!0L. XIX.
INDIANAPOLIS. IND., SATURDAY, AUG. 23, 1884.
NO. 34.
ne F«*rmer and PoUtics.
Itis
"•" JOHN M. STAHL.
t«i-nipr>bBbie that if the farmer ever
a lvJ. 1 mportance *» » voter, it is when
, ' ° ,nlml e,ection «■ Imminent; and if
over feel, his littleness as a part of the
M-vermnent, it is just after such an elec-
'"n, when he finds that everv interest
"-"•I*-" •» Properly represented."
"he American voter is often led to make
"'ntradlctory assertions. Thus, he will
*»>• about the Fourth of July, or upon
■>>».e other occasion when he feels very
P'triotic, that in this blessed country
where the people are kings and constitute
the government, his vote is just as good as
any other man's. This is true: the people
do cons itute the government and one
man's vote counts just as much as the vote
ot any other man. Then the government
must be in accordance with the will of the
majority, and if a man belongs to the majority he has no one to blame but himself
for the things he may not like. On other
occasions, when the powers that he have
passed some law that the kingly citizen
does not like, he speaks ofthe government
us something outside of and greatly superior to him. A person would imagine that
he had nothing to do with the election of
lawmakers and that he had no voice in
the government whatever. I have no
doubt that after the next election the
farmer will deplore the decline of our
government, curse the action of legislators
inimical to his interests as something
which he cannot help, and content himself with scolding at the misdeeds of Congress as if Congress were a body that was
placed in the position it occupies by the
will of (iod or gome other power that the
masses cannot control.
Tbe truth of the matter is that we, the
people, are the government as well as the
governed; we cannot stand off and bewail
the corruption in high places and the disregard of our interests by lawmakers as
something we cannot help, something for
w hich we are in no wise responsible, something which some arbitrary power has
compelled us to accept. If corruption exists, if indifference toour interests is shown
bv legislatures and Congress, we alone are
tn blame for it. We have placed these
men in power. We had our choice to
elect whom we pleased.
We farmers are perhaps addicted to
grumbling, yet I do not think we say too
much about theneglect of our interests by
those men whom wo bave elected to look
after those interests. If the farmer gets
anything, it Is after every other class has
been served; if there is enough political
taffy to go atound, we get a suck at the
saccharine morsel; but if there is likely to
be a lack for any, we must console ourselves with grumbling.
Farmers have a majority in three-fourths
ot the congressional districts of the country; they constitute tbe majority in more
than half of the States; they have a plurality in the country: the inevitable conclusion is that if they unite they can control the House of Representatives, the
Senate, and the executive branch of the
national government; and as the judicial
part of the government is, created by the
legislative and executive  parts, the farm
ers can pass, interpret rightly and execute
what measures they.pleaso. They are the
only class that can control the govern-
nient;yet every other considerable class
has more influence than they.
Now I don't believe in a farmers' party.
I do not believe in class organizations for
political purees. I think it unfortunate
that we have any clannish organizations,
as the Irish vote, the (ierman vote, the
typographical union vote, or any other
such semi-organization founded upon raco
or class distinctions. Such organizations
are almost sure to look at tho fitness of
candidates the last thing; tbey aro tho
last to seriously and impartially Investigate an issue or proposed measure; their
interests and their schemes are always
paramount, and their favorite candidate
is the most willing tool. It may be well
to have great political parties—I think it
is; but these little parties, these parties
within parties, have proven and always
will prove to be evils.
It would be better if the farmer wero
entirely independent of party. Not that
he is to perch on the fence; that is simply
contemptible, and, besides, the man that
does so loses all influence, and the farmer
must have more inlluence. There is a
vast difference between being neutral and
independent: tbe .neutral man is a milksop in everything and a dude in politics;
the independent man is the very opposite.
I like a true independent; yet I have no
use for our proclaimed independent—
whom history has shown to be invariably
wrong and who found their independence
of party lines upon their subjection to
envy and disgruntled ambition, who will
forget all about principles and measures
in their fancied personal grievances. The
true independent is no proclaimer of his
virtue from the housetops; he does not
resolve himself into a committee and issue
calls; but for all that he puts his vote
where it will do the most good.
We place too much dependence upon
parties; we consider them too much in
the abstract. If any measure disagreable
to us is enacted, we blame it on the party
in power; and the trouble is that we consider that party in the light of some organization entirely independent of us. It
is not a party in the abstract that makes
laws, but the men we have elected. The
first consideration always is the man; his
party affiliations are pertinent only as
they manifest his belief and character.
We should look at the man and not at the
party. The difference between the parties
is now immaterial; they occupy about the
same positions that the "Huffs" and the
"Blues" did that Dickens tells about in
the Pickwick papers. Keep in the party,
but vote for the best man whether he belongs to your party or not. As things
now stand, the only requisites of a candidate essential to securing your vote should
be ability and honesty. An able, honest
man can be trusted in any position of
government, no matter what party may
nominate him.
But, you say, there is the trouble; dishonest men are always nominated. This
is only too true: but who nominates them ?
Not yon; no, for you do not nominate
anyone. It is tbe fault of honest men If
rascals are nominated, just as it is the
fault of honest men if rascals are* elect.*!.
The work must not begin at the polls but
at tho primaries. It Is not enough to vote
for the best mini, or rather for tbe least
rascal; such men must not be nominated
to Ix'giii with.
Our government officers are not  so bad
as they are painted; our government is as
pure as It was in tho days of Washington.
Somo evil has ever existed and It may Xxi
In   a different   form  to-day   from what lt
was some years ago; but It Is not greater.
The country has always l»een on tho vergo
of ruin, according to   tho rcivort  of some
jiocTple.   I am  not ono'tbat believes that
our politics aro hopelessly corrupt, Immune
I cannot believe that tho peoplo aro hopelessly   corrupt.    Hut   it cannot   bo denied
that thero Is more  corruption   than there
should 1,0 and that   tbe interest* of some,
notably tlio farmers,   aro grievously neglected.   This calls for action ; and as I have
said, this action must begin wlth«tho lowest nominating  convention.   To say that
it Is impossible to got  honest candidates is
silly  and   childish.   Our  lack   is   not of
honest, capiblomen for office, but of active
citizens iu   tbe   caucus and   at tho  polls.
Tbe danger does not   lie In dishonest politicians,   but   In    Indifferent   and   party-
blinded people.   We want a livelier interest in politics from all  respectable classes
and especially from   the farmers.   I have
no  patience  with   those who  say to the
farmer, leave politics alone.   -Mid attend to
your farm.   That is just what the corrupt
office seeker   wants   you to  do.   You are
very  busy   on your   farm no  doubt; but
you would  better raise  an acre less corn
than have a dishonest   man represent you
in the State legislature; you would belter
raise two acres les* wheat than have a nincompoop  disgrace  your  district in Congress.   We must quit sucking our thumbs
and blubbering over  onr maltreatment at
the hands  of legislators;   we must  goto
work and do our  duty as citizens Instead.
CJo to the primary  and polls, not as a Republican, not as a Democrat,  not as a Pro
hibitionist, not as a farmer whose interests
are distinct and in  opposition to   thoso of
all other men;   but go  as a free,   and independent citizen.   Two  things have corrupt men rejoiced In under a democratic
form of government: an indifferent elector
and  one    blinded   by   party   zeal.   Two
things  have corrupt men always feared
under a democratic form of government:
an independent  elector and a wideawake
one.   It will   be just as easy to belong to
one as to the other; which will you be?
In a certain sense I am an intense partisan—I fear too much so; the principles
upon which a certain party grew to greatness I firmly believe to be true; but though
it might lead to the defeat of that party, I
would that every voter were an independent, not the member of an independent
party or of an Independent wing of any
party, but constituting an Independent
party in himself, whose platform was the
greatest good to the whole country and
whose candidate was the most capable
and honest man. And while I would have
the farmer to enter politics with all his
heart and might, I would have him bo
such a voter; for if not, evils will increase
rather than diminish.
The crops throughout Germany are in
good condition. The standard being 100,
wheat averages «., rye «J8, barley .tt., oata
90 and bay lot.
County Faira.
Rdltora Indiana Parmer:
What is designated as ^UelUpley County
.\gricultural Association has Just closed
Its annual exhibition. The name Is a
libel on agriculture. The farmers of tho
county take but little Interest In It as far
as putting on exhibition cither stock or
tlio products of the soil. Tho stock ex*
hlbltora principally belong to the jocky
class, who uoem to rely on betting to make
their sojourn profitable, and tho director*
could not pursue a course better calculated
to secure tho attendance of professional
gamblers and the abandoned classes, that
havo lost all manhood and delight In tholr
shamo and degradation. This element -
that lives and feasts on tho rottenness of
our civilization is given a chance to ply
their vocation, whatever It may be, front
the honest pickpocket and thief, to those
who win money by deception and collusions.
The point I wish to make, though, Is
this. The officers and directors aro among
our most sulisianllal citizens. Among
them aro ex-officials of tho county, thoso
wbo aspire to bo law-makers, successful
farmers and business men, some of whom
lament much over the bad condition of
the people, and would like no doubt for
Providence to turn reformer, and make
them better.
Tho statute law appears lo Iki specific
enough in forbidding gambling and games
of chance to be carried on hy individuals,
and these men certainly know that to admit Into tho enclosures of tbe fair grounds,
professional gamblers and owners of various games of chanco, on payment of a
license or fee, they are guilty of violating
the law. If these public citizens thus violate the law, and I supposo lt is done,
moro or loss.all over the Slate, how can we
expect saloon keepers to observe tho law?
Is not this a subject worth consideration
by those having control of county fairs
and of the people generally, to see to it,
that the courts and prosecuting attorneys
require the grand juries to investigate -
these alleged violations of law, and punish
these gamblers and thieves, and the directors of fairs, wbo permit tbem to pursue their robls-rios on premises completely under their control.
The oountv fair as eondtK'ted in this
county is a disgrace, and Is cultivating a
desira to get money and goods without
paying for them, that is really alarming.
Boys and girls will gather round theso
gambling stands and l-et without the least
shame or remorse. Substantial business
men and farmers will wager again and
again, often winning or losing large
amounts. Often men who desire to bo
known as christians are allured into
betting. Whv, somo half dozen of the
officers and directors of the Kipley county
fair, are mcmliersof thcchurch,and guilty
of taking money from known gamblers
and swindlers, forthe privilege of robbing
those invited to attend an agricultural
fair.
Some 2."> or 30 different games of chance
were on tho grounds, and tho noise and
din of these and sellers of swindling goods
tnade the grounds a perfect bedlam. The
people are urged.to attend these fairs, to
bring wives and children, and when they
get there, gamblers and tho vicious characters are the greatest attractions. The
treasurer ordered a strong guard to be
placed around the ticket tent, to guard it
from a probable assault of the very men
whom they had licensed to swindle the
people. Of.lcers whom they bad appointed
to preserve order, would arrest men, and
coolly accept a bribe and release them.
All this corruption grows measurably out
of the conduct of those direetors,and they
have been appealed to year after vear by a
few (fanatics of course) men to close their
grounds against that lawless class, but as
yet in vain.
Our  local  papers  have never  had the
courage to denounce the violations, of law
and decency,  as they  should  have done.
Versailles, Aug. 10.       li. K. SrEircea.  .■•'
y