Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-12-11

teration of food products as calculated to
| encourage dishonesty in trade and rob both
| producer and consumer.
18th. We denounce gambling in mar
gins in our produce exchanges, as destruc-
1--WE 70 the fair course of trade injurious to
actual business, and levying upon agricul-
ture heavy and unjustiliable tax, est-
mated by statisticians at IA per cent of
| production.
18th. We denounco what is styled by its
followers as practical politics. but which
| In TACT is Boss rule and corruption. Let
lis have carefully drawn secret ballot laws,
| so that neither money nor other undue in.
iluence shall be able to control the exer-
else Of the most potent and precious right
Of citizenship. When money buys cleo
tons the State is no longer of the people,
for the people and by the people, but q
plutocracy, q state founded on wealth,
owned and ruled by the money
power, the masses virtually enslaved, their
owners the plutocrats and as all history
shows anarchy and ruin close ahead. Have
not the American people seen enough of
this thing2 Will they not show that there
is still left sufficient virtue and manhood
to apply Temedy2 As the first step and
the indispensable prerequisites to other re-
forms, let us have u pure ballot Then
there will be due. encouragement for every
citizen to study questions pertaining to
w tdhSttNS bhC NOltit W lAlll
on the light.
81 believe | have stated the leading prn-
ciples that constitute the platform of the
farmer. Some have suggested or demanded
certain specific measures for the relief of
distressed agriculture. 1t is not necessary
to discuss them here. gravely doubt the
necessity or propriety of any class legisla-
ton for the farmer. ! think he is suffer-
ing, not from the lack of such legislation,
but from the existence of so much vicious
and unjust class legislation, directly and
openly in the interest of certain other
classes, and from the want of legislation
applicable to all; applying the general
principles of justice and sound public
policy, to remove evils which have ac-
guired gigantic and destructive power.
These evils have been referred to in gem
ernl terms and need not be more specific
ally mentioned
shall there be formed farmers party
to secure justice, honesty, sound public
policyP These objects enlist the sympathy
and cooperation of all unsellish and pa
ttriotic citizens. No such party is. there
fore, needed, or could successfully be
formed. 1t would be unpatriotic and
selfish. The correct and just way to ac-
complish reforms and establish Justice
would rather seem to be that the farmer
and every other citizen see that his interest
and his industry shall be represented in
Congress and all legislative bodies by the
best honesty and ability his class affords,
ate. 1t is legislation without repre-
sentation that has given certain
class interests undue and unjust udyan-
tages, and inflicted upon agriculture UNI
necessary and uncomfortable wrongs. 1t
seems to be demonstrated that party can
not succeed without votes; and that as yet
no party has full ownership of its mem
hure L., a
voter i'll line when his sense of right is out
ragged. The more the voter is educated,
the. greater becomes the independent vote
and this is the hope of the farmer, the
hope of the country, the last fortress of
the people in their struggle for the perpe-
tuity of self-government.
Freight rates on our Peninsula railroad
system remain as heretofore unreasonable
and discriminating. The long expected
relief through the Interstate Commerce
Commission has not yet appeared. If, MS
we hope, we have a Legislature elected
that truly represents our people, why
should not that body examine this subject
and appoint committee of investigation,
or establish railroad commission? The
commission system has worked well in
some states and might he useful here.
Our agricultural experiment station
grows in favor with the people and con-
iidence. Let us continue to-co-operate
cordially with its officers, that theory and
practice, scientific investigation and farm
routine combined may lessen the difficult
ties of agriculture and increase its rewards.
"The agricultural colleges of this country
have received additional appropriations
from Congress, and to the watchfllness of
the legislative committee of the National
Exchange the act specifically provides for
the proper use of the money. Our farm
ers should see that in the case of Delaware
College no violation Of the law shall occur
in the misappfcation of these funds.