The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1882-09-14
PLAIN TALK,
Addressed to Farmers In Particular,
and the Public in General.

and the Public in General.
Monopolies Mus, Go, or We Ar.
Slaves.
From the Western Rural
We want nothing Of politics for the
sake of office. The man or set of men
who are struggling for political pap
are simply disgusting to Us. That is
what the partisan professional office,
seeker and holder is doing, and has been
doing until the very name Of partisan
politics is stencil in the nostrils of
many decent men. All that we want
from our legislators is Justice to our
producers, and we do not care what par
ticular partisan name the men bear,
who enact the laws that will insure the
accomplishment of this object. For
years past Congress and our Legisla-
lures have done nothing for the people,
and we are bold to say that if We had
had no Congress and not single Leg
islaturc in session for the last fifteen
years, the people would at least be lust
as well off to-day. and. to be candid. we
think much better of. Now, if this il
true, our position as voters is exanis-
itely absurd. Some of us have never
failed to vote, and would have thought
that single failure to DO 20 would
have been the very essence Of treason.
But what have We been voting for?
During these fifteen years the country
has been practically at peace and
practically prosperous in strictly po-
litical sense. The disturbances at the
South have worn themselves out and
been lost in quietness. without any help
from chronically-disturhing Congress;
and the South has really been the only
issue, that had the semblance of vitality
about it, which has separated the two
old political parties. They have been
fighting over the South like two dogs
over bone, and the South has finally
settled down into the peaceful pursuits
Of life, not by the help of either Of the
parties but in spite Of both Of them. II,
therefore. any of us have thought that
we We're discharging a solemn duty by
voting III some sense for or against the
South, We have learned. or should have
learned, that the South has really be-
come quiet of its own accord. And il
We cannot quite see that, we must see
that at present she is quiet and is in
rapid process of development-thats she
is now practically removed from politics,
and that we have an abundant opportu-
nlty to attend to our own private affairs.
While We have been regularly voting
for candidates to Congress, largely
upon theoretical issues, we have
had practical issues Of the most vital
character pressing upon us for solution,
but, though vital, receiving no attention
whatever from our law-making bodies.
Vanderbilt, Gould and Leland Stan
ford have openly confessed themselves
rs corruptors Of the ballot-box and Leg
islatures. Gould afiirms under oath
that he is sometimes Democrat and
sometimes Republican. in different
election districts, as circumstances may
require, but always Gould man. Van
derbilt SAYS before Legislative commit
tees, with the most business-like cool
ness that he has found it to he cheaper
! to expend money after the election--to
corrupt Legislators s-than to spend it
in the election. Stanford openly and
brazenly claims the right to purchase
voters and make candidates according
to his liking. The result has been. as
it would naturally he expected to he,
II hat r IL
been completely under the influence Of
such daring men, and, as consequence
the railroad monopoly has been an also-
lutte monarchy and a resistless tvrant
among us. 1t has been growing and
strengthening itself, demanding until
within the last few years new con-
cessions. fresh land grants and additional
subsidies, and during the last few years
successfully thwarting every effort tina,
the people have made to iberate them.
selves from system Of organized rob
berry and legalized oppression that has
seldom found parallel in the history oi
civilized government. Such thing a.
railroad corporation holding millions
of acres of the best land in the nation
without it ever having cost them q
penny, and with full right to slap thu
people, who, through their representa-
tives, gave this land, in the face when
ever it may suit the corporation to dt
SO, and wholly unrestricted as to tn.
fixing of rates for transportation, is al
outrage which would never he attempted
because il would never he submitted to
in Great Britain, France. Germany, OF
even Russia: and it is submitted to her,
simply because it has grown up st
gradually that its enormitv was never
realized until its dark shadow cast itsel
upon our hearthstones, pockets and in
dustries.
Vet We cannot, as people. escap,
our share of the blame. Comparativel,
few members Of Congress are electe.
without farmers votes. and not one o
them is elected without the votes Of la
boring men. We have been voting
therefore. for the purchased tools Q
Gould. Vanderbilt and Stanford. or fo
men that were purchasahle at any tim
these fellows were ready to pay til,
purchase money We have made tn
mistake Of presenting our petitions t
Congress after election. instead of max
ing our demands before election. an,
selecting the proper men to carry on
our wishes. We repeat what We hav
said many times before, We have acte'
in politics in way that would insur
our being placed under guardianship il
business life. Ii Nc want a house built
We make na mistake in the selection Q
proper person to build it. We d
not engage a carpenter to erect brio
structure. We look for practice
hricklayer. If We desire to have ad
ministere,l to lis lomcOpathic remctlie.