, 1884-02-02
Farmers and Mouorolies.

80 kaCE6 anu &AouOI OiCSs
1t would be cause for congrsiulation If
farmers would read more Of the history
ard the status Of their class thousand
years back, and compare it with their
present condition. lie: them begin their
stndie. q. the time where the tlllers of the
soil belonged az much to ths soil, and
were transferred with it as commonly as
the appurtenances. Then let them trace
the progress Of these "villeins' through
all the various changes Of history doxn to
the present time, when the farmer owrs
the soil he tills, governs himself and is es-
teemed as the most independent and In
teiGgent of men. These wonderful
changes we're brought about in great
measure by tire farmers themselves. Not
by sG1den, unexpected movements, but
by siow and healthy graxth- Il Is not
that the great have come down to make
all men equal, but the lowly have them
selves risen 10 higher level These
changes were wrought gradually. The
'Villein" felt his wrongs but hardly dared
ssert his rights he patiently waited his
opportunity, ''erasped the skirts of happy
chance" aud slowly climbed towards the
Light The gradual change was scarcely
feit. l. came about much as the boy be-
comes maD-surely, but with scarce
shock,
But though these changes were great
there are others yet to come. The chrys-
ais is more comely than the egP, but the
image Is the perfect insect. Farmers are
not entirely free. There must be changes
and changes, and he that would foreknow
them mast read the signs Of the times.
past aud present. We have only time ana
space at present to Notice but one or two
of these signs. The subject Of one grea;
change is il everybodys mouth.
For more than fifty years great sys-
TEN Of internal transportation has been
gradually extending itself over the whole
country. 1t followed immigration o"eI
the Alieghanies, but by the time the Mss
souri was reached it hal outstripEed civ
ilizatlcn itself, and pushed ITS track int1
the uaSnoxn wilds beyond, and now car,
ries the emigrant instead OF following
him
But while this vas; railroad system, IN
itself great blessing, has made II p'ssl-
be to rapidly Develop remote parts Of the
country, brought them into close commu'
nication with each other, and enabled them
to exchange products to Their mutual ben
eft, it has also brought with it evils that
must be corrected The vast subsidies oi
lands granted since the war have robJed
thousands Of deserving men of their rightz
to GOOD homes in the West aud North
west, and have added millions ot money
t. the wealth Of corporations without any
adequate return Oh the part "i the rail
roads. Bat those land steals haze bsen
cousumma;ed and are beyond remedy.
The great struggle is on rates and must
90 fought GU. Ia Congress and tha STATE
legislatures. Thus far, except IN rer7
lew States, the corporations have sn:'
ceded in preventing Effective legislation.
We believe Illinois is an exception. II
we are rightly informed, the lave III that
State no: only ,fec;ua'ly regulate the tar
if on goods shipped frora one point IN the
State to another point within the State,
bu; they extend to goods srigpel beyond
the lines Of the State 10 any point wrthp
the jurisdiction Of the United Sa'es
We hope the time is not distant when TIA:
great question will be settled effectively
so as to prevent both discrimination and
exorbitant tariffs. Vt present, most o
the States and all the Territories groar
lade- a burden as grirvoGs as were the
exac ions of the Pian;agcEe;s-
These railroad corporate ms wield lie IS
iatures and judges, and carry elections b,
means of money. C-r'ainly they are
formidable Zoe, for they WORK a, and un
dernine the very foundations o; society
but farmers have met, and frequently con
quered greater difficulties these thOusan'
years, and viii d. 50 again The Grange
the Alliance, and similar futile attempts
at regulatiye legislation are all moves ii
the right direction, although so far u:
successful, ani will gradually grow unit
they sweep sway all these corporate abuses
and make US all oqual before the law
"For doubt not through the ages one increas
ing purpose runs,
Ana the thoughts Of raen aye widenel with III
process Of the suns