Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1881-05-13
Reasonably Troubled.
Western Rural.


The most observing politician is
Just now in state Of uneasiness that
is amusing to those who believe that
a period of uneasiness will do the
fellow a world of good. He views
with well founded suspicion the or
ganization of Alliances, and is at a
loss to know where he is going to get
struck first. Of one thing he feels
very sure +: the farmer has at last
awakened to realization of his duty
to himself and his own interests, and
is going to have different deal in
political affairs, or parties and poll
ticians are destined to be smashed.
There is no issue before the people
to-day of such paramount import
ance as the question of making the
producer equal to monopoly, and Of
protecting him from the outrages
which have SO long been practiced
upon him with the utmost impunity.
In his isolated condition, he has
been powerless to protect himself,
and whenever he has been imposed
upon or swindled, the press and all
the balance of the world seemed to re-
gard the matter as a good joke. He
has been ridiculed and blackguarded
and every claim for just treatment
has been sneered at, until a person
who knew nothing Of the political
system of the country, would be led
to believe that the farmer was non
entity, instead of being the very
foundation of the nations prosperity
belonging to class that comprises
three quarters of our voting pop
ulation, and being one of the
chief safeguards to republican insti-
buttons. But it is not as safe to in
dulge in this sort of folly and down
right meanness, as it once was, and
political parties and political papers
are slowly finding it out. Like other
men the farmer has been largely in
fuenced by his political belief, but
he has not been influenced to any
greater extent than other classes are
and have been. Political and relig-
Gus prejudices are very strong in any
breast, but there usually comes
time when the blindest eyes are
opened, if the political belief and
practice prove to be inimical to per-
sonal interests. That time seems to
have arrived in the history of the
farmers movement. Our farmers,
to-day, are partial to the respective
political parties to which they be-
long and would like to vote with
them, but they are heartily disgust
ed with the plan of voting year after
year for men who have no sympathy
with them, and who, as governors
and legislators, are owned, soul and
body, by monopolies. They are, we
say, disguised with this, and if they
find men who do their duty, and
make laws that are impartial, and
enforce them, they will vote for them,
letting party go to the dogs. The re-
spective political parties can retain
the farmers who belong to them by
nominating men of the right stamp,
and they can do it in no other way.
AS farmers we have concluded that
our first duty is to save our farms
from being wholly appropriated by
railroads and other cancer-like mo-
nopolies, to protect ourselves from
the apparently deliberate plans to
load all the burdens Of government
upon our shoulders and to secure
just treatment in our bushes rela-
tons with all other classes.
This determination troubles the
old mossback politician, for he is not
in sympathy with it, and he is
afraid that the farmer will distrust
him if he pretends to have. Let US
keep our object constantly in view,
and paint in blazing letters on our
banners. Justice and freedom for the
farmer y