Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-03-31
Agricultural vs.. Commercial Interests.


correlated, and that what benefits or hurt
one, benefits or hurts all. But this is onl'
on the presumption that no single interes
shall seek, directly or indirectly, to encroacl
unfairly upon another or upon others thai
il shall not seek to control or modify natura
laws by unnatural combinations, or by the
unjust use Of natural advantages.
This law, without reference to the exceI-
ton or modification named is often quoted
by those who. in behalf Of already dominant
interests, oppose the combination, for the
purpose Of righting wrongs under which
they believe themselves to be suffering, of
other interests. But such a statement Of the
law is manifestly absurd since VIC see on
every side of us, and in all nations that
some interests unfairly aggrandise them
selves, and, gathering power, subject other
interests TO their control. Thus have been
established every nobility, aristocracy oil
garchy plutocracy and monarchy that the
world has seen.
It is true that such an encroaching or mo
nopolising interest always pretends to, aud Of
ten, TO some extent, does make return for
the power and advantage it has secured, by
giving protection and employment to those
whom it has made subordinate. But there
can be no question that this return is rarely
anything ike a fair equivalent for what it
takes away and usurps.
What has taken place in every other coun-
try tends to take place on this new settled
continent as fast rs growth aud development
furnish the opportunity. II American lib
esty is to be preserved, and every American
citizen fully maintained in his rights Of
" life, liberty and the pursuit Of happiness
it must be through the preservation Of just
balance between all interests, and the pre-
vention of every attempt to subject the
weaker to the stronger. This we have at
tanned, in religion, by the multiplicity Of
sects and the jealous watchfulness of all over
the least attempt ON the part of any one de
nomination to enact disqualifying laws, or to
practice socialproscription. In business mat
ters the same method must be applied. When
and include as fully under that head the
business Of a farmer, wood-chopper, or
any other laborer, as we do the Cuisines
of a cotton lord, a merchant prince. or a rail
road king. One of these interests is just as
sacred as another. Workmen have just as
much right to combine for the purpose Of put
ting price upon their labor, as employers of
labor have to combine to put price upon the
products which result from the joint use of
their capital and labor which they employ
These rights are indefeasble, inalienable
fundamental; and it is only as they have
free exercise that the fundamental law first
spoken Of has any true force or value
We are not saying anything about the judi
cious exercise OF these rights. We do not
defend the various follies that are being enac-
ted, by employers and employed alike in the
attempts which they are making TO defend
their acknowledged rights, and sometimes
to get the upper hand of each other. But
we do maintain the right of combination.
1t will cause trouble, it will cause confusion,
it will cause loss and suffering. SO did the
war for the union. This business war, in
which the country will probably be engaged
for the next twenty years. involves just a
sacred rights as the other. 1t will probably
be prosecuted in just as laundering, foolish
costly and inconsequ,nt a manner but i
will continue until the questions involve,
are settled upon the basis of equal aud exac
justice, and there maintained.
One branch of this contest, and perhaps
the principal one, is that which is already
going on between the agricultural and com
marcial interests between the producers ant
the exchangers Of wealth. The farmers see
or think they see, that the lions share of tn
profits of labor falls into the hands Of tn
exchangers rather than the producers, an,
they are beginning in earnest to enquir
d" Why is this thus ," They want to know
why the average producer has to live 81
much more poorly than the average ex
changer.
They 60 to the great cities and towns
where the exchangers congregate and the
see the long array of streets lined witt
costly houses, the rent of any one of whicl
would swallow up the whole annual produc
of good farm, and often the price Of tn
farm itself, They see these houses inhal
tied by men whose business is the exchanl
ing of products Of industry-of the product
evolved from the earth by the labor Of thei
own hands They see the advantages o
every sort which these exchangers secure +
themselves by means of the business il
which they are engaged-the magnifcen
churches, schools libraries, hotels, publ
buildings, etc, which commerce affords I
its children,-and contrast them with til
meagre surroundings in which they then
selves are constrained to pass their live,
Their children see them, too, aud are cage
10 desert the farm in order that they ma
avail themselves of these splendid opportt
mites for enjoyment and improvement. Tn
farmer reyolves these things in his mine
As he thinks about them he becomes NOR
and more dissatisfied. lie has become S
Wy hhNh hoodNioi'h HN ~ INV u
to do something aboutit. Hence grangerisn
OF course these bright, intelligent CONNER
cial communities, and their professional safe
lites, the clergy, the lawyers, the doctors an
the journalists, laugh at the clumsy farmeri
and their absurd grievances. They tell ther
that they know nothing about such matters
and had better stick to their dung forks an
their plows. They inform them that tn
laws of trade regulate all these things, am
that they might as well fight against graz
itation as TO quarrel with those laws. The
waste as much wisdom on us and our under
takings, as Deliow's philosophical revie'
used to waste upon the abolitionists, when
set forth the inevitable drift of certain othe
claws" that were going TO make slavery
worldwide institution--a most beniiicien
institution too, whereby capital woul
own labor" and every working man in Tia
world be elevated to the happy position o
the negroes on Southern plantation. Blu
1--WE have changed all this perhaps W,
oha1l chanfra 4la ,tlar