FARMERS TO THE FRONT 171 



agents than is now the case. And the overwhelming 

 preponderance of the farmers would strengthen and 

 broaden the foundation of government and would 

 give many more people an interest in it. 



Thus the American Society of Equity, merely by 

 calling attention very sharply to the grievances of 

 the farmers, who constitute the largest class in the 

 country, and without having anything directly to do 

 with politics, may be expected to transform our 

 government by restoring it to its first and highest 

 estate. 



What does it matter if mistakes are made? They 

 are made now. The people are quite as wise as the 

 politicians and ringsters who now bear rule. And 

 surely the politicians ought to be willing to admit 

 that people wise enough to put them in power are 

 very wise indeed. To hear the defenders of the pres- 

 ent system talk you would think that presidents and 

 congresses were never corrupt or wicked or incom- 

 petent or foolish. They compare the new scheme 

 with an ideal system, and because it does not meas- 

 ure up to it they condemn it, forgetting that neither 

 does the old system measure up to the ideal. Yet it 

 must ever be borne in mind that we do not advocate 

 any new system — no patent device or trick. What is 

 advocated is old enough, namely, a government 

 which shall be controlled by the people and not by 

 the agents and servants of the people — a strong gov- 

 ernment, that will protect its citizens and afford that 

 protection quickly — an equitable government, that 



