Litchfield enquirer., 1874-01-29
A Storm Rising.

There are parts of our country at the foot of highlands where thunder showers break over the inhabitants with little warn- ing. Only the distant rumbling of thunder is heard and the air looks thick in the west, when suddenly. the dark clouds roll over the mountain summits and down the plain, and the storm is there in all it's fury. It is dubtful wheth- CT the members of Congress, who have been amusing themselves and the public with manpuvering to retain their hold on the high salaries which they gave them selves last year, and with bringing for ward new devices to waste the public money are aware of storm which is com ing upon them from beyond the Allegha- nies. There Is more meaning in the dis tant grow1 of the thunder than they allow themselves to imagine, and, before they are aware, it's fury may sweep out of po- litical existence many who now fancy their popularity secure.
 We have before us a letter written by a pioneer of settlement in one of our larg. est and most hourishing northwestern states who went from New England forty years since, and was one of those who lad the foundations of the political institu- tlons of that region, in the politics of which he has ever since taken a leading part, though for the greater portion of the time only as @ private citizen. "A great change" he says, ''is rapidly taking place in the northwestern states on politi- cal questions-such a. movement among the great body of the people as I have never witnessed before. The cry is for reform, ,retrenchment, regeneration. Those who are moving in this matter are not demagogues and office seekers and per sons looking for jobs, but they constitute the great agricultural and producing classes of this extensive region, and seem to be moved by common purpose to bring back the government in all It's branches to the economy, simplicity and purity of former times. The feeling of the people in question is, that we have been ruled in the interest of speculators, job bers, ,spendthrifts and thieves, ,and that the great body of the people are to1ling for their benefit. The feeling is not only against railroad extortion, but against other wrongs, such as protection, as it is called, and extravagant expenditures, and every form of official plunder. I shall be greatly disappointed if this move ment does not make pretty clean sweep in all these northwestern states before the end of the year. Great changes may be looked for, not only in our state legisla- lures, but in the next Congress. Those who are engaged in this movement are not destructives, but conservatives. They seek not only to save themselves but the government of the people and our hber- ties from destruction. They are the most stable class of our people, and thus have deeper interest in good honest gov ernment than any other class. This Is what they are striving and looking for, and for my part I hope they will never falter till they succeed"
 These are not the words of one who is given to exaggeraton. It is hazardous to predict confidently concerning the state of parties year hence, but it is evident to us that in the extract which we have given from our correspondents lit ter are registered the sure tokens of coming storm. We give them to the pub lie that those members of Congress who may happen to read what we are writing may get under shelter as soon as possible. .rr CONTINUED ON FOURTH PAar.(