The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1890-07-18
Farmers in Politics.

forms and in congress-
Farmers in Politics.
Underlying the mighty changes in
human history-changes which have
divided history into periods, and
yoked centuries together-there have
been movements and elements most
powerful for change and yet unmark-
ed by milestones.
The student of English history is
staggered-if he be a reflective person
at the invisible something which
drew from an unlettered and passive
nature the forces OF the 1 9th century.
1t was the age of the Magma Charta.
The precise elements which shaped
the destiny OF the English race by the
capitulation OF King John to the
land owners are unknown today
have disappeared from time, with the
years which gave them birth and
power.
In connection with this statement
(of the loss of the underlying forces
which create great events) let us
make another statement:
The tendency Of every form OF hui
man government is towards auto
cracy-or despotism. This is the
work which must follow selfishness-
and selfishness is the motive (mastif)
of the claw OF competition. If en-
vironment for years puts off the au-
to-cratic. or single-power, despotism,
then apluto-cratic development takes
place, and this is what is understood
by plutocracy-a reign not OF indi-
viduals through strength of will or
character, but through wealth. And
selfshness, greed, avarice, are the
weapons of a plutocratic power.
The fact that the a. unseen and
unspoken elements underly mighty
changes-and that ~, the approach
of republic to despotism is through
the doorways OF the bank, leads us
to question if tremendous changes
are not now going on? And if SO,
whether the hidden impulses may not
lie in the unparalleled intelligence Of
the age. For if the school house up
on every hill side and on every plain
cannot reveal the dangers unseen by
the ignorant-then of what avail is
the development OF the age?
These two propositions-that I'M
seen influence underly upheavals in
society, and that the tendencies of
all government are to Capitalization
of pOwer-also lead to another sug-
gestion: That resistance to the evil
tendencies must spring from other
sources than those already at work.
For the forces in history which have
been active towards autocracy Or
''plutocracy" are certainly not those
which lead to revolution, and a re-
storation of righteousness in govern
ment.
So we state that today the active
forces of the age are trending rapidly
and steadily to the despotism OF CAPT
tal-and as we'll there is resistance
which is visible-a resistance which
doubtless looks out into the future
from the schoolhouse windows-born
OF intelligence.
What is the element which is gath
ering and formulating and organic
ing this resistance? 1t is, beyond
all question, the entrance OF the indi-
vidual
FARMER INTO POLITICS.
Has he not always been in politics ?
By no means. The Individual farmer
has never been in politics until the
opening OF the portals to-day.
He carried through the anti-slavery
agitation, did he not?
Yes, and he carried on the ''Tippe-
canoe and Tyler too campaign also
and his votes and his conscience
have swept out stupendous wrongs
in this country. But the farmer has