150 Wisconsin’ State Agricultural Society. 
chains of a worse despotism than the one from which our republic 
emanated. Is this an idle and imaginary picture? Let him who 
has followed the government of the United States in its helpless 
struggles with the combined power of capital, and who intelligent¬ 
ly reads the present page of American history answer. 
A nation may be rich, but the masses a horde of half-fed and 
half-clothed citizens. The working masses are peaceable and long 
suffering, when justice is done them. It is plain that the rights of 
a part of the people are invaded by the other part. That we, as a 
nation, have greater means of a more prosperous existence within 
our domain than any other nation, will not be denied. To what 
extent are we practicing the principles, “ that the blessings of gov¬ 
ernment, like the dews of heaven, should be dispensed alike upon 
the high and the low, the rich and the poor,” let me inquire. It 
is an unfortunate state of affairs that makes bread-producing inter¬ 
ests of the country the principal sufferers from railway extortions. 
The farmers’ products must go to market, and railroads combine to 
demand what they please for their transportation. Then foremost 
among the questions of vital importance to the farmer is that of 
transportation. Without fair and reasonable rates, the farmer’s 
life must be one of labor without profit. Efforts have been made 
to protect the farmer against the extortions of railroads, but little 
has been accomplished. Relying upon their great wealth, and im¬ 
mense patronage, they insolently defy the States that seek to con¬ 
trol them. They have become a great power; their influence in 
controlling the politics and legislation of the State is decidedly 
marked. Slowly but surely they reach their hands towards the 
throats of the people, and if they are not met and conquered they 
will soon control the affairs of State. The question of trans¬ 
portation is one that must be met by the farmer, and one from 
which he must not turn aside. 
A general survey of the statistics as shown by the census reports 
of the three last decades, and a comparison between the general 
manufacturing interests and agricultural interests, teaches us as a 
class a lesson. In 1850, the value of manufactured products, after 
deducting the cost of wages and raw material, was forty-two and 
one half per cent, on the capital invested. In 1860, profits on 
manufacturing capital, after deducting wages and material, was 
forty-seven per cent, per annum. In 1870, manufacturing capital 
