The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1885-02-27

III IDt tAISlfilb NJtitiltkilitSS anu tIlJlit-
the true Democrat; the true Republican,
and even the misunderstood, misrepresent-
ed, DETAINED and despised, but irrepressible
G~reenbacker (all Of whom must have and
use all uneorrupt ballot TO justly voice
their convictionsD should, with united
front, stand as stood Jackson, like a stone
WALL against the assaults Of so deadly a
foe.
Whoever listens through the press, es-
pecially through its recognized organs,
to the disconnected utterance of labor,
wronged by inherited laws and customs, and
by some not inherited, suffering, and
rapidly uniting into one great body, thor
oughly organized, must tremble for the
stability of the country if its demands fail
to find fitting expression, thoughtful con-
sideration and wise remedial action in the
halls of legislation. \ few years since the
National Grange, representing a very con-
sentative class of citizens, adopted the re-
port of a committee which, after stating the
grievances of the farming class, declared
that if the ballot proved inadequate to right
their wrongs. recourse must be had to the
bullet; but that they yet believed in the
efficiency of the ballot. If a belief in the
efficiency of the ballot. to correct abuses,
be maintained in the minds of the Ameri-
can farmer, artisan and laborer, no an
archist can ever gather a dangerous fol-
lowing. But if the just measures of the
laboring men be generally defeated at the
polls, or in the legislative chamber, by
bought votes, they will become the willing
subjects of a demagogue, and will neither
question the craftsmanship nor bound the
ambition of the leader who, for them,
achieves success.
1t is very probable that between now
and the first of June, of the exact time full
notice will be given, a meeting of the As
ISOLATION will be held for the purpose of
perfecting the organization, electing Off
GERS, appointing committees, and of devils
ing more efficient plans for the detection
and prosecution of offenders against the
bribery act. The preceding has been
written in the hope that every one who
realizes the importance of the subject will
make especial endeayor to attend.
In conclusion | ask the aid Of my fellow
farmers in this contest which is to decide
whether our republic shall continue to
exist in reality, or, if at all, only in form,
whether our elections are to be the un-
biassed expression of popular will or
whether the offices are practically to be
put up at public auction and knocked down
to the highest bidder, thus establishing
through Democratic methods a wealthy
oligarchy. Even now we have gone
far on that road. In scarcely a State is
the senatorial contest free from open and
fragrant corruption and the |. :. Senate
instead of an assembly of statesmen has be-
come largely a group of m~illionaires, and
is distinguished as being the last and
almost i~mpregnable bulwark of every
monopoly in this land. You alone as a
class can maintain yonr manhood and dare
to act as you judge right. untrammelled by
fear; your living depends not on the favor
of man, but upon yourselves and Proyi-
dence. You nave inherited a birth right
in liberty and country uneqGalled in the
history of the world. VIII you sell it?
Will you see it sold? 1t has been pur-
chased through the privation and suffering
of your ancestors; they gave property and
limb and life itself that you should enjoy
those blessings which might be your
present privilege if you so did will. The
generation now passing has given its i'm
mortal sacrifice to preserve our heritage
and shall ue allow this deadly cancel to so
poison ourwhole political system that death
to liberty is inevitable? Its insidious fila
ments now extend from the Pacific to the At
lantic coast and reaching far up the head
waters of the Mississippi on the North,
penetrate in the South to the shores of the
Mexican Sea. Most of you believe in a
Supreme and Just Judge. Can You think
that Power will hold you guiltless if
through your sloth your negligence and
YOUR unfaithfulness this government,
which may be the mainstay of liberty every
where and is the hope of oppressed human
ity all over the civilized world, through
steps easily to be traced, shall be usurp-
ed by some modern Sulla more ambi-
tious than the first, or by some new C@s-
ar, and follow Rome to anarchy, despot-
ism, partition, and disruption.
j. WALTER PANCoAsT.