Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1875-05-08
THE RESULT.

Ia the luli Of national politics. we
lear Of, and see around us,important
movements bearing upon industrial
and commercial matters. These we
have nodoubt will ,at no distant day.
take, more on less, i political aspect,
and have considerable influence on
parties and national affairs. That is
the natural tendency Of combination
and agitation to correct evils, or for
progressive development Of this coun-
try. THE most important movement
in this chain Of combination against
monopoly Is that Of the farming in
terests. Scarcely three years have
passed since the first lodge of the Pa
irons of Husbandry was organized.
! New Oranges are existing in almost
every large community of farmers in
nearly every State of the Union. The
aggregate number of members in the
organization is now reported to be
more than two millions. Then the
trades unions and other working
mems organizations are developing
more strength than ever, and capital
lists and employers are feeling the
pressure of these combinations more
and more every day. Most of ourpub-
lie men are seeing this, and will I'M
doubtedly prepare for the issue. For
it will be the part of craftsmanship to
yield to this necessity while striving
to moderate the excesses to which
ignorance and violence might lead.
In the elevation of the masses is the
best guarantee of the progress, hap
piness and stability of the country,
and all must understand this. Old
political issues are dead or dying
Others of grave Importance areloom-
ing uy and the American Republic
is destined to solve economical and
social questions, as it has solved the
political question for the world.
The movements we have alluded to
show how keenly alive our people of
all classes are to their material inter
ests, and the trades unions and far
mers oranges throughout the coun-
try are aimed at monopoly and exclu-
siye privileges or advantages. The
Workingmen demand a greater share
in the products of labor, the farmer
insists upon an outlet for his products
at cheaper rates, without paying tax
torailroad monopolies and the South
ern planters and laborers want a free
market IN which they can get the
most for their products and buy with
out paying tax to Eastern and Nor
thern manufacturers These are diff
ficult problems to solve, because the
power ofrailroads and manufactures
in the Government is immense, and
because the resistance to this power
is crude and sometimes unreasonable.
There may be monopoly of labor as
well as of capital, and when it enters
into an indiscriminate war against
established business or invested
wealth without having its quarrel
just " it is likely to fail.
All classes must live and all must
be paid for their labor, whether bust
ness or hand, and any organization
that does not bear this in mind can
not succeed. The interest of the far
mers and working classes must be
considered, as well as the business
and carrying interests, and with diff
fusion of intelligence and the crea-
ton of equitable combinations, there
will be less class legislation and more
attention given to general interests
Of the land, because the workingmen
and farmers will 50 direct their eff
forts as to make them felt.