Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-02-27
"What Is the Matter"

Why should there be anything the
matter of the farmers? They are voters,
they compose nearly one half the citi-
zen sovereigns of the republic. This is
q grand country of free, broad, fertile
acres, cheap homes and alleged equita-
BILE laws for ali citizens. Farmers are
industrious, frugal and honorable.
Farmers wives are the most continuous
toilers under the sun, the most econo-
mical housekeepers and the least ex-
pensive in their personal requirements.
Sure enough, what is the matter? and
why should there be anything the mat
ter? But there is; they are In debt,
harassed, behind-hand and under mort
gage all over the country. In some
parts of the wide free west, the land
OF unlimitable resources, they are starv-
ing. All inquiry into the causes for
the conditions has long been delayed.
The farmer has been voting year after
year for the other fellows in his politi-
cal party and awakes to find himself
"Ieft.u He has been patriotic and blind.
He has believed, when his party lead
ers have told him that tax on woOlen
blankets and salt and sugar and nails
and lumber and tin and ironware was
all for his best good. 1t preserved for
him "the home market. And yet II
he read his newspapers he discovered
that his selling market was the market
of the world, and 1t was only his buy
ing market that was protected-pro-
tected against the cheap prices for the
goods he was obliged to purchase. II
the farmer had read the newspapers
more widely and more carefully, and
with less partisan bias during all these
wears, he would not have waited till his
home aud all his possessions were In
the grip of greed aud monopoly before
he protested. Now he has had hard
battle before him. If he were a south
ern negro he might hope for some
special legislation In his behalf. He
has been patient and accomplishing so
long, has served without reward, it oc-
casions surprise that he should come to
the front and ask for share of con-
sideration. He Is almost ridiculed into
silence. With the southern question
Whatever that is) the great manufac-
turing concerns, the office seekers, the
investigations, and the party manipula-
tions to attend to, for him to clamor
now for recognition and relief is pre-
posterous. There has been a drouth,
glut in the maket. These things eff
feet only the farmer. He mustn't raise
SO much corn and wheat. He must be
patient and keep plodding and waiting,
And this is what he has been doing till
his patience is threadbare and he begins
to perceive he has been victimized
His neighbor has government aid in
| L al k,rn hnH to IIf n he
market, of his goods, he shuts up his
mills and takes his family a carriage
journey and invites his friends and in
| Joys the vacation. ...
And yet, if this farmer, who justly
enters such grevious complaint were to
cast his ballot tomorrow would it moi
be for continued high protection on
everybody's product but his own, az
against tariff revision which would take
the tax from the necessaries of life and
retain them on the luxuries "for rev.
enue only?" The Republican whipper'
in would tell him to remember the
party which saved the country and
gave the negro the ballot; vote for the
good old party" if its legislation grind
you into the dust of poverty. Remem'
ber your allegiance and the reward will
come. If the farmer was Republican
he would still vote to rivet his own
bonds, 80 his party shouldn't be beaten
Grand Master Brigham says:
The farmers have been cajoled and
relegated too the rear to long; and theil
interests have suffered too much, to ad.
NIT of any more of the stale and thread.
bare "taffy" which has been labeled
out to US, 10, these many years, by the
average politician.
Following this selection from his
manifesto, is the following promise
that the Grange shall not waste its
energies in fighting imaginary foes
nor in the vain effort to change the
laws Of trade or commerce, established
after years of experience; nor foolish
warfare upon legitimate business anC
reasonable profits; but by correcting
abuses which have crept into business
life in various ways, which unnecessa
rily burden the producing classes
Study that vague generalization, in
quiring members, and If you fail to gel
at its practical meaning, ask for ex
plicit mention of the abuses which he
will correct, without changing the law
OL CIdu0 OE CUluulcTC0 VI lutcilClAAS
with established methods. to
After arragning the politicians fo
their unfairness and insincerity ht
agrees that the grange shall not med
die with their pet theories and law
Established after years of experience.
Master Brigham's zeal Is more com
mendable than his logic. But begin
ming of the study must lead to results
The country is vitality interested. Tariff
reformers sincerely believe that the far
mer's chief woes are directly traceabl
to the inequalities of tariff taxation. ]
the grangers can discover mistake II
the diagnosis and prescribe remed.
for whatever is "the matter" the who'll
| country should rive grateful heed. =