The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1873-12-19
THE CHANGERS,

We are often asked BY private cores
pondents as we'll rs by those with whom
we converse, to give the public our opin-
ion concerning the new political organ
ization known as "Grangers." We
have not heretofore thought it proper to
express an opinion, as We have had no
opportunity to judge of the organization
except by its effects, and its existence
has not yet been of sufficient duration
TO prove it capable of doing very great
amount of good. But there is no or
ganization into which q vast body of
men and women can enter, without
some good will result in some way from
Thoughts, acts and motives awakened by
such association.
While We have no doubt but that the
Grangers will be eventually captured, II
they are not now, by professional poll
ticians who are out of power, and who
design TO use them as 4 stepping stone
for the promotion of their personal and
political ambition, we are also aware
that the different elements OF humanity
which comprise the great mass OF
farmers in the land, will, through the
aid of this organization, develop a
broader individuality, which will be OF
lasting benefit to them in many ways.
The fact that no new Grange can be
formed without the aid Of women, who
have in all things the same right as
their brethren, except in the shameful
fact that they are denied personal repre-
sentatiou OF votes in the State assOcia-
tion, will awaken women by tens of
thousands to the consideration OF i'm
portant public duties heretofore ignored
by them, and neglected at the cost to the
Nation of countless lives and untold mil
lions of money.
But no organization can become q
permanent political fixture when
formed upon a secret, oath-bound basis.
Like the Know Nothlngs, this Granger
bubble will eventually burst, but not
until it has frightened the Republican
party into paying its debts of honor to
the women of the Nation, to whose un-
acknowledged services it owes its pres
ent power and prestige, and without
whose aid it cannot succeed in Sc
curing another four years lease of power
and privilege.
\ party cannot afford to repose upon
the laurels of a gone-bS decade, and il
will be the business of the Grangers, al
belt they themselves may little imagin,
it, to teach the Republican party this
/ important lesson.
The Changers will unite the Demo
crats, the Liberal Republicans, ant
other party indictments who have los
their grip on the public Golfers, anC
form a formidable political party which
will make fight for supremacy in 1876
| IL this party shall blaZon Woman's En-
franchisement upon its banner, and the
other party shall fail TO keep pace with
or out-run it in this idea, there is II,
power in the Union that can preven
the defeat Of the Republican organiza
ton. But We doubt if the Changers car
be induced to DO this work. Like tn,
State Temperance Alliance of Oregon, /
contains many narrow-idead, unprogres
sive old fogies in its ranks, who believ,
Woman Suffrage to be in league with
the devil, and these will secedc, as die
sundry Alliance men, before they twill
stand" woman's political power, which
is the only leverage that any party car
hereafter have, with which to enforce
morality and justice.
But, we repeat, it is the business o
the Changers TO compel the Republican
party to 4 work they will not do them
selves. Never has the Augean stabl,
of sexual politics so reeked with corrup
tion, since the Democratic party fell tC
pieces from inherent rottenness, as now
Never has the Republican party haC
like opportunity, since General Gram
stood victorious among the fallen rebe
hosts in Richmond, to cover itself Will
undying glory rs now. But past sue
cess has caused it to riot in n delusiv,
idea that it is strong enough to exist
without being true to the great principles
of freedom and Human Right. Tn,
Changers will WELD whip of scorpion,
that will drive them on TO duty.
We wish them unbounded success a.
an organization.