Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1873-09-11
THE ORANGES.

oS tOiolaSeu hb huDJecLs OF discussion
IN The work of the order, and no POI
litical or religious tests for member
ship shall be applied" There is no
mistakiDg the spirit and intent Of
this provision. The order of the
Patrons of Husbandry contemplates
for itself field of labor amply com
prehensive for any one organization,
and one which will tax its working
abilities to the fullest extent. The
order was expected to and does in
clude men of all political opinions.
1t was to be expected that with the
advent IT time questions of public
policy would constantly arise and
demand the attention of members.
While imperative restrictions for
preserving the integrity of the order
were embodied in its organic law,
yet independent, intelligent political
action outside the grange was ex-
pocted from the members individual
ly, as good citizens taking q practic-
al interest in the general welfare.
Indeed, as there arise questions ex-
citing public attention generally, but
in the just and equitable solution of
which farmers as a class have d.
rect and absorbing interest, it would
seem wanting in proper apprecia-
ton OF our duty as citizens and farm
ers not to throw our influence in such
q direction as would best seem to
correct the abuses complained Of.
We are not unmindful that the sym
pathies of our members are with
those efforts at organization having
in view the restraining by political
action, Of the oppressive power of
capital, apower which, by the means
of cunningly.devised combinations,
and corrupt laws passed at its bid
ding through venal representatives,
has reduced the producing classes to
condition approaching that not in
Gptly and tauntingly termed white
slavery power which silently but
surely appropriates to itself a large
portion of the products of that toll
the enjoyment of the whole of which
is among those inalienable natural
rights with which all men are en-.
lowed by their Creator. These and
many other abuses and corruptions
are among those enumerated and
complained OF by associations forms
cd for the express purpose of cor
recting them by political action. To
all these movements are extended
the warm sympathies of all the Pat>
rons OF Husbandly; nay more, their
active particip alton individually, as
citizens, as members Of these farm.
ers' associations, conventions, unions
and any or all organizations which
are politically reformatory, but not
as members Of the grange. The Or
der does not deny the necessity of
these associations to correct, by po-
litical action, many great wrongs.
The potency OF the means is admit
ted. These wrongs are TO be correct.
cd by popular political power, by
substituting representatives OF the
integrity OF the people for represent
tatives Of the corruption of the peo-
pie, by the election of men whose
lives and actions will reflect honor
upon the positions Ia which they are
placed, and not shameful humiliation
upon their country and constituents.
There is no restriction placed upon
members OF the order to prevent
them Joining these associations. On
the contrary, they naturally afford
opportunities which the oranges do
not; they are regarded as the out.
growth of want never provided
for by the grange, and never intend
ed to be provided for by it. Pro-
foundly impressed that the Order Of
the Patrons OF Husbandry is preg-
nant with blessings to the class for
whose benefit it was instituted that
the end aud objects set TO be attain.
ed by the order are so comprehen-
sive that their realization demands
all the time, energy, and devotion
that can be brought TO bear through
one organization, we here express
our determination 10 maintain the
order in It's integrity as non-polit.
ical organization to resist and ex-
pose every attempt TO lnveigle the
order into apparent collision with
movements to form new political par.
ties or to support or resuscitate old
ones,
All good Patrons of Husbandry
being in harmony with these views,
we trust there can hereafter be no
doubt as to their aims. The in
fuence Of members Of the order in
Wisconsin will be thrown outside
the grange upon questions affecting