The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1884-05-07


unknown to the author, and best
known to the editors. If there is
anything in it, not Democratic, or
at variance with the principles of
the party, l must confess / am not
able to perceive it.-W. W. LANG
HORNE.
The politician or journal seeking
to antagonize the farmers and the
railroads does grievous wrong to
the State, to the railroads, and to
the agricultural classes. 1t is pit
liable exhibition of demagogery
unworthy the country or the age in
which we live. 1t is worse than
communism in this, that, if success
full, its consequences would be more
destructive. The Democratic party
has never been an enemy to the
railroad interests of the State, or an
enemy to any oflts great enterpris-
es. On the other hand, its policy
has been uniformly in the direction
of fostering and encouraging all the
great industries of government
Aside from the question of policy
on the part of political parties to
encourage railroad, manufacturing
and other industries which tend to
develop the resources of the State,
no class is more interested or can be
more benefited in protecting and
developing the railroad interests
than the farming classes. And L
beg leave in this connection to in
sert a portion of an address deliver
ed by a great orator of this country
to a large assemblage of farmers in
Illinois some years ago. Said he:
Another idea entertained by farm
''ers is that they are in some mysterious |
sway oppressed by every other kind of |
Cuisines that they are dev6uTed by |
"monePolies, especially, by railroads. !
"Of course the railroads a.e indebted !
"to the farmers for their prosperity, |
"and the farmers are indeh ed to the I
railroads. A. few Yeas ago you en- !
"deavored to regulate the charges of /,
s'railroad companies The principal |
complaint y0u had vas that they |
"charyed too much for the transporta-
"tiOn of corn and other cereals to the |
EAST. You should remember that all /
"freight is paid by the consumers of
"the graiu. If all the corn raised in /
"Illinois could be transported to New
"YOrk absolutely free it would enhance
t'but little the price that y0u would re-
''ceiVe. The railroads are your friends.
rThey are your partners. They can
"prosper only when the country thro'
(which they run prespers. All intelli-
'gent railroad Elen know this. They
"kn"W that present robbery Is future !
"bankrup'cy. .hey knew that the in
8 tere.t of the farmer and of the rail-
''rOsd is the same. Wemust have rail-
'ruads. What can we do without them?
IT is the interest of The farmer 10 protect
& eoe1H QJsdt interest en- the State In these
"iron highw avs more than three hun
''dred million dollars haVs been invest
''ed-a sum equal to ten times the orig.
FINAL cost of all the land in the Slate.
''TO make war upon the railroads is q
l'short-sight' d and suicidal policy.
''They should be treated fairly. II we
wish to prosper we must act together,
and we'must see to it that ecery form
of labor is protected. "
This is the language of q true
friend to the farmer. There is no
iemag0gery or charlatanism about
{. And It is g singing -rebuke to
hose men and Journals, who, pre-
ending to be q friend of the farmer
md of his interests, attack the very
industry upon which the prosperity
If the farmer SO largely depends.
No intelligent farmer should coun
enance the paper or the individual
Who seeks to antagonize the rail
Dad and the agricultural interests.
let there DO a better understanding
the farmers and the rail
Dads than new unfortunately OK
sts-and we will soon see the re-
uIt in cheaper local freights and
more remunerative re- :
urns for ths products of the farm.
Abolish all Legislation hastile to the !,
interests. Let them bear
heir just and equal shares of tax /,
tioD. Abolish that miserable farce :
-peYn as the Railroad Commission ,,
I'LL, productive thus far of only liti- =
'ation and expense tG the tax pay
RS of the State; a bill imprRoiiea-
lie, and doubtless unconstitutional;
bill which provides fat salaries for
Individuals who, however honorable
nd able they are considered to be,
ave but little knowledge and less !,
experience of the management and :
Onduct of great railroad enter !
Irises. w w. IANGHORNE. :