402 HISTORY OF THE GRANGE MOVEMENT; OR, 



Did the farmer receive a fair price for his crop, there 

 would be less need of his making his purchases on 

 credit, and he would be relieved of many of the debtor's 

 burdens ; but as long as he is compelled to accept an 

 unfair and inadequate return for his labors, so long will 

 he be compelled to bear these burdens without hope of 

 relief. 



Let him receive a fair price for his products ; let him 

 be freed from the exactions of those who control his 

 means of reaching a market, and a very different state 

 of affairs will ensue. These exactions swallow up so 

 large a portion of his earnings, that he is compelled to 

 enter the market upon the most disadvantageous terms. 

 He is not master of his own actions, but is compelled 

 to submit to whatever conditions the railroad and the 

 middle-man may choose to impose upon him. 



It is certainly a very unfortunate and unnatural con- 

 dition of society that dooms the principal and the most 

 useful portion of the producing class to the greatest 

 amount of oppression ; but such is the evil that is upon 

 us. A remedy is needed, and one which can be applied 

 without unnecessary delay. To continue in the path 

 along which we are now moving, is to commit a most 

 serious error. We cannot afford to oppress the farming 

 class of this country. Both the Government and the 

 people should foster and encourage it by every means 

 in their power. It is our chief element of strength and 

 stability, and a wrong inflicted upon it must react upon 

 the whole nation. If the farmer suffers, the country at 

 large must suffer with him, so that our own interest 

 should lead us to shield him from injury, and sustain 

 him in his efforts to redress his grievances. 



The remedy for the evils from which the agricultural 



