The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1874-07-09
A Paper Sent 10 Gfae Social ScicH &c
Congress by 7Er. FIa&t, Of
Illinois.

In attempting to comply with the re
quest 10 furnish paper upon the Ear
mers' Movement in the Western States,
find labor under the double disadvantage
Of examining "a very incomplete social phe-
nomenon with partial ewes. This, however,
has not deferred adverse criticism from
men Of presumed culture (and possibly
philosophy in leading periodicals Of our
Eastern cities. ] am glad, therefore, o.
the opportunity to place before an Allan
tic audience Of thoughtful men and women
the other side Of Il controversy which,
whatever its origin and purpose, | believe
Is to end IN another forward movement Of
the masses Of humanity toward more
complete realization of the Democratic
idea in our government. In ali past ages
the agricultural class, like the other in
dustrial classes has by force, fraud or
cunning been prevented from gaining
more than a subsistence by lis labors.
The Tobber baron, the medieval mer-
chant, the royal taX-gatherer, and the
railway monopoIist have thriyen; but the
men who, in rain and sun, toied early
and late, painfully and penuriously, have
seldom if at al received Il due reward for
their labor. Agriculture has been a
system Of spoiiatioD The landlord, the
transporter and the middle man rob the
farmer, the farmer robs the land, and
worn-Out lands remain TO tell the story
of bad husbandry and worse political econ
Omy. And yet, in the great discussion
that has arisen concerning labor and
capital work and wages, in these latter
days, the men who do most OF the labor
and constitute more than half the race,
have by some strange inadvertence been
hardly thought of by our labor reformers
Hamlet, ia this nineteenth century TRACE
dy OF ours has been left out, and did not
force himself into notice till 1872, in the
Farm Laborers' movement in England
and the Farmers Movement in our Yves
tern States. As the intelligence, the
ability, and the viii TO associate for the
common good become developed, resis
lance to oppression begins, and positive
efforts are made to promote the general
welfare. 1t is notable that the farmers
and farm laborers of the civilized world
are among the last to combine result
due not 50 much 10 lack of intelligence
as to isolation, suspicion and unwieldy
numbers. Resistance begins where OPP
preston IS most fen, and where there Is
the greatest ability to resist it.
Hence, the Farmers Movement first
showed its strength in the Western States.
There cheap lands and a fertile soil at
traeted large body Of emigrants-it Is
safe to say men OF more than average
intelligence aud education. These men,
In that region, comprise more than half
the population, instead Of 80 per cent
of ii, rs in all New England except Rhode
Island, where it is only u per cent
They produce far in excess OF the local
consumption, and the large surplus from
their farms, seeking the seaboard, must
pass through the hands of dealer and
transporter. The farmers wants, when
not supplied by local production, must
be met by purchase of goods that have
gone through the same hands The re-
suit is a high cost of production and
low price of products, that has rendered,
even in favorable seasons, their business
Unremunerative, and made them poorer
in the midst of plenty.
WHO TAKE PART IN IT.
This Farmers Movement seized upon
such existing organizations of the agri-
cultural classes as seemed most adapted
to meet its new wants. 1t passed by for
the most part the agricultural societies,
the boards of agriculture, the organiza-
tons generally that were devoted to hold
ing fairs and the like, but these organiza-
tons often contained more or less men
that were neither farmers nor in sympa-
thy with farmers. But the farmers
clubs, organized for discussion and mutual
improvement IN the art OF agriculture
and the grangers, whose object was mu-
tual help, cooperation and social inter-
pourSa came Y1pqrar " hot woo ,,.,.l.A ND
they were concentrated upon the new
work. The loose organization of the clubs
and the secrecy and prohibition of politics
in the oranges were drawbacks to their
efficiency; but these difficulties have been
to some extent corrected Now the far
mers being a large class, their interest is
very nearly the common interest of the
people of the whole country Hence the
infection spreads or reacts The trade
organizations are strengthened, or. what
Is better become fused together in a class
organization of mechanics and operatives
with broader and less selfish purposes and
aspirations than the single trades-unions
can have. Sooner or later these indus
trial interests, comprising from 20 to 75
per cent. Of the population, promise to
join hands and to combine in putting
down whatever seems to be inconsistent
with the fundamental doctrines of our
republic. In this they will, without
doubt. receive the aid Of fair men of all
classes, and will be opposed only by the
more selfish of the privileged classes,
who, at the expense of other classes, have
grown wealthy from legal advantages
furnished by improper legislation Thus
the movement which began with the agri-
cultural class, reacts upon other classes
and becomes general, and hostile to exist
ing parties, decadent or triumphant.
The discussion which results in ferret |
ing out the causes of known evils. is most
valuable in reforming abuses and educa-
ting the people up to more radical and
democratic opinions than have yet been
accepted by the country. Our existing
system of national taxation, whereby the
consumer pays the tax; of State taxation,
which makes the farmer the great tax
payer OF the country; our inconveFtable
currency, whose depreciation is heavy
burden, first upon farmers, next upon
mechanics and laborers, and finally on
all men engaged in legitimate business;
our transportation, placed by law in the
hands of monopolies; our patent laws, |
whereby the many are inordinately taxed |
to make few unnaturally rich-all these |
and other abuses, discussed in the light |
OF "a more intelligent and pronounced ;