Martinsburg weekly independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1873-1875, 1875-03-20

roads and all manner of public ex-
travagance, is pretty sure to be
elected for every man on the road
is expected to vote as the Boss
does, and the Boss gets his elevat-
ed lucas of the right of suffrage by
knowing that he will be discharg-
ed and set to work on the repairs
| If he does not vote as his employer
does. So we have the Tammany
ring in New York and many other
rings and men0polies less conspic-
uous, but none the less baneful in
many other cities and towns, the
consequence Is, we have men Of
immense wealth, but no moral cul-
ture elected to the highest offices
of trust in our lands. And the
trust is repeatedly betrayed, and
instead of looking after the inter-
ests of the nation they are looking
after their own pecuniary interests.
They think of nothing but them
selves and their own money max
ing schemes, and have ia some in
stances gone SO far as to steal the
public money outright. They will
favor any bill, no matter how in
furious to the general welfare of
the country, so they only keep in
the favor of those in high places to
which their ambition and mon
ey-loving propensities cause
them to aspire. Such men are
but the slaves of avarice and am
| bition. Oh how such slavish
spirit should be detested by free
people. / would not give one
whole-souled West Virginia noun
taineer, in his ignorance and rags,
for a score Of such men, even tho
they do go well-dressed and fare
sumptuousiy every day. You may
approach the mountaineer, in his
ignorance and rags, but he will
make you feel that you are in the
presence of a freeman. He is not
your slave, and he knows it, and,
God helping him, he never will be.
And we want more of this
feeling of liberty infused
into the people-if we do not have
ii fear that ere long we will cease
to be q free people, even in name,
and the chains of monarchy be
more CALLING to us than was slave
ny to the black man, which we
have deplored and removed; for
it was some gain to him after all,
to be brought out of state of hea-
thenish ignorance, ard to receive
even the partial benefits of civili-
cation.
And the best way to keep alive
in the hearts of the people the feel
ing of liberty i Inherited by those
who have descended from the faith
ers of the republic, whose blood
still flows in their hearts; land to
such the chains Of monarchy will
be more galling) and also to teach
those who have been nurtured in
monarchies that 4" the blessings of
government, like the dews of
heaven, should descend upon the
rich and poor alike" and that the
soul should bend the knee and
yield homage 10 God alone. And
the only way TO accomplish this
golden purpose is to weaken and
finally abolish all monopolies and
government rings, who so COM
pletely control all the laborers in
their employ in regard to fran
chise land often give the poor en-
ployment for the purpose of con-
trolling their votes) as do many of
mthe onarchies of Europe.
But let the agricultural people
of the country combine, with the
fixed and unalterable purpose of
making agriculture the most prof
liable and pleasant of all pursuits,
and the result will be that we will
have the most liberal government
and be the most prosperous and
happy people in the world. Show
me a people whose chief pursuit is
TO possess the land individually,
and to improve and refine agricul-
tural pursuits, and l will show you
o free people. Such a people were
our forefathers before the revolu-
ton, and behold what a spirit of
liberty they manifested, although
they had always been subject to a
sovereign.
And in conclusion / would urge
the agricultural papers of our
country to combines for mutual
benefit and convenience. Let none
/ be so foolish or obstinate as to
liaten to the fiattering speeches or
insinuating jeers of those engaged
in other pursuits. Such can have
no real sympathy with the farmer,
no matter what pretensions they
may make. Their sole object is to
make all the money they can out
of that which is produced by the
toll and care Of the agricultural
people of this country.
BY all combining and looking TO
their own interests, the farmers