398 HISTORY OF THE GRANGE MOVEMENT; OR, 



would put an end to the evils which we have pointed 

 out to him, let him see that no one is placed in power 

 who is not pledged to respect the popular will, which is 

 the supreme law of the land. Let him vote for honest 

 men only. Let him combine with his fellow-citizens in 

 demanding the necessary reforms, and refuse to support 

 any candidate for office who will not pledge himself to 

 carry out the wishes of the people. 



Members of Congress are very powerful individuals, 

 no doubt ; but a popular breath can unmake as well as 

 make them ; and he who values his official life should 

 take warning in time. Whatever the remainder of the 

 people may do, or intend, the farmers of this country 

 have come to the conclusion that they have suffered 

 long enough at the hands of the honorable gentlemen 

 who make our laws. They are conscious of the fact 

 that they are a very numerous and powerful body, con- 

 stituting a very large portion of the voting class of the 

 country, arid that they are able to enforce their wishes 

 by their ballots. They are resolved that their rights 

 shall be respected, and they are fully aware that the 

 Honorable Members have never recognized those rights. 

 They are aware that they have been sacrificed to en- 

 rich railroad directors ; and that they are plundered in 

 order that a small class of manufacturers may grow 

 rich at their expense. They are fully conscious of 

 their wrongs, and of the responsibility of the Congress 

 of the United States for their sufferings. They are 

 resolved that there shall be a change, and that they 

 shall obtain their just share of the benefits intended by 

 the founders of our Government. If Honorable Mem-, 

 bers, either as individuals or as a body, stand in the 

 way of their efforts to obtain redress for their wrongs, 



