OBJECTS OF THE UNION. 207 



methods of husbandry. But, he reckons wrong who 

 flatters himself that they have not also perceived that they 

 are not wholly responsible for^the present depressed condi- 

 tion of agriculture. Excessive rates of transportation, 

 usury, taxes, finance, tariff, bonded indebtedness, and 

 other evils which can only be reached through legislation, 

 are rightfully engaging their attention, and marking out 

 new avejiues for the direction of their efforts in the cause 

 of reform. It is but natural that they should make the 

 suppression of these gigantic frauds upon the people one of 

 the principal objects of the organization. It is proper to 

 state, in tbis connection, that they do not seek to over- 

 throw any particular political party and institute a new 

 one; they desire to accomplish the desired objects through 

 the existing political organizations. But it must not be 

 presumed that they will permit the continuance of the 

 existing evils; that he and his family shall be robbed of 

 their earnings and turned out of a home; that his alle- 

 giance to his party is stronger than the ties which bind 

 him to his own interests, and to the proper discharge of 

 his duty to his family, his fellow-man, his country and his 

 God. Slow to move, but when once the spirit of revolt is 

 stirred within him by -a knowledge of his wrongs, the 

 farmer is terrible in his wrath. 



We do not wish to be understood that the Order is hos- 

 tile to transportation companies, merchants, commission 

 men, bankers, and others engaged in legitimate business. 

 None are more ready than the farmer to admit the usefulness 

 of these agents of commerce; but it the is false system upon 

 which they are based, and the legalized frauds which they 

 practice upon the public; the excessive charges, extor- 

 tionate rates of interest and exorbitant profits which the 

 public is compelled to pay into their hands, that they war 

 against. They realize that there is an unequal division of 

 the opportunities and privileges; that the avenues of trade 



