Rensselaer Republican, Volume 22, Number 50, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 August 1890 — Uneasy Lies the Head, Etc. [ARTICLE]

Uneasy Lies the Head, Etc.

B. B. Shkllaber (Mrs. Partington) 'is seventy-six years old, and as genial 'as Mrs. Partington herself.

A public meeting in an lowa village recently passed resolutions declaring that they would ter and feather any •man who attempted to sell liquors in the town. No liquors were sold. A farmer's wife near Ernaaus, Pa., recently rigged herself out in a suit of men's clothes and proceeded to drive the reaper. Fifteen of the men employed 3n the harvest concluded she was assuming their prerogatives and struck. She did a very neat job bf driving, and this, or the fear that tlfey would get no dinner is probably the reason for the atrike. . Washington, Grant, Sherman and Sheridan were the only Generals that ever held the title of Lieutenant General. Congress is proposing to reestablish this rank, but as in times of peace distinguished Generals are distinguished only because of the positions they occupy, not because of any /qualities of their own, it might be as well to let the honor of such a rank come only to those who earn it. Petitions are pouring into the Senate asking that the President be permitted annually to appoint twenty ca-. dots to West Point, and that he be confined in the selection to the sons of army officers. The last thing we want in this country is an hereditary militwy class. Army officers complain that there are no schools for their children at their military posts, and that their pay is not large enough. That is all true. But, nevertheless, better remedies than theeoaeL suggested. The pay might be increased, or those who become officers might go into more useful and lucrative pursuits. At any rate, wo do not want military officers who inherit their rank.—New York World.

Tiie decision in the Minneapolis court in the case of Moere against Rugg is a just one and in line with the authorities established in several other States. When a person goes to a photographer, sits for a port-ait and pays the photographer's price, the transaction is completed. The customer hasan undoubted right to demand the destruction of the negative or its possession. If he chooses to leave the neg ative in the custody of the photographer that he duplicates, this does not give the photographer the least right to reproduce, photographs from that negative fei sale or even for exhibition. There isa Case in New York in whieh a photographer was compelled to remove from his case a photograph so wrongfuilj exposed, and also to pay damages fOi the misuse of the negative. The Farmers' Alliance and other farmer’s organizations of Illinois propose, it is said, to establish and ope rate a plow factory. This might he a good scheme, and then again it might be a disastrous one. The moment the •wheels begin to turn those immediately interested cease to bo farmers ana have become manufacturers. Their interest in the farm ceases except in so far as it will use their product, and the farmer’s interest in their manufactures ceases except for the lower price at which he may (or may not) be able to get utensils. Wo trust the lesson f the Grange will not bo forgotten at this time. The Grange was and is an honorable order, but it made some serious mistakes, notably the mistake of extreme selfishness, which proved its virtual downfall. The Grange seemed to labor under'the de- * luston that it had exclusive rights, and in the strength of increased numberssought to remove the yoke from its Own nock, and—not destroy it or set it aside —place it on the neck of others. It had not learned thjfit farming was but one of the many trades and callings that go to make up a world, with the same, but no worse, discouragements that pve-y man meets in life. It seemed to regard the merchant and manufacturer as. useless appendages to the social system, and sought to displace them with merchants and manufacturers selected from its own ranks, by the establishing of co-opera-tive stores. Why, after a while, the one selected by the Grange would be more advantageous to it, its members evidently did not stop to consider. Nor did it consider the injustice done the merchant and manufacturer. who, by the investment of oapltal, at great risk, had broi ght oopveniences and a market to every door, and who would thereby be de-

oE Vue right to an honest, livingfor valuft given. It did not contemplate that if its co-operative schemes were successful it would throw the merchant and manufacturer out of business, themselves to become tillers of the soil and competitors with. ITuT the products of the farm, instead of being consumers as before. Small crops usually mean high prices. The merchant therefore contributes to the farmer when the latter’s crops fail, in the increased cost of the products lie consumes. The Grange went farther and had a revengeful eye on the railway corporation, but ere it had reached the point where it could dictate the policy Of the railway, disintegration dulled its claws, and it became powerless to accomplish either good or evil. Its motive, begun in the mutual and laudable interests of its members, became the most extreme type of selfish.ness.

The Alliance is in a position to avoid this mistake. Its policy ought to be to educate the world in the wrongs the farmer is compelled to endure. Then in good season, when the fruit is ripe, it will fall into his lap, juicy and luscious. If plucked before it is ripe the fruit itself is destroyed and another season must lapse ere tho reward is given him. The policy to be pursued should be to build up the farmer, not to tear down the merchant or manufacturer, to create not to destroy. The right of farmers to organize,is conceded, and, in fact, it is desirable and necessary. right to combine and form a “trust" is fully as justified as any other interest—coal,, railway, ice, twine, labor or brewing. But a trust combination is an iuhuman arrangement, by which the interest proposes to prohibit competition, limit production, and compel payment by the general consumer of exhorbitant profits. The trust puts its heel on the neck of the consumer and demands his money or his life—little less reprehensble than common highway robbery. The only ways of overcoming this inhuman trust policy is (1) to refuse to purchase the product, or (2) by orming an equally inhuman policy as to the products the trust itself must use. Now, if every farm and kind of labor and product were each in a trust combination there might be a good deal of satisfaction to each one, hut there would be no greater profits than if unrestricted production prevailed. Ts the farmer could so combine as to imit the production of tho farm to .he actual demands, he would only is doing what every othor class of trade is attempting to do. But be can not do this, nor can any other •lass of combination, being contrary to he laws of humanity, suceeedany great! lumber of years. Let the farmer attend his plow! the merchant liis wares, the manufacturer his machiu•ry, each unselfishly endeavoring to oettec those around him as well as his own condit’on, and universal justice will make all things right. The blacksmith, however, must not expect to make his own shoemaker his own hat, the merchant raise his own wheat, nor the farmer make his iwn plow. By a reciprocal policy, such as has always prevailed, will all men be made more prosperous and happy. L.

rribuue The Czar is not to be blamed for dismissing the chief of his private police, seeiDg that a barrel half full of dynamite got into the Czar's cellar he other day without the knowledge of that official. The Czar’s cellar police ought to scrutinize all incoming oarrels with the utmost thoroughness, steadily maintaining that any package arriving below stairs addressed to the Czar is to be regarded as loaded until it is proved innocent. lt may be added, my son. that Czars, although they move unchallenged in the best circles tnd never want lor spending money or good clothes, probably have little spontaneous, undiluted fun. ' How can. a man really surrender himself to the innocent pleasures of life who starts front feverish sleeky night after night to wonder if there is not a barrel under his bed or down cellar containing more or less dynamite? A humble cot is much to be preferred.