The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1890-09-25
THE FARMERS INSuLTED.
A MOuthpiccc Of PlutOcracv 1ndulges IN
Reckless Talk.

4 AIouthpiecc Of Plutocracv 1ndulgss In
Reckless Talk.
The farmers who arc endeavorinR to
relieve themselves of some Of the op-
pressive burdens imposed upon them BY
Republican class legislation will be In
terested in few remarks in recent Is
sue of the New York Tribune, the lead
ing Republican organ Of the United
States.
The Tribune says that "the condition
OF agriculture has long been favorite
topic Of politicians and demagogues on
on all sides;' that the farmers are
many" and like to believe that they
have been wronged;" that III they have
made any errors OF judgment or conduct.
they naturally incline to believe the
who tell them that their
troubles are not OF their own causing,
but have been produced by railroads. or
elevators, or banks, or monoy-lendcrs,
or somebody or something clse;" that
- large proportion Of the farmers are
steadily accommodating profits either in
the form of more land owned and paid
for or in money invested" and that
'tonly . minority fail to accumulate
wealth, either through their oWn inca-
pacity or from other causes"
We can not believe that the farmers
throughout tho country. who have re-
Gently been organizing themselves into
alliances and other associations for the
purpose Of securing fair treatment from
the National Congress and State Legis-
latures, will relish this kind Of talk
from the principal newspaper mouth
piece OF protection and monopolies.
Will the Tribune succeed in convincing
them that they have no real grievances;
that as class they are becoming
wealthy, and that such troubles rs they
have are due to their own incapacity or
extravaganza? We doubt it very much.
The average farmer knows very we'll
that his calling is Improbable and has
been for number OF years; that the
prices cf his principal products have
been steadily declining; that he has to
sell these products in competition with
the entire world, while he is compelled
to buy what he consumes in artificially
restricted markets; that the tendency
of nearly all the financial and economic
legislation OF the country for quarter
of a century has been to build up other
classes Of people at his expense; that
the cities are rapidly growing in wealth
and population. while the rural districts
are declining in respect Of both; that
the value Of farming lands all over the
country is decreasing. while city prop.
erty is everywhere advancing; that his
life is one Of constant toll and self
denial. while that of the city dwcller
is relieved by many pleasures, and
privileges which are denied him; and
tina: the principal causes Of these things
a.e bad government and unjust legisla'
tian. Knowing these things. the intel.
l:sant farmer s:ii resen; with spirit
80 untruthfnl AMI of!+n,lye language
with tine Tribune employs toward him.
have before us petition which the
Farmers alliances in the Eighth Judi
,ial district of kanass have addressed ia
the Judge Of that district. 1t affords q
striking commentary upon the Trib-
une's complacent assurances to the
farmers that all of them are prosperous
who deserve to be. The petition reads
To HON. NJ. ". NICHOLSON. JUDGE or THI
EIGHTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT OF KANSAS:
In view OF the disastrous failure Of crops and
the general ssr.ngency OF money matters We
the Undersigned petitioners, do hereby mos
earnestly request that proceedings in the fore
closure OF oil real-estate mortgages now pend
ing. or that may be commenced within one yea
from date. be delayed.
Not all the farmers Of the country are
SO badly of as those Of the Eighth judi
cial district Of Kansas, but great mum.
bers of them arc. and there are very
few indeed, who receive adequate re
turns for their labor. The organs Of the
tariff rings will find it uphill work x
convince them that every thing is love
ly with them and that the grievance.
they complain Of are imaginary. In
dianapOlis Sentinel