The Russellville Democrat., 1884-03-27
letters from tAs People,
Atkins. Ark.
ponslence Of the Democrat

line Brothers oil freedom are ire
quently told to attend to local affairs
and drop politics. For one | protest
against all such advice. Ii dema-
gogues and politicians can persuade
farmers to ATTEND to their own bus
mess" raising cotton and corn and
keeping their wants supplied with
food and clothing and themselves
with "grub" the 'goose will hang
high" and everything will be lovely
with these non producers.
No, Mr.. Farmer, study politics and
study hard until you learn the "true
inwardness" of the whole matter.
Don't believe for q minute that these
things are above Your comprehen-
sion and leave politics to your "su-
penors." Why my dear friends,
havn't you been doing this very
thing for these many long, weary
years, till you arc on the verge of
ruin? Ask yourselves who has peck
eted all the profits OF your years of
toll. Are you sick Of politics? Well,
you ought to be sick of the politics
your bosses enjoy SO much. But
real politics, craftsmanship and po-
litical economy are the grandest
studies of all.
The people are being robbed every
day they live, and it is duty they
owe themselves to End out who is
robbing them and how 1t is done.
Suppose you elect the best men in
your townships for justices and con
stables; will that keep your treas
urers fingers out of your pockets?
Suppose you elect the best men you
have for county officers; will that
prevent railroad extortion? Suppose
good and true men are chosen for
governor, other state officers and
members of the Assembly; will all
that save you from the robbing done
by tariffs and banks? No, never.
Buy goods as cheap as yon possibly
can. Buy as little as possible on
credit. Pay as you go if possible.
Put none but honest and capable
men in any Office, state, county or
township-bnt don't stop there.
tell you the merchants don't get all
the profits of your labor by big per
cents. Officers don't get by high
salaries US much rs some other sspro
tected" individuals.
There are three sets OF protected
robbers in the United States. The
bankers, the railways and the man
ufacturcrs. The banks are the worst
because they are authorized to col
lect interest on their debts; that is
on what they owe, and pay no taxes
on the bonds upon which their is
sues are based. They draw two III
terests, one ON the bonds and one on
their promise topay notes.
The tariff though infamous is not
altogether so abominable, because
the manufacturer protected makes
articles needed by our people and
he gives employment (tho' some
times at starvation prices) to great
many people. The railways are
great blessings when they charge
only fair freights and passage mon
ey, but when they make you pay
more for a hundred pounds of freight
carried 90 miles than for $50 miles,
and make the people pay dividends
on "watered stock" there is deal of
grumbling and just indignation. If
railways got fair interest on actual
cost, as other people do, opposition
would cease. SO we see there are
three great monopolies seating out
the substance of the people,. Then
there are numerous other smaller
steals, and altogether farmers and
other producers are mere "hewers Of
wood and drawers Of water. There
must be reform or renovation. Re.
form alone can prevent bloody revo
luton. The creators of wealth will
not always consent to have 1t all
taken by rich paupers who neither
toll nor spin.
Is there no remedy? Not as long
as yon continue to elect members to
congress just because they have
managed to obtain a nomination,
without single promise to attend
to your interests.
Democratic principles, enforced
would make every farmer in the
United States prosperous man.
Unfortunately the democratic party
don't elect enough democrats to con
gress to pass any good wholesome
laws for the people.
Pay off the bonds, abolish all banks
OF issue, abolish custom houses and
give us free trade, give US unlimited
coinage OF silver and unlimited issue
Of gold and silver certificates; then
regulate railroads in the interest of
the people, giving the roads fair in
terest on actual costs and all will be
well.
Will the "Biothers" work for these
measures by voting FOR no congress.
man who is on the side of these mo
nopolies? c. f. ToBEY.
Dover, Ark.
CorrespOndence OF the Dem oerat