The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1874-06-06
GOING INTO POLITICS.


II WAS no sin when the Germans went into
politics few years ago and almost TO "a man
voted the Republican ticket; and 1t is all
right that the negroes should go into politics
and vote with the party that set them Tree,
Won know How else were the Germans TO
WELD an influence in public affairs proper
toned to their numbers; and how else were
the negroes to share the spells Of Office and
power? But as to the farmers, dear me, how
absurd" your kid-gloved, office gorged,
starchy radical politician cxclaims chat the
f1,cmeyS should break up all our nice pawty
arrangements and fawm a pawty of their
own" Is it not about time? contemporary
gathers from the Congressional Directory
these figures;
OF the 3G6 members of Congress, 1873 are
lawyers So business men, 20 editors ana 10
farmers. There are about 10000 lawyers and
$500 900 Independent farmers IN the United
States. There is, therefore, one lawyer in
Congress to about 200 of that profession, and
one farmer to about 1870 900 agriculturists. Be
hold the farmers chances for honorable dis
tinction in Congress as compared with the
lawycrs:-a limb of law having $3.50
chances to the farmers one.
A dozen. or even two or three dozen of law
yers IN Congress would be very handy to
have about. SO good sprinkling of business
men, and dozen of those chaps that know
a little about everything, called editors, would
be convenient But are there not, among the
? 100000 farmers and the 100000 more
in the United States over doz-
en or two quite as competent as the average
lawyer in Congress to look after the interests
Of these great classes?
Cast your eye over the state farmers con-
'cnton to meet at Springfield next week and
hen say whether, In point of business tact
md capability and in point of real talent,
hat body is not equal to any Legislature you
yer saw convened in Illinois; and then sup
,osc we had a national convention of 800 far
ners, made up Of voluntary delegates from
ii the states Of the Unon-do you imagine
hat body would not compare iavorabiy in
ny point you may name with our house of
representatives at Washington?
1t is not the want Of education, tact or
bility on the part of the farmers that has
ept down their proportion of membership
n the national congress to so small a num-
err 1t Is their want of organization and
ombination-the fact that they live wide
part compared with city people, have less
ltercourse with each other, less acquant
feeling of esprit du corps to use a
rench phrase than the lawyers or other city
or tradesmen have They come
, the county seat and are dazzled by the
rilliant speech of lawyer, and imagine he
just the man to send to the legislature or
ongress; when right at home they have men
no have read more, thought more, and in I
'ery practical point of view have forty times
ore real, solid, useful capacity and good
use than the lawyer or professional man
lat dazzled them.
Ii is time for the farmers to go into poll.
cs" with the rest and CAIN their own. Let
lem join their local associations or oranges :
It acquainted with each other, familiarze q
emsclves with the conduct of deiberative Q
semblies and get the hang" not only of u
hat the laws are but what they ought to be u
I'd how TO make them. Let the lawyers -
ugh at the idea Of farmers and working.
en- drawing up and passing statutesm 1t
possible they may at first make some mis-. y
ies and ride rough shod over red tape and E,
but we shall be none the y
'rse for that If an ordinary high school f
aduate, by hanging year or two around a =
wyers office, can learn law enough to make i
respectable appearance, we reckon an intel. ~
gent, hard-headea, sharp-witted farmer can q
arm about as much in two weeks, if he :,
ends himself to the task Let the farmers :;
20 into politics. and try it. r.