The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1873-07-11
A New Organization.


iety recently organized throughout the
Vest, which is destined TO have very
effects upon the social and |
future of the country. One Of /
Is progressive features is the admission |
If women to membership. IT is said /
hat several hundred thousand women |
nave already joined the Order OfPatrons |
of Husbandry.
THE FARMERS MOVEMENT.
1t is a pleasant thing to know that
farm life, which in this country has
been lonesome, is likely hereafter to be
more social, and the time may come
when those who seek society will go
from the city to the country to find it.
We shall be glad If the tendency to or
ganization now manifested ly Western
agriculturists will prove to be not a
transient fancy of fashion, but an as
sured development of social progress.
Mr.. Carey says the great need of man
is association with his fellows, and
while this association is most perfect
where the elements are diverse, and, in
such case, the resultant commerce Is
most profitable, we recognize the great
value of literary, social, and trade-un-
ions based upon q community of pursuits
or interests.
The farmer has been, TO q great eX-
tent, an isolated man, and it is with
such men that all pursuits are extra
hazardous. He is too far from the
school, from the market, and especially
too far from his fellows. He has suf-
fered from this in many ways, and his
family are also sufferers. II is true that
the obstacles to social intercourse have
rendered him more susceptible to its en-
joyment, and when il can be formally
organized he will be jealous in main
tanning il.
We have given some thought to the
Oranges, aud have attentively read
whatever we could find in print concern
ing them. Their element of secrecy we
do not like, but their secret is without
doubt harmless, and a little mystery
perhaps renders them more attractive.
What determines us to believe in them
is the fact that they admit women TO
equal membership with men. This is
certain to make their influence i'm every
respect wholesome, and will insure their
maintenance.
"When the strong and mild are pairing,
The manly with the tender sharing,
Then Is the concord good and strong"
The farmers wives and daughters,
who will have voice and vote in the
Grange, will help TO direct it wisely,
and may soon demonstrate their fitness
to participate in the management of the
township, the State, and the nation.
Who can foresee what results may be
by this organization,
which is spreading with such amazing
rapidity throughout the Western States?
We do not wonder that it is now the
principal subject of newspaper discus
sion, for it is the most attractive and
surprising feature of the times.
We know but vaguely what the pur-
poses of the Oranges may be, and we
doubt if they will at once find their
proper sphere, and they may meddle
with matters which viii be unprofita-
ble. They have been led into some
mistakes already, but that was to be ex-
pected.
We feel very confident that they will
not be converted Into political organiza-
tiOns, for in this they must abandon
their better functions, and become the
tools OF aspiring demagogues.
Their mission should be TO purify ex-
isting parties, rather than to form q
party, and to ensure the election Of bet
ter men to Office whether they be farm
ers or not. The efforts made to enlist
turing interests of the country, which
have apparently had partial success,
will ultimately fail. When the farmers
intelligently study their own interests
they will understand the Importance of
a home rs compared with foreign mar
kets for their products, and the ecOno-
mics OF home as compared with foreign
manufacturers.
1t has been anticipated that the
Oranges will be placed i'm attitude of
hostility to the railroad interests gener-
ally, and they have been drawn into
hasty action upon this subject which
must be more injurious to the farmers
than 10 the roads. We might perhaps
secure more favorable audience among
our Western correspondents if we should
fall in with this phase of passion, but
we prefer not TO do it. There are evils
in railroad management inseparable
from the system of operation under
State charters, and others springing out
of the iniirmities Of human nature. The
subject is 4 difficult one, and may yet
require for its settlement the supreme
authority of the general government,
but that day has not yet arrived, and
meantime such hostile demonstrations
as will prevent capital from embarking
in the business of railroad construction
can only intensity existing injuries.
We have said, and we repeat it, that
/ the farmers will not be able to control
/ the transporter until there is less need
of his services.
The ultimate good which we hope
from the association of farmers IN
Oranges, and the agitation and discus
sion of the topics already started, and
likely To arise, is the discovery they
must make that they are mismanaginl
their own business. They may thini
this assertion offensive and libelOus, bu
il is 4 biting truth. They are engaged
i'm uuregulated and unlimited competi
+ tion with each other. They are con
stantly producing goods Of the sam'
quality and pattern in endless prOiusion
with the certainty Of gOrging the mar
p ket, and then complaining that sale
? are dull and prices low. Their wastefu
and injurious system of selling i'm q for
: eign market the fertile elements of tn
soil has reduced the average product Q
I wheat per acre in Illinois and othe
{ Western States until il is less than hal
e the average OF Great Britain.
[ The direct lesson that the Grange
: must learn is that they must diversif
a their own industry, and through then
I the farmers may cooperate in enter
= prises which individuals might be una
. ble to accomplish. Instead of CROWN
so much corn they may grow suga
a beets Instead of giving two or thre
f bushels of field corn grown in Illinoi
: for pint of sweet corn canned in Ne'
, Jersey, the Illinois farmer may accom-
7 plish so simple manufacture nimsel
D Agriculturists in Iowa, instead of buy
! ing part of the twenty-five milliO
pounds of cheese produced in the Stat
I Of New York. may themselves eNpol