Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1873-08-23
MERCHANTS AND ORANGES.

We have learned, with regret, that
the impression is abroad, that one OBJ
ject of the oranges is to establish CO.
operative stores and thus destroy the
merchants vocations-they coming
under the head of middlemen. We
are not a member of grange and
have no authority to speak for the
Order; but will venture the opinion,
that it will do the farmers more harm
than good to undertake to pull down,
Unfortunately, legitimate and long
established pursuits, upon the plea
that they are neither mechanical nor
agricultural. Diversity of pursuits is
the life of business and the key to
general prosperity. Merchandising is
as as old as the first advance towards
civilization and will continue to the
end of time. As a more reliable proof
that the cry of war, upon merchants,
is mere fabrication We will quote the
reply of Mr.. Saunders, Chairman of
the Executive Committee of the Ma
tional Grange, to question put by
Herald reporter, on this point:
Il have received letter to-day"
said Mr.. Saunders, from the master
of grange in Tennessee, who writes
I'VE have capital of $4,000, with
which to start a cooperative store.
Please send us your plan My answer
was: The Grange does not encourage
cooperative stores. Until one can
be found that has stood the test of
twelve years business, such organiza-
tons cannot receive the appreciation
of the National Executive Committee.
They all run into speculation, and that
is what we want to avoid.
This is from headquarters, and if
anything we have written, conveys a
different impression, the fault is ours,
not that of the oranges, which will
have enough to do to break down
dangerous mOpopolies, to break up
CORNERS in wheat and -four, in pork
and corn, as well as all other corrupt
rings-the administration included
held together by a common desire to
rob the people When they have done
these things and replaced Liberty on
her throne and Justice on the Bench,
their labors will better bear curtall-
ing than extension. Nor will they
make any permanent progress in the
work of reform unless they proceed
upon the cardinal idea that the intellec-
tual and moral faculties of all classes
must be cultivated, in order that VIZ
tue and intelligence shall become, as
originally intended, the safeguards of
liberty and justice and the leading
characteristics of people and govern
ment.
Whilst on this subject, we will give
our principal reasons for advocating
the Patrons of Husbandry. We de-
sire the success of the oranges at the
North, because we believe they will
prove most effectual agencies for the
overthrow ofthe oppressive aristocracy
established by fraud and force, upheld
by corruption and money and sustained
by people too ignorant to foresee Its
disastrous results, or too corrupt to
care what becomes of their rights and
liberties. We want to see the oranges
succeed in the South because they will
bring about such cooperation of the
farmers, as will tend to enlighten them
upon all subjects bearing upon their
duties as the majority class and their
rights as the supporters of government
and commerce, as, in fact, the staff of
life to every interest developed by COM
merce and civilization. Such organic
ations will beschools in which farmers
can learn to appreciate their own i'm
portance to the world, and how they
can best advance themselves to the
position of wealth and power, and
make every grange an efficient agent
in building up the common school sys-
TEN in every southern State. All
other considerations are butsecondary
to these and if due consideration and
effect be given to them, the correction
of all minor evils will follow as effect
follows cause.