The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1876-08-31
THE GRANGE IN WISCONSIN.-ITs

and the farming community generally teel
called upon to take during the pending
canvass: Three years ago, breaking
away from old party ruts, they put
hand upon the pillow OF reform and turn
ed grand furrow through the weedy
field Of partizan mire and corruption.
It was the first distinct stroke for the
cause Of labor Wisconsin had witnessed
for years; and for once machine politl-
clans paused in amazement IN contem
plating new power springing direbtly
from the hearts Of nepeople. The fame
of the effort went around the globe,and
countless host Of down-trodden tollers
in all lands, pausing amidst the sweat Of
a common agony, looked up and blessed
ii. The mystery of ages had developed
the wonderous secret that farmers were
capable of combination for mutual pro-
tection-something unprecedented IN
history--come upon the world like a
new revelation.
And then, for time, the impulse
seemed to halt Rapacity and Greed
undertook to lay their bony hand upon
the lever, and to put on the brakes.
Partizan managers tried to load down
the safety valve to blow up the boiler.
They got down on their knees to both
Conductors and Engineers. For Gods
sake, gentlemen, don't let this wild train
run loose among the labor classes. You
are freighted with the secret Of our pow
er-concert and combination. You
will spoil all our trades for youl
government, annul all CAUCUS arrange
ments, and, if you persist, we can't USE
you any longer, and viii have to 60 tc
work for living. Do get down into
the old rut once more, wear the party
binders, and become eminently conser
vativc and proper as becomes the tree
dray- horse Farmers think. What l.
the use Of farmers thinking: Let us dc
| that as usual Go quietly like sheer
to the sllambles, and all will be wei
and comfort like once more"
1t Is passing strange, but last yea
| many worthy Changers pausedto lister
to this partisan bag-pipe. They hest
tated--unconscious that to hesltat
III u good work, IS to be lost
While they dallied, monopoly Sc
; up a Job on them, stocking thei
> legislature with weak, silly an,
: corrupt majority. All they had saine'
was bought from under them: and tina
lot sutfcine, the state was re-appor-
: toned and divided into new district
, SO that it now takes practically tw
. farmers votes To balance one monopo
: list vote The constitution was tramp
;, led in the dust; the equality of either
: ship destroyed; and fully one quarter c
the industrial classes DISTINGUISHED
And lor what, but that monopol
!, might live, if labor persisted. This
what the farmers got for hesitating abou
the enforcement OF theirplainest natur;
y and constitutional rights.
> What are patrons going to do now
: Their numbers have nearly double
y within the year. They hold the pc
. litical deStlnies of Wisconsin in the no
. low OF their hand, if they have wisdol
!" enough to act together. Will the
again be caught mapping: Again see e
e cry right and interest sold and betrayt
N by venal and perlurcd wretches electe
ie by their own votes: This is one of Il
1T questions that cannot be evaded. II
n blindest partizanship ought TO be alb
lg to see this much. The farmers mu
he either strike boldly and unitedlv no,
ID or lose all. They must be aggressi
/. or fail utterly.-7Is Madison Pa.s-,