The Grange advance., 1874-05-13
Anti-Honop0ly Party.

An active effort is being made to organ
ize IN Anti Monopoly party in the State.
A few members of the last Legislature
formed themselves into a State Central
Committee; have issued an address and
are now calling upon the farmers to lay
aside all other pursuits aud meet in
their respective townships on the 9th
Of June and then and there select DELE
gates to meet in County Conventions on
the 7th day of July.
This looks very much like keeping
alive all the old party machinery, its
tactics and drill. We had hoped there
might be such thing as spontaneous
movement among the farmers them
selves, without the intervention of par
tisan leaders; that they would find it
expedient to come together in their
own way, ,untrammeled by any leadership
whatever.
While every farmer is an Anti-Mo.
nopolist, the name is badly chosen for
party. It seems to limit the action Of
the party to a single idea, or to the cor
rection of single abuse. While no one
wants the railroads crippled, the farmers
have resolved that the abuse of over
charges and unjust determinations
against persons and places shall cease.
The last Legislature put this work
into the hands Of Board Of Railroad
Commissioners, clothed with very ex.
tensive powers. This Board is within
the control Of the Governor, and if any
Of them should be corrupted or found
insufficient he can readily displace and
1e-appoint.
For the present the whole business
Of fixing tariff of fares aud freights is
in the hands of this State Board, and
till they make report, there can be no
legitimate cause of quarrel with the
roads.
Already the Sioux City road has sig-
ni6ed its consent to be governed by
rules that may be prescribed by the
Commissioners; and the Receiver of
the Southern Minnesota road informed
us that they were prepared to conform
20 any reasonable terms that may be
suggested.
If the other roads accept the same
conditions, then hostility ceases for
the people would have accomplished a
great work in satisfactory manner.
Sufficient for the day is the evil thereof.
The tariff: as everybody knows, who
can recollect the days Of Henry Clay
and Daniel Webster, was found too mar
row line to serve as the substitution
Of a political party. In fact the people
treated it so rudely at the time, that for
many years it has not been heard from.
1t was upon this issue that South Caro-.
lima resolved to dissolve the Union; yet
she abandoned her folly and the reve-
nue. laws have continued.
The only argument that can growaut
Of the tariff is as to the amount Of duty
to be imposed for purposes of revenue
with a just discrimination, by which: at
far as possible labor is relieved, aud
luxuries taxed ; thus throwing the bur
den upon class more able to pay.
When the Western States. from LAX.
Itaska to the Gulf Of Mexico, come te
act together as unit upon public
questions, in which they have an inter
est in common, We will have all the ele
ments Of a kingdom among ourselves
and will have very little to import
hence very little disturbance from rev
,enue laws. The north has timber f.
building cities, iron for railroads ant
chips, coal aud water for motive an
manufacturing power. Our climate
healthful, people vigorous aud eutc,
prising; thus while the South will fu,
nish market for our products, the
will supplv our mills with cotton an