Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1874-09-17
Address of Gov. Taylor to the Grang-
erS at Monroe. Wis.


the assemDlage, said that notwithstand-
ing the reluctance he always felt at be-
ing placed before a public audience in
the capacity of speech-maker, he could
not decline saying few words In re-
Spouse to the kind invitation of the
committee. The occasion was pleas
ant one, at this season of temporary
rest from the severity of summer toll.
He said that those before him, of this
favored locality, with not a few from
other portions of the State who, like
himself, are so fortunate as to enjoy
their generous hospitality, had gath
cred there to indulge in mutual congrat-
ulations, to cheer each other in the
journey of life, and to exchange opin-
ions and sentiments concerning various
topics of common interest, especially
such as were of present public impor-
lance. 1t has ever been misfortune
to farmers, III all countries, that they
have lived lives of comparative isolation,
and have, therefore, acted singly instead
of IN accord. IN consequence of this
condition, they have been the prey
of demagogues and political par
ties. They had been loyal patriots
in time of war, and obedient
citizens in time of peace, but have
usually had but little to say about the
conditions on which war shouid be
waged, and quite as little in determin-
ing what laws should govern them in
peaceful relations with each other.
This condition of things is not to con-
tinue. Under the influence of Demo
cratic ideas, there is tendency to level
up all classes of people to a common
plane, and to make that the plane of
the highest possible intelligence. In
America, this is not so much the work
of government as of the people them.
selves, every class of whom accordingly
holds its destiny chiefly in its own
hands. Happily for them, the agri-
cultural population of our country have
a numerical superiority which makes it
easy to insure to themselves the full
enjoyment of their rights. The only
conditions wanting are, first, a correct
understanding of what their rights and
privileges are, and, second, agreement
as to the practical application of these
principles in the affairs of society and
of the state. Both of these conditions
have long been in process of fulfllment,
but never has there been such progress
toward their realization as within these
recent years. 1t is hopeful sign of the
times that the industrial population of
our country are at last being aroused
to just sense of the prerogatives
and duties of citizenship. In this
work the order to which many
of you belong has borne a very impoy-
tant part. 1t has turned the thoughts
of agricultursts to the value of associa-
ton, and thrown hundreds OF thousands
of them into more practical relationship.
It may also prove of great service by
helping them to correct understand
ing of many questions of social and
political economy which so intensely
concern them. Anxiety is manifested
in some quarters lest the movement
thus originated shall lead to COM
munism but there is little danger of
any such result. The people of this
country are of totally different ma
terial from that Of which communists are
formed. They neither incline to take
narrow and selfish views, nor are easily
influenced by the misrepresentation of
INSCRIPTIONS demagogues. They aim
at Justice, and are we'll able to do their
own thinking. If they have not mas
tered all problems, a solution of which
is essential to their well-being, and
that of the nation, they are striving for
the mastery, and will gain it earlier for
the systematic efforts now put forth for
full enlightment of the industrial
classes. They come to realize, as never
before, that they are the sovereign
power that if matters go wrong in the
Government, it is because they have
neglected their duties and have inter-
rupted the guardianship of their lib
erty, as well as the direction of public
affairs generally. They have learned
that the interests of labor and capital
are mutual and reciprocal, and that
neither can disregard the other. By
putting together these two principles of
political science, the principle of recip-
rocal duty and of popular sovereignty,
they have become political reformers,
which, if prudently conducted, will
break the power of dangerous monopo-
lies, and insure to the industrious mass
es the just reward of their labor with
out encroaching upon the rights Of
capital. Just now the effort at reform
is especially directed to solution of
transportation, cheap for the consum-
ing and producing classes, and yet
sufficiently profitable to reward the
capital really invested, and to properly
encourage future investments. If the
powerful corporations now in the man
agement of the transportation business
of the country would meet the people in
friendly spirit, they would hasten the
adjustment of these existing controver-
sizes upon the basis of full and equal
justice. He said that the railway attor-
neys insisted that the railway compa-
MES are losing % per cent. of their gross
earnings, which is not true. as shown
by the Railroad Commissioners, based
upon reports of the companies. The
Commissioners say that, by operating
under the Potter law, and having the
same amount of business as last year,
the companies would lose less than 5
per cent. of their gross earnings. The
same authority states that last year the
st. Paul earned enough to pay all oper-
ating expense, taxes. and interest on