The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1875-04-24
FARMERS, WHAT is OUR DUTY !?

Atruly grave and important question:
A question that not only demands our
most careful consideration. 5rt unity
of action, and a determination of pur-
pose, commensurate with the interests at
stake. That duty is not only of vital
importance to ourselves and families at
the present time but has direct bearing
As t. the status of generations yet I'M
born. We are the custodian of their
rights, and in measure, of their welfare
and happiness. Can We bequeath to
them that which we do not possess? Do
we still possess that which we have sur
rendered to our enemies? To you,
Farmers, who being the base of all in
dustries, and therefore of all wealth, and
who, by means of your power and
strength of numbers are enabled not only
to control the law making powers, but
administration thereof, to you it belongs
to see that justice shall prevail over in
Justice. To you has been granted the
privilege of deciding whether our chill
dren shall bow their heads in degraded
servility to tyrannical expressions. or
whether they shall each take position
according to their merits. To you be-
longs the Inauguration of system by
means of which natural ability can be
fully developed. Can such ability be
properly developed in those who are
kept in ignorance? Can ausht but ig-
norance prevail among class who are
deprived of the means of securing proper
education?
While we are justly taxed in order to
afford means to build and support iDsti-
tutions Of learning we are unjustly de-
prived of the full use of such institutions
in consequence of being kept liz poverty,
by the systematic robbery practiced
upon US by non-prodacing combinations.
Thus our enemies rear the principal
beneft.of such institutions, and use such
advantage to our detriment. Then
what is our duty? As the industrial
classes desire and need peace, it requires
lons-continued course of imposition to
fully arouse them; but there is limit
to such course and as tyrannical per-
secutions recognize no limits the crisis is
rapidly approaching. That good old
motto: "United we stand, divided we
fall" is entirely applicable in our case.
An organized army is necessary to check
, the aggressions of an organized army, so
organized labor is necessary to check the
present system of organized theft, and
on the efficiency of such organization
depends the chances of successful de-
fence. As long as those interested stand
a!oof, (from any cause whatever), so long
and in such degree will success be de-
layed or endangered. Then what is our
duty?
While there appears to be unanimity
of sentiment among the Farmers as to
the necessity of an organized plan of
operations, by means of which they can
obtain and secure their just rights and
thereby place their families in the posi-
ton we feel they should occupy, yet
there appears to be some hesitation ION
the part of few Individually as to the
propriety of effecting the object in view
through what is known as the Grange
movement If such persons would sug-
gest more effectual or less objection
able mode of bringing about the desired
object, their plans would be duly appre-
ciated and no doubt adopted; but fault
finders and sneerers are not apt to sug-
gest practical plans: therefore, Farmers
who oppose the Grange movement must
naturally be suspected Of having more