American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1872-08-24

SOSRClob oO HUI anu 40
if their duty was to labor patiently,
year in and year out, to produce for
market something that other people
set a price upon. And the most
mental labOrer, the most abject slave
to such a policy as this, has always
been the Southern cotton planter.
His harvest time seldom ever comes:
his moments of recreation are al
ways in the future. The work re-
quired, the time consumed, and the
expenses incurred to prepare his
crop for sale, so surely burthen him
with debt, that, year after year, he
goes a beggar INTO market, humbly
receiving for his wares just so much
rs his masters are disposed to give.
The Patrons of Husbandry propose
in u thousand ways to put stop to
this impoverishing policy.
But, says straight jacket, your
Order is a secret organization. To
be sure it is, and is therefore to be
priced I; otherwise, it would have no
cohesiveness. Ask any man if his
most valuable thoughts are not kept
to himself? Why do all delibera-
tive bodies hold their executive
sessions (their most important
meetings) in secret? Ask the mer-
chnat why his "cOst mark " is an
enigma! Wherefore are ace taught
that our right hands should not knOU
about the doings Of our LETT To my
mind this objection is futile.
But the Southern Bourbon accus-
es the Order of being an "ism"
from Yankee land. So be it. If it
be good and worthy accept it, even
though it come from d" Nazareth"
Let him who opposes the Order upon
the grounds of its being of Yankee
origin ask himself the questions,
Whence comes the hat I wear p
Whence the very shirt that covers
my nakedness Whence the hoe
that chops my cotton? Whence
the greater portion of my daily sub
sistence His answers will relieve
me from further argument on this
point.
But you admit women, says anO-
Their; do you advocate woman's
rights Fortunately the constitu-
ton precludes the introduction of
any political or religious discussion
in the work of the Order, but it re-
quires a certain proportion of fe-
males in every Grange. This wise
provision will enhance it's social
worth. The presence of woman
will give to the Order virtue, digni-
ty, and character. We're farmers
never seen in their associations with
| the outside world except in the
company of women, they themselves
would be far purer men. Incidence,
ignorance, profanity, vulgarity, and
all the baser emotions of mans ma
ture are ever held in allegiance in
the presence OF pure and refined
women.
Most peculiarly should this fea-
ture of the Order commend the Pa.
irons to the Southern farmer, for
where on earth do women need the
active cooperation and assistance
of man more than in the Southern
States, where thousands of widows
are living upon farms managed by
agents or middle-men, many OF
whom are working assiduously to
accumulate for themselves at the
expense of their employerse
The Patrons of Husbandry incul-
cate charity, sobriety, energy, in
dustry, economy, and honesty
Hence, any farmer becoming Pa
iron cannot be injured in person or
estate. but may, by co operation
with his fellows, greatly benefit
himself, and extend his influence to
those around him.
ID. WYATT AIKEN,
Gent Dep'y tor S. e.