The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1873-09-12
FACTS FOR FARMERS.

States 5,221 subordinate oranges of the
Patrons of Husbandry, with an cs-
timated membership of 100000. OF
these oranges, not one exists In Con-
necticut, Delaware, Florida, Maine,
Maryland, Nevada, New Hampshire, or
Rhode Island, and 4,097 of the whole
number are found in the States of Hi
nois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Mime
sofa and Nebraska. 1t will be seen that,
formidable as is this order, its great
growing States. BIT chiefly because of
this concentration in States of large and
constantly increasing political power,
the order has been marked as the prey
of the demagogue, and has encountered
a danger its founders did not anticipate.
Formed for the purpose of Tightening
the toll, increasing the knowledge, cul-
tivating the fraternal feelings, and ad
vancing the material interests of the
farmer, by means distinct from govern
mental action, it has been dragged into
political discussions. 1t has been over
taken by the misfortune of Democratic
courtship. 1t has had fastened upon it
an auxiliary organization known as the
Farmers Association, which has taken
a direct part in political affairs, and
given severe blow to the independence
of the Judiciary in the late election i'll
Illinois. Finally, it has so fallen that a
political mountebank like John i. Grin
nell thinks he can use it to reach his own
ends. II the Patrons will calmly con-
slider the history of tie past few weeks,
they will see that their strength has be-
come their weakness, In attracting to
them the political marplots who carry
destruction wherever they go.
There is ample evidence that the more
discerning members of the order are
aware of its danger. A distinct warning
has Just come from Mr. Parsons, State
Master of Minnesota. Being informed
that certain oranges in his jurisdiction
have appointed delegates to State
political convention, to be held on the
ID of September, he calls upon the
offending oranges to recall these dele
gates, since their appointment was a
direct violation of the laws of their
order, and he says of the policy of the
step they have taken
I'VE lay no claim to any control
whatever over so-called famers conven-
tions. But oranges or Patrons of Hds-
bandry are prohibited by the law which
gives them existeIice from engaging III
either religious or political action or
discussion. This prohibition is imposed
for the best and wisest Of purposes. 1t
is our only safeguard against sure and
speedy destruction. Upon obedience to
this law depends our very existence as
an order. 1t is with profound regret
and modification that / have Witnessed
this departure from our cherished
principles just as success is within
our grasp, and our labors are about to
be rewarded by an abundant prosperity,
are we to forget our mission, and barter
away our beloved order for mess of
political pottage? Are We to lose sight
OF the grand objects before us-the
social, intellectual and financial regen-
Grafton and elevation of our class
which should make our order perpetual,
for any considerations OF temporary ad-
vantage or of doubtful expediency p
These words from one in whom they
ave placed confidence should convInceh
the patrons OF the dangers before them,
and induce them to avoid those dangers.
The hardships which attend agricul-
! IuTul ldDOT III lilt w tsb ucNCNCl,
overcome all considerations of prudence.
When a farmer is forced to burn corn
for fuel because eXtortionate freight
tolls have shut him out from market, it
is natural he should undertake to seize
any remedy which appears to be within
his reach. 1t was inevitable that, when
the patrons became sufficiently numer-
Gus to constitute the balance of political
power in great States, they should en-
tertain the idea of solving the transpor-
tatior problem by the direct action of
Government 1t was not strange that
they studied the maps of their country
to discover where new water outlets
might be made to the sea, and having
discovered them, as they thought, were
! convinced that the National Treasury
might be used to make canals. Know
ing as they did that they had suffered
from the rapacity of railroads, it was
, natural they should view these corpora
tions as enemies of the public interests,
and forget that they had just rights
which should be respected. 1t is not
singular that very many of them took
: an exaggerated view of their own rights,
, and imbibed a false notion of the pow
ers of Government which should be ex'
ercised in their behalf. The patrons
have therefore been drawn by natural
3 influences, which it was almost impossi,
r BILE to resist, into the arena OF politics.
Seeing State governments within thell
grasp, and hoping to exercise con
trolling influence upon that of the ma
5 ton, they could see no reason why they
: should not set to work and right theil
n wrongs without further delay. The
. matter being in this condition, it was
certain that the Democrats would stel
:. in and offer to do the job for the pa
y irons. Considering, then, the dangers
which threaten the graifges from al
these causes, and of the great interests
= to all classes of the questions involved
v it has become important to inquire wha
e are the required remedies, and how
. they can be attained.
There Will be no dispute, we pre-
= sume, if the proposition that such 1
it remedy should be preferred rs will d'
}. the farmers the most good, while doinl
:. other classes the least harm. 1t vii
- not be denied that railroad corpora
II tions have some rights under the law
e and that they have been of vast beneti
It in opening upthe country. On the othe
If hand, it is plain that they have beel
8 grasping in their charges, especially il
u the West, and have in many cases ig
n nored the laws which were made to con
It troll them. One remedy, therefore,
r to correct what may be aiiiss in thi
70 matter. 1t must not be done, however
" = in the manner implied in the sweepin
y resolutions of the Democratic CONVEX
At tions, but sensibly and justly. 1t mus
y be done by the action of the State
If which created these corporations;
truSt 70 the answar of C0nUreSs to regl