The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1874-02-07

from unjust discrimination ana eStoflloh;
and,
WHEREAS A continuation of these various
evils in connection with others, tends rapidly
to dcmoralize and weaken the strength OF our
government and destroy the happiness Of lis
Ipeoplc: and, as we believe these to be viola
lions of the sacred principles Of the Declare
ration of American Independence: That
all men are created equal, and have the same
Iinalienable rghts,--lhat Of life, liberty and
the pursuit OF happiness; that to secure these
rights governments are instituted among men
deriving their just powers from the consent
of the governed, and Whenever the powers OF
the government become destructive Of such
rights, either through inctiiciency or inJus-
tce, or through the corruption Of its admin
strators, il is the right and duty Of the people
to abolish such laws, and institute such re-
forms as to them shall appear most likely to
effect their safety and happiness. Prudence
Will indeed dictate that laws long established
should not be changed for light and ritilng
causes; and experience has shown that man
kind are more disposed to suffer while evils
are suilerablc that to right themselves by
abOlishng, amending or enacting new laws
for their welfare and safety. But when, by
long train of abuses and uSurpatons they
evince a desire to reduce people to the a0-
solutc despotism Of combinations, and, with
the wealth wrung of these people, have grown
to such gigantic proportions as to oyCrshad-
ow the land, and WELD an almost irresistible
Influence for their own selfish purposes, 1t is
the right and the duty of the people to throw
off such tyranny, and provide new safeguards
for their future security therefore,
| We do hereby absovc ourselves from all
allegiance to the old political parties, and re-
lspectiully invite the co operation and Assls-
lance of all persons who approve OF our oh
jcCts or purposes, or sympathize with us IN
our struggle to maintain the rights of the
people against the cncroachments Of the
monopoly power
ARTICLE 1. We demand the protection of
honest industry in all its branches against the
encroachments of aggregate capital.
ART. 2. Equal and exact justice to all classes,
and special privileges to none.
ART. 3. Immediate legislative control of
passenger and freight tariffs, fixing maxi
mum rate per mile, which will be remuncra-
tive to the railroads but just to the people;
also, to regulate Warehouse and Inspection
| laws.
ART. 4. Opposition to any Legislation that
shall promote or foster one branch Of indus
try at the expense of another
| ART. 5. That success and Improvement in
agriculture is the primary source of growth,
wealth and prosperity in the nation. Its pro-
lection and development is essential to the
prosperity of every related industry, and also
of every other vocation or business.
| ART 6. Economical administration of the
government, and opposition to all schemes
whereby our public servants enrich them
selves, and the farmer, laborer and others
are robbed or the legitimate fruits Of their
labor.
ART. Z. No more land grants or subsidies
for railroad OF other corporations, except for
educational purposes. but the public domain
shall be reserved for actual settlers.
| ART. 3. We believe that all men are entitled
to the same political and civil rights, and
that all laws, state and national, should be
made and administered so us to secure citizens
without regard to nationality color, creed or
occupation, the same rights before the law.
! ART. .. In making choice Of candidates for
our suilrages we will not be governed by past
political affiliations, but will only ask, us
| he capable? Is he honest? And will he
pledge himself TO give his voice and vote on
all proper occasions for measures that shall
best advance our interests and the interests of
the people'"
Mr.. Wood, of Will county, offered two reso-
lutions both of Ahich were adopted the first
in favor of enforcing the schedule of rates
adopted by the railroad commissioners, and
the other in favor Of continuing the commits
sioncrs in office.
Maj. Thompson, of viii, offered 4 rcSolu,
ton that the following proclamation be issued
by this Convention:
PRoCIAMATIoN.--Wc, the farmers of the !
Seventh Congressional District, in mass con
yention assembled, having learned through |
the papers and other reliable sources that % |
prominent firms manufacturing farming i'm
plements in this and adjoining states are max
ing efforts to monOpoize the selling Of farm
implements and machinery by entering into
a formal and binding compact not to sell az
rlcultural machinery of any kind to farmers
at less than their retail prices; and, whereas,
we acknowledge their right as American citi-
2cns to legally and pcaceably measure their
strength with the class II citizens from whose
liberal and continual patronage they have
acquired their enormous wealth and power;
now, therefore, we, the farmers of the Seventh
Congressional District, believing that the
power which creates can destroy, do hereby
notify aud warn these % firms boldly striving
to cocrcc the agricultural class of the West to
buy their wares at their own prices, that we
Will give them twenty days from this date to
recede from this, their unwiSc warfare
against their former patrons; and we further
bornly refuse to heed this warning, and fail
to notify in writing, within twenty days, the
President of the nearest Farmers Club, or the
Master of the nearest Grange, that they Will
sell TO us for cash and wholesale rate and dis
counts, we will hereafter fight them with
their own weapons, viz: combination, and
pledge ourselves not to buy of them or their
agents hereafter st any price, however cheap;
and we respectfully ask every Farmers Club
to pass this or similar resolutions for their
guidance, and recommend that they be rigid
ly adhered TO and enforced for the good and
general benefit of the producer
Which, after some discussion, was adopted
Mr.. Smith, Secretary of the State Associ.
alton, then addressed the Association for half
an hour, and was followed in a speech of two
hours by the Hon s. w Randall, of Will
county. Upon which, after harmonious
sitting of some eight hours, the Convention
adjourned.