Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1873-08-14
PoLIT1cs-FARMERs. CHANGES.

VAAIAOD-kA1mE 0RAN0EDs
EDITORS COURIER IL am sorry to
find that few men believe from the
tone Of some of your editorials, that
you hold the Grange organization re-
sponsible tor the political movement
to create new party organization,
under the guise of "Anti-M Monopoly"
The Grange constitution does not
tolerate political Q1sstions AZ sMbjscts
Of discussion IN the work Of The Order.
We admit that some designing men
would drag our social organization I'm
to the political field, If 1t could add
anything which would promise de-
struction to the Republican party.
And once this question was brought
before our council, bnt o. soon a. It
tention was called to this clause touch
ing such measures by our constitution,
IL was abandoned.
The individual members of the
Grange have not forfeited = single po-
litical right by their attachment to the,
Order. We can still be Democrats.
Republicans, or Anti-Monopolists,
just as much as any one outside Of the
Order can, and those privileges we, in.
tend to exercise, independent Of the
Grange in the future, a we have al
ways done in the past, each one vot-
ing as he thinks will best subservs his
interests.
The Republican State platform, as
recently adopted at Des Moines, is as
good an Autobiography platform as
Republican Changers could desire,
leaving no excuse for them to abandon
their party, (Which has proven itself
true to every declaration Of principle
It has heretofore madel to follow the
igni: .fatnas hallucination now pre-
sentad by the old broken down vascil-
lating trickstsrs of Democracy, who
seek to array another heterogeneous,
conglomerated mass Of opposition to
republicanism and reformation. II ia
q false impression that Republican
Grangers fsvor such movement. 1t is
only few discontents aud sore-heads,
who, perhaps, have long been waiting
for some pretense for such action.
Another false impression conYayed
from one source to another foftentimes
from expressions made by Changers
who slightly understand our princi-
ples), that the Grange stands in hostil-
ity to other branches Of industry.
This is serious mistake. We are only
organized for mutual instruction and
self protection, and are only in oppo-
sition to- monopolists and swindlers.
We strive to guard against the i'm
roads Of such men. whether In town
or country.
The merchants, mechanics, and all
honest tradesmen in our cities and
towns, we regard as indispensable cit
liens, and entertain for them nothing
but the best feelings Of sympathy and
friendship. The greatest real objec-
ton that can be found against us by
any Of those classes. are, that in our
economical dealings, we seek to secure
the lowest prices for what We buy,
and the hi CHEST for what we cell. We
deprecate every measure calculated to
reduce the wages of the toiling me-
chanic or laborer. We wonld hail with
pleasure the extensive building Of
home manufactures, and. every labor
ing man can see how greatly this
would enlarge his field of usefulness
and prosperity. by insuring him better
wages and more employment as well
a. advancing the interests of agricul.
ture. Every mechanic and tradesmsr
who maturely investigates this deeI
problem of labor, must admit that a,
the agricultural country advances il
prosperity, so will tho spirit of enter
prise, progress, and prosperity be in
fused in all other classes also. Blu
upon the other hand let the farmer re
main poorly compensated, instead o
seeing the country dotted over will
fine country residences and highl,
improved farms, (ss we hope to see I
some day., you will continue 10 90
ailapidated houses and fences, lol
stables and straw sheds, wssdy 6eld
and scrub stock, with oil the usual sp
purtensness indicating the poverty 0
Of their owners.
| Our organization IL intended to ele
vste and dignity labor instead Of drag
cling 1t down. II We receive goo,
prices for the productions Of the farm
we can afford to pay reasonable price
for labor, whether in the shape Q
farming implements, mechanical i'm
!; provemsnts, or ordinary labor. Will
the knowledge infused through com
bination prepares ~ to work and liv
more undsrstandiugly In the discharg
ftha duties Of our profsssion.
y n