Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1890-09-18
Senator Casey Comments Oh ''tile
Newborn Difference for
the Farmer.'
His Tariff Speech Prefaced by
Some Remarks Of General
Application.
The Farmers Are Too Much 'Thc
People to Demand Class
Power"
The Farmer in Politics.

Senator Casey prefaced bis argument
on the tariff bill with the following in
troductory remarks. 1t is an eloquent
tribute to the agricultural class and
mastery exposition OF their position in
politics:
It is not difficult, perhaps, to under
stand why profound consideration should
just now be extended to the farmer.
One would be blind indeed not to have
discovered that at present he is condi-
tion and growing less and less theory,
and 1t can hardly be doubted that this
new born Difference for the farmer is due
to the circumstance that he is sin cyl
dence" to day as never before.
The farmers, Mr.. President, as a rule
care little for politics, except some great
issue be involved. Not many of them
are seekers after places. They are usually
content to let others take the honors if
they will but discharge the duties of leg
islatlon and execution of the laws. They
have been satisfied to vote and let the
lawyers conduct the affairs of govern
ment. It is true they have sometimes
lost patience and asserted themselves,
and have undertaken to right their
wrongs, and that with a decision that
has created Cllsmay among those who have
come to think that government was not
by any mean a function fit for their rude
manipulation.
But this has occurred when Govern
ment has fallen into channels SO adverse
to or neglectful of their interests that it
has seemed TO them uncomfortable.
Have they at such times made mistakes:
Il I'm hnI },Sy nlc
plished decided reforms. Their mistakes
they have readily acknowledged too
readily it may be; and think they have
sometimes resigned their powers when
they should have kept on until expert
ence had taught them to avoid their
errors. They should have remembered
that practice makes perfect.
1t has repeatedly been brought ont in
this Chamber that the interests of 40 per
cent of the people Of the nation are di-
| rectly associated with the farm. And Of
these the percentage of proprietors is not
equaled in any other important industry.
Is there any reason why this almost
prepOnderant element of our population
should not participate in state and ma
tional affairs otherwise than by votes? Is
1t not eminently fit that they have repre-
sentatiOn in legislative and administra-
tive councils?
Mr.. President, if all the classified in
terests and industries of the land were
represented even IN the halls of congress
| believe all would be the gamers there
by. Certainly it would be true in more
complete sense that this was a govern
ment by the people.
It goes without saying that ability,
natural or developed, is not equal among
all who till the soil. Not all are fit for
such responsibilities; nor are all mer-
chants, nor all lawyers, nor all of other
callings. But that there are men equal
to any emergency, or to the requirements
of almost any office in the gift of the peo-
pie, who are farmers and have been all
their days, do not hesitate to assert.
To the sound sense of the people is ap-
peal constantly made IN evory legislative
body in this nation. The wisest poll
ticians acknowledge that the bias of
party, or the natural obstinacy born of
hard conflict. will often bewilder their
judgment and lead them astray. But
statesmen confidently expect that the
people-Mr. Lincoln's plain people-will
in the long run set things right. And of
the people of our country no other equals
this class, believe, in disinterestedness
or conscience.
In the long run it is the farmers, more
than all the the other classes together
who right the wrongs of our political life.
Still, great dread is felt by men who
ought to know better at the thought of
seeing tue grangers come into share OF
political power Such radical views do
they put forward Such impracticable
schemes are they urging! Such wild
notions do they entertain of financial
and economical policy! they say.
And true enough it is that out of their
ranks have come radically strange
doctrines. But is it sure these startling
propositions are the final conclusions of
the farmers? And do they not put for
ward tentatively propositions which, if
they we're in power, they might not in
sist upon?
1 think an examination of the
methods in which, for instance, the sub
treasury scheme has been urged on the
attention of congress will show behind it
spirit Of reassuring conservatism. They
who have presented it say. and have said
to find the way of relief for us; If not by
this method, then by some better"
A challenge, and fair one, to states
men; an invitation for them to distribute
abroad their wisdom for the instruction
Of others.
Mr.. President. what people or what
class of people, deprived Of the exercise
Of responsibility, was ever conservative?
Conservatism comes with responsibility.
Revolutions have rarely failed to be
characterized IN their earlier phases by
unwise methods, and the more radical
the change brought about the deeper
the depression, and the more severe re-
preston escaped from, the more radical
and the more violent have been the
measures brought into action in the first
instance. But among civilized people