The value of the products of the several industries is estimated in approximate figures as follows:

Products of artisans, machinists, carpenters, blacksmiths,

This makes the gross products of the country not quite...... $7,000,000,000

REPRESENTATION OF THE FARMERS.

When we come to compare the actual amount of the representation of the farmers, both in our National and State legislatures, with the amount to which they are entitled, both in respect of their numbers and property, an astonishing disproportion is revealed. Of the two hundred and ninety-two Representatives in Congress, only six per cent. are farmers, while of the remainder sixty-five per cent. are lawyers; the residue is mostly composed of other professional men. In the State legislatures the proportions are not very different. As long as this is the case-as long as farmers suffer themselves

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to be represented by men who have no interests in common with themselves, whose advantage it is, indeed, that the laws should be as complicated and obscure as possiblefarmers can not hope that their interests will receive proper

attention.

If this state of things be suffered to continue, the farmers will have themselves to blame for their various grievances. They must no longer suffer the village caucus to be manipulated by the 'Squire, the doctor, the merchant, and the "bummer," to whom, hitherto, they have been too ready to leave the direction of their affairs. Farmers must attend the primary meetings and see that, for the town and county offices, as well as for the State and National legislatures, persons of their own class, or known to be in sympathy with them, be elected.

Our farmers are not by any means free from blame for the condition into which public affairs have drifted. They have allowed their business to monopolize their attention, blind to the fact that, while their assiduity may have netted them a dollar, designing rascals were laying their plans for robbing them of fifty cents. As a class, they neglected to inform themselves upon the current topics of the day. Therefore, they have fallen easy victims to swindlers of all shadespolitical swindlers chief of all. Now that they have awakened to their interests, we see the work of political regeneration making cheering progress, and still the tide is rising.

UNITED, EARNEST ACTION DEMANDED.

All other trades and professions, both in this country and in England, have their recognized organs. Most of them have an Association, Society, Club, Union, or something that answers the same purpose. They never indulge in bickerings

and strife among themselves; but they are, at all times, willing to unite and sow dissension among the farmers. The latter, in this country, if united, as their enemies are, could carry any measure they please, by sheer weight of metal.

Some statisticians place the voting power of the farmers at less than two-fifths of the entire vote of the country. I am inclined to think that the actual power of the farmers far exceeds this proportion. But even if my estimate of their strength is somewhat in excess of the actual figures, it must be borne in mind that there are certain classes, in small towns and villages especially, whose interests are intimately connected with those of the farmers, and whose votes naturally belong with theirs, and in any distinctively drawn contest could be depended on by them.

I repeat that, in future, the farmer must, as a matter of self-preservation, take a more active interest in politics. The concerns of the nation, State, county, and township, must no longer be left to be manipulated by professional politicians, whose conception of the whole duty of man consists simply in looking sharp and making the most of every possible chance of advancing the interests of "Number One." The Clubs, Granges, and other organizations will eventually here find, perhaps, their most useful field. A scattering vote of the farmers would, of course, be ineffectual. What is to be done will have to be done in concert and en masse. The Granges, by their regulations, can not discuss politics or religion at their meetings; but this does not prevent individual Patrons from using their judgment in selecting their candidates, nor does it preclude them from combining their votes, if they see proper to do so. When the Clubs and Granges have solidified their organizations (which they are now actively doing), then will be an excellent time for small politicians to stand from under,

UNION OF CLUBS AND GRANGES NECESSARY.

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UNION OF CLUBS AND GRANGES NECESSARY.

It is apparent to every one who has carefully followed up the Farmers' Movement that there has been a certain amount of jealousy and rivalry existing between the Grange and

Clubs. These little differences have been fomented by certain interests, speaking through organs which have spared no means of sowing dissensions between them; on the one hand, decrying the Grange as being a secret society, and, on the other, stigmatizing the open workings of the Club as foolish, or, at least, ineffectual, from the facility with which politicians manipulate them.

It is absolutely essential that these petty differences should cease. The leading spirits both of the Clubs and Granges are well aware of this, and do their best to make common

cause against the enemy. In those States where both Clubs and Granges exist, an organization, similar in character to that of the Illinois Farmers' Association, which consists of both orders, should be set on foot. From the first inception of the agitation against Transportation Companies and monopolies generally, one fact has been more and more clearly developing itself, namely, that the only remedy for the grievances of the farming community is a radical one-the substitution, in large degree, of farmers' representatives in our legislatures, State and National, for the present cliques of lawyers and politicians. Combined, the Granges and Clubs will shortly be able to effect this; separate and semi-antagonistical, they will fail utterly.

It is proper to say that I am not a member of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry. So far as I am informed, judging from the stand-point of an outside but much interested spectator, the secret feature of that order seems to be sufficient to disqualify it for receiving into its ranks our Roman Catholic farmers. At any rate, there are many most excellent citizens who are opposed, on principle, to secret societies of any kind. For these reasons it is necessary, if the organization of our farmers is to go to the length required to make it invincible, that there should be open Clubs, working conjointly with the Granges, and to the same end.

It is far from desirable, however, in my opinion, that our farmers should attempt to organize themselves into a political party; for even if they should succeed in the endeavor, they would but exchange King Log for King Stork. The easiest way out of their difficulties, it seems to me, clearly is for the farmers to vote for such men, and such men only, as they know to be identified with their interests and those of the whole people; in fact, that their policy should largely be "men, not measures."