Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1873-08-07
P. e. WIsH. Secretary.

THE FARMERS IN LEAGUE-We learn
that it is in contemplation to take the iniria-
tive 10 few days to form /" Farmers
Grange" in this county. plenary au,hori-
ty having already been obtained for so do
ing from an original organization of this
kind in the West. Though still Directing
to secret leagues. political. industrial or
o.heruiskAwe are uos.greatly hOrrided tha
rhegreat Tcsterp4Fs sinners movement for
self-protection has ar fast reached our own
iresi&es. These are spreading
with great rnpidity all over the land and bid
fair to become organs ofgrea. influence and
power. They had their origin in the de-
termination Of the Western farmers to
unite for that mutual protection against
the encroachments Of the vast monopolies
with which the country is ha-rassed. AL
ready has their influence been felt in all
circles. political and otherwise. and their
favor is being courted by aspiring polili-
clans, and the fame OF the Farmers Grange
is being rung in clarion tones throughout
the length and breadth of the land. We
hail these "s;gns of the tines as the indi-
cations Of the dawn Of a new era in the
political economy Of the country.
Agriculture aud the farmers are ac-
knowledgei to be the main-stay and prop
Of Nations existence. Other industries.
manufactures, commerce, science, &c, are
necessary and useful. but the products of
the farm are absolutely indispensable. Yet
no branch Of industry has been so much
abused; to none has the fosterip, care of
the government been so little extended as
to that on which depends the very exis-
tence Of the nation. High tariffs have
been laid from time to time to protect and
encourage domestic manufactures. patents
are granted to protect the inventor in the
enjoy ment of the fruit of his genius. but
none Of these sweet morsels" have fallen
to the lot Of the tillcr Of the soil. He is
and has ever been left to his own rcsour.
ces. and compelled, empha,ically. to "hoe
his own row" Not only so. but he has
ever been the victim Of monopolies, and of
protected "corner" makers, trickstcrs and
sharpcrs.
When the throwing open of our mara
time ports free to trade with all nations is
urged to give to the American farmer an
opportunity to buy articles of every day
use at figures much reduced from those he
now pays. the answer is made that '.our
manufacturers cannot compete with The
'pauper labor Of Europe" Suppose this
to be true. is not the American farmer
compelled to employ laborers for his fields
at a much higher rate than is paid by the
farmer Of Europe who has an equal op-
portuui,y with the European manufacture
err to make use Of "pauper labor?" Is
there any just reason why the purse-proud
millionaires Of New England and New
York should be protected BY the govern
mont from fair competition with foreign
more than the farmer in
regard to the products of his soil
The farmers have submitted to these
against themselves long
enough; they have been the stepping
stones on which manufacturers and CAPT.
talists have increased their wealth long
enough, and determined to yield a tame
submission no longer, they are everywhere
together for mutual protection.
Free Trade and Farmers Rights" is the
wa,chword tina, is to lead the victory in
the approaching political campaigns and
that is to hurl' from power the Credit
Mobilicr" monopolists who pass laws and
gran. public lands for the building Of Pa
cifc railroads, and poke. immense shares
Of the proceeds.
We have frequently advocated the ad-
to be derived by our farmers in
a combination Of numbers. "Iu union
there is strength; in division is weak
ness" and We hope the day is not far dis
tant when open Oranges" will be formed
among US. and the farmers Of Maryland |
will be found enrolled under the banner
Free Trade aud Farmers Rights"