Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1873-11-13
PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY.
The Position and Purposes of the Great
Agricultural Order why Farmers
Should Interest Themselves Personally
I'm Politics.

lE1tract from the Address OF Gov Booth Before the
State Grange of California;
The organization of the farmers OF
the United States into one "guild," il
permanently carried forward in the
spirit of its inception, will lead to con-
sequences of the highest Importance. i
understand that, while a portion of the
work of the Patrons of Husbandry,
like that of the Masons, Odd-Fellows,
and other similar fraternities, is secret,
while it has certain degrees, orders,
honorary titles and decorations, these
are mere incidents to its general
oblects-that it means business, not
show-that its substantial design is to
improve the material interests, the men,
tai and moral character and social privi-
IeSes OF the members of the largest and
most important industrial interest of
our country. How far and in what way
this design shall be accomplished will
depend upon the intelligent efforts and
patient cooperation of the members
themselves.
There may come a time when all the
observances and ceremonies with which
societies of this kind hedge themselves
In, and the forms and symbols with
which they endeavor to make their pro-
ceedings attractive, will be banished
by that severe taste which loves to con-
template truth as a pure abstraction.
But that time is very distant, and the
millennium will tread close upon it's
| coming. Some of the critics who are
wont to sneer at the official titles ana
degrees conferred by the "granges +"
! would be giddy with delighted vanity if
the meanest and most profigate mon
arch who ever sat upon throne salute
them as "Sir Knight"
While the soldier follows his flag with
inspiration of courage, and will lead a
forlorn hope for the sake ef a ribbon !;
while the parade is bright with the
glory of gold lace while the church has
its stained windows, its organs and
choirs; ministers their gowns and bands
and surplice while every state occasion
of event has its prescribed ceremony !;
while colleges and universities annually
pepper us with A. MS, d. DIS. and
LII. DIS, while everybody who is a
member of the civil government is
Hon" and everybody who is not is
Sol, or ESQ.," why should not in
dustry, too, have its colors, and holding
its patent from nature, confer its titles
and degrees Why is not the Z" Knight
of the Plow" as honorable title as the
"Knight of the Garter ?" or why may
not the decoration of "The Horse" be
worn as proudly as that of the "Ele-
plant" of Denmark, or "Black Eagle Z"
of Prussia? Since from the constitu-
ton of our nature the forms and shows
of time are part of mans life upon the
earth, we need not reject these which
are images of peace, the coinage of
civilization, while clinging to others
which are emblems of war or relics of
barbarism.
Whoever has studied the growth of
our population must have observed an
increasing tendency toward concentra-
ton In towns and cities, and that in the
large cities enters of capital, COM
is In greater ratio than in the smaller,
which depends upon the local trade for
support. 1t is noticeable, too. that
cities where population and capital are
concentrated have year by year greater
| relative influence in shaping the general
policy of government. In them public
opinion is massed, and can be thrown
Immediately upon any given point.
They support the great newspapers, at
tract the leading men and surplus CAPT.
tai The great moneyed interests and
schemes which hare in cities their CEN
tiers are never without special and
plausible advocates. They organize
lobbies, and have agents and attorneys
before every important Legislative and
Congressional committee. Their infu-
ence is thus felt directly and specifically
at the time and place where it is wanted.
To illustrate No capital of the same
amount in this country, perhaps none
in the world, has in the same time aver
aged as large profits upon the invest
ment as that of the national banks. The
security for their bills is Government
bonds, on which the banks receive in
terest. The medium with which they
redeem is Government notes. The
number of banks is limited, so that they
have monopoly of the privileges they
enjoy.
1t is probable that, but for the infu-
ence of the banks themselves and the
public opinion they have been able to
~ASoeO, tiAC NfONCA AdAolIDS, dS IL
does annually, from one hundred and
fifty to two hundred millions in gold,
and collecting and disbursing in gold
and currency every year in amount
equal TO more than half the entire cir
eulating medium required by the bust
ness of the country, with a credit based
upon continent, and supported by the
patriotism and interest of the whole
population, would long have furnished
the currency direct, making the profit
on circulation a common benefit, and
have made its exchangeable value equal
to gold. The people themselves are en-
titled to whatever profit there is from
the circulation of bills or money, which
could have no value but for the credit
given by them, and for whose redemp-
ton their own bonds are pledged. The
problem is not difficult one, but its
practical solution has never been earn
estly attempted. If any banking house
enjoyed the credit, commanded the re-
sources, and handled the money the
Government does, it would find no diff
Guilty in making its bills of par value
| with GOLD Whenever any financial