right to do
noulco reasonable legislative supervision than
ferries or turnpikos chartered by the aaue all
thority. And, If tho miller who grindH wheat
can 1ightfuly be limited by tho State in Ills tollh,
why cannot tho railroad which brings tho whoat
to hia mill to be grouuu2 The Just ground OIL
which oil just mon can unite Ii, that railroads
should DO common carriera for all on common
grounds, and at equitable, rates, without
on tito just bass Of "Reaaonable ratoH
tho companies:". remember ,nauy years ago
osod for proposition that their great railroads
should run thiral-olaas tralus, mornings and
evenings. Tor lAbofoFs, etc., at penny e. cents)
pcr mile. llo was lampoone1 aB dotnagogne,
and az visionary tAeo1ist., But these parlia-
nlontary trains" AZ they aro called. wore found,
when ut last reluctantly established, to bo not
only the groat accommodation for the poor TINT
WAS claimed for them, but also amongst tue most
profitable to tue companies Of all their trnlnHs
mo ~ specially auspicious: First, tho admission
Of your wives aud daughters to membership, e1-
hancin8, doubtless, The sooial interest OF your
meetings, aud bockoning woman onward to wider
apHeEGb u uHptHlGea6 Ill Lug community auut
necoudly, the frank and outspokeu declarations
Of 10 mally Of your Oranges as to intemperanco,
tho enemy OF the workingman and tho bano Of
society. / truat your organization will noYor
speak With ali uncertain voice oil this great owl
0f the century. For all experience proves that,
where drinkli,g.shopB dacreaso crime and pau
peran,, with their Consequent taxation, decrease,
comfort aud happiness IN tl,e abodcB OF tho poor
increase, aud law md order, pcace aud quiet, ill.,
a..htry md tllrift, moro gsnorally prevail,
Tnnr t9aft1bnt1n fnn f0r fncrcHRHd HHnn0NnV In
public expenditures and great wntchfu'nesn W to
public moneys, cannot fail TO 10 good.., WhoA
you proceod from gsnnralittes to details, you
will aud that, besides strict SCRUTINY as to nation
nj appropriations, YOU will mead quito "a watch-
FIJI cure HI To honle-taxation. Goy. Hayes, OF
Ohio, ono ot tho best Governors TINT State ever
had, proved, several years ago, In = nehaage
that attracted too little attention. that nnro-
by far, tl.o taxpayer had to shoulder, And thai
III 20 conlplatclY within your pQMar. locally. I