Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-04-24
THE NORTHWEST
The Happy Farmers.

The American Economist has IN
earthed an Iowa farmer who think
that the modern farmers lot, unlik'
that Of the policeman In the "PirateI
Of Penzance," Is peculiarly happy one
and the pretty organs OF protection ar
publishing with q good deal Of gust
the rOseate pictures this Iowa optimist
paints of agricultural felicity. As
companion picture we present thu
Declaration Of Independence recently
put forth by Dakota grange and adopt
eddy several Of the western "Ailian
ces:"
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE FRos
DAKOTA GRANGE NO. 900.
When in the course of human events, Il
becomes necessary for an agricultural
people to rise in revolt against corpor
ate tyranny, to east off the shackle'
capital has imposed on them and as
sert their rights as free and lndepend'
ent citizens of great republic, IL may
not be Inappropriate to lay before the
world their grievances and to explain
the necessity of their acts.
Braving terrOrs from wild beasts and
savages, risking disease and famine,
IhC uhtii NilO ottbihS
sun, the pioneer settlers and the farm
ers of America have reclaimed CONT
nent, transformed desert wastes into
blooming gardens and fertile fields,
furnished subsistence for needy mil
lions abroad and built up fabulous for.
tunes for the deniZens of cities and
towns at home.
How are their efforts rewarded? Un-
just and oppressive laws have been en-
acted. under which cooperative power
in the form OF railways is enabled to
seize the fruits of our toll, and under
guise of watered stocks and subordinate
corporations, c0nfiscate our entire prof
its, leaving us meager subsistence.
They consume our crops of corn, un-
graciously leaving us to feed upon the
husks. Protected by monopolies and
trusts, they have absorbed the manu-
featuring industries and strangled all
competition, thus advancing by one
half the cost of prime necessities to the
farming class.
Under vague and delusive promises
Of benefits to accrue, we have submit, I'd
to this injustice until the burden be-
comes too heavy to bear longer and we
are forced to seek some remedy for
these evils, "peaceable, five can, forci-
bly, If we must"
Now, therefore, to all those in au-
thoritv we hereby give notice: to the
President of the White House and his
advisers; to the judges of the Supreme
Court and all subordinate courts; to
Senators and Representatives in Con-
gress (who no longer respect our views
and give ear to our plaintsG to Gov
ernors and legislators in all the States
of this Union; that we have already too
long submitted to these acts of tyranny,
that we will first seek redress through
the ballot and will henceforth neither
vote for nor support any candidate, of
any party whatsoever, who is not SOL
emnly pledged to advocate all such
measures as we deem best calculated for
our benefit and to correct existing evils;
that we will cast off all party predilec-
tions and stand only on the platform of
farmers right" Aud in case peace
able measures prove unavailing, owing
to the Vaccinations of corporate capi-
tai, the bribery of votes and the press,
and in too frequent instances of the
chosen representatives in whom we
place confidence, then we shall not
hesitate to avail ourselves ofman's nat
ural right to freedom, and adopt what
ever means may be necessary to accom-
plish our purposes.
"If this be treason, make the most of
it." To those who deprecate radical
action at this time, we exclaim in the
spirits of the revolutionary patriot,
"They tell us we are weak, but when
shall we be stronger" Will it be when
the railway monopolists has stationed
an army guard at every door and hire
ling detectives of the plutocratic class
aim repeating rifles at the breasts of
starving workingmen?
Our appeals have met with sneers.
Omnipotent wealth browns the cries of
suffering poverty, until patience has
ceased to be virtue. Whatever may
be the result ofa struggle for our rights,
our own condition can scarcely be more
lamentable than at present. With de-
termined hearts and sincere belief in
the justice of our cause, we clear the
decks for the coming battle between
labor and capital. Let no patriot neg
lect his duty, or fail to be in his ap-
pointed place when the hosts begin to
gather!
External vigilance is the price of lib
erty." Put none but grangers on