State Convention—The Farmer in Politics. 
183 
tingency. It was one of the blessings conferred upon us by tlie 
ballot, a silent yet efficient method of settling difficulties. Though 
silent, yet as potent as the lightning from heaven. So should we 
banish from our minds, if we entertain such ideas, that that con¬ 
tingency will ever arise. It certainly could not arise if every one 
of us discharge our duties as men. It is one of those contingencies 
that we hoped had passed away with the barbarisms of the past. 
We trust and hope that the contingency alluded to cannot arise, 
let us say shall not arise. Do not let passion, or party prejudice, 
or party feeling enter into the discussion of any question brought 
before us. Certainly, of all classes we are the ones to depricate the 
result of such a contingency as alluded to. The desolations of war, 
and after taxation fall upon the farming class heaviest, and herein 
in my mind arises the deep interest of the farming community in 
those subjects we term political. That word political is all right. 
He deprecated the word “political,” and yet his is the only paper 
that has got the word u political ” attached to the subject. Politics, 
brother farmers is our highest aim; to be well skilled and versed 
in every rule and duty in the life of a republic, is political, and 
should be be treated as our aim. We should banish from our minds 
forever the idea, or the possibility even, that a revolution of force 
would ever rise in the United States. Let us decide in our conduct 
as men, and as peaceable citizens of the United States, these ques¬ 
tions that arise, with the fraternal spirit of brotherhood, and settle 
these questions by ballot. 
Mr. Orledge: I presume that all brother Benton has said is in 
"my paper, because he is such an acute observer, and better able to 
judge of the language. I will take it for granted that it is there. 
I said we should not discuss party politics, or take party positions 
here, or strive to divide ourselves by party lines; but I know of no 
question we should not discuss; and with regard to looking for¬ 
ward to a bloody revolution, I do not think there is anybody who 
looks on it with more horror than I do. But there are a great 
many men who are in danger, because they will not open their 
eyes. I think this danger is coming faster than my brother has 
any idea. If he was in communication with parties in the coal¬ 
fields of Pennsylvania, as I am, he would find that deep-seated feel¬ 
ing is growing deeper and deeper all the time in their breasts. 
If he was acquainted with the ten thousand men in Chicago, that 
