Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1873-10-10

~ Wv sS'' sASSAN Wv
cd in obtaining better prices for
their products, cheaper transporta-
tion for the wheat they raise, and
generally in the moral, social and
intellectual elevation of the class to
which they belong. The members
may be Democrats, Republicans, or
"sore- heads" The Patron may be
a Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian,
Catholic, Jew, Gentle or Pagan.
In the cause of agriculture, he is in
accord with all his fellow members,
and can work harmoniously and
well. But suppose religion was in
troduced. The question of baptism
comes up for discussion. The re-
suit is at once a divided member
ship and a weakened and distract
ed order. Or suppose that politics
be introduced. Discussion grows
heated, animosity takes the place
Ct concord and disruption follows.
On one point of politics the Patrons
of Husbandry are agreed. They all
favor the election Of honest men,
and men who sympathize with the
cause they have in heart. From the
lodge of the order to the polls is on
ly step, and there the member can
vote for his principles as represent
ed in his chosen candidate and ad-
vance his cause at the same time.
In the hall the Catholic may say:"I
cannot vote for Mr.. A, although I
know him to be friend ofthc farm
ers. He believes in religious os-
tracism, aud favors the election of
none but Protestants to Office; but I
will vote for B who is equally the
friend of our cause and who is more
liberal in his reli gious tenets." Or
the Republican may say: 81 cannot
vote for G. He believes in the dam
gcrous hercsy of State sovereignty;
he has been all his life the foe of
tAe North aud the apologist of sla-
very. He has dangerous ideas on
the subject of revenue reform and
the currency and although he is a
farmer, and Of course OH the ques-
tion that now agitates us would be
sure to vote right, l prefer to cast
my ballot for D, who agrees with
me in everything, and is at the same
time equally the friend of the farm
er. You that favor the principles
of c, vote for him, and we will be
sure to have man in our interests,
whichever way the election turns. :"
Suppose the grange should nomi-
nate candidates of their own. The
very struggle over the nominations
has the effect of estranging the
members. Intemperatc discussion
regarding the fitness Of the various
candidates brings wrangling into
the order where harmony had be-
fore prevailed, and, once precipi-
tated upon the organization, poliii-
cal disputes, like horses full Of
high breeding, madly are let loose,
and fratcrnal feeling gives way to
pickering and strife.
The constitution of the Patrons
of Husbandry, is wisely drawn. It
does not, as falsely assumed by a
morning contemporary, forbid mem-
bcrs from engaging in politics. Not
at all. 1t only forbids the intro
duction of political and religious
discussions in the work of the
order, leaving the members perfect
ly free to pursue their political
course outside as before. There are
plenty of questions to occupy the
members without going into poll
ties or religion-thc subjects of cd
ucation, the hundreds of questions
pertaining to agriculture, the i'm
provcmcnts in farming utensils, the
subject of sowing and reaping, and
generally the multitudinous ques-
tions pertaining to their business.
1t would be as sensible for the Chi
cago Board of Trade, or the Typo
graphical Union, or the Association
of Pork Packers, or House Carpen-
tcrs to lug political discussions into
their gatherings as for the farmers
to do it. The Patrons of Husband
ry are organized as a cooperative
society, like the various others
throughout the country, and moth
ing would SO quickly bring them to
naught as the introduction of this
most distracting of all elements.
We again repeat that in the opin-
ion of the true friends of the farmers
it is better for them to attend to
their business of their order IN
the order, and vote their politics at
the polls. This is the safe course
that will bring success to their
efforts, not only in social improve
ment, but in obtaining from the
party that may be in power-Re-
publican or Democratic-rcsonable
protection by law against all the
we'll founded evils of which they
complain.-Inter- Ocean.
The Story Of David and Goliath.