THE FARMER'S WAR AGAINST MONOPOLIES. 509 



continue to decline, all such overtures. What sym- 

 pathy has it with the men who have aided in bring- 

 ing about the very abuses it seeks to correct ? "What 

 bond of union can there be between the Order and 

 the men who have aided and encouraged wild cat 

 railroad speculation; who have fastened the land grab 

 system upon us; who have put it in the power of the 

 monopolist to rob the people; and who are stained 

 with the infamy of the " Credit Mobilier," and the 

 " back pay steal ? " This is well understood by the 

 farmers of the country, and the politicians have under- 

 taken a hopeless task. The day is approaching when 

 better men will be charged with the work of the State, 

 and it is the task of the. Grange to hasten the advent 

 of this period. 



The Order has not yet committed itself to any definite 

 avowal of its views upon political questions. Various 

 minor issues have been advocated by the various State 

 organizations, but no general platform has yet been 

 presented to the Order. 



The Farmers' Convention, which met in Chicago 

 towards the last of October of the present year, made 

 the following declaration of principles : 



Resolved, 1. That Congress be asked to pass a general law fixing a maxi- 

 mum rate for transportation between the States, and the Legislatures laws 

 governing transportation within the States, and that no more subsidies to pri- 

 vate corporations be given. 



2. We demand the construction of railroads and the improvement of water 

 communications between the interior and seaboard, the same to be owned and 

 operated by the General Government, for the purpose of affording cheap 

 and ample transportation, and to protect the people from the exactions of 

 monopolies. 



3. That people should create and patronize home manufactures in order to 

 do away, in so far as is possible, with the necessity for transportation. 



4. That the people should free themselves of debt in order to be better pre- 

 pared for the rtruggle with monopoly whenever it cornea. 



