The Grange advance., 1873-11-12
Political Action by Patrons.

LII speech uellVefeu Oy MIR. Tom.
Brown to Patrons at Winchester, Indiana,
on the 9th ult., after showing at some
length that it is not railroads which have
brought so much wealth into our country,
that the Patrons are fighting, but the un-
just treights charged, the corrupting of
our legislators in order to obtain favorable
legislation, the gambling in stocks by the
operators and manipulators Of these roads
remarking that the question of cheap trans
portation could he most easily solved by
building up home industries, manufacture
ing our raw materials at home, and bring
ing the consumer to our door, and touching
briefly on the much mooted question Of
protection,-the speaker pays little \,
tention to the question of political lattidp
by til" Oranges. While we 10 %ot fully
concur in all that the speaker s6ys, we con-
slider his thoughts on the subject worthy of
NEST careful considerati iea~-fhe part Of
the speech referred to IS as follows:
Having, PatTons, thus expressed myself
in sympathy with you in some of the i'm
portant reforms you are so earnestly labor
ing to inaugurate, may | hope that YOU will
pursue them in the spirit OF kindness and
moderation Let your efforts be sincere
ant unsetlsh. Your way is beset with
difficulties more formidable, perhaps than
you now suppose, and you should meet
them couragecusly, but patiently. Re-
forms are of slow growth, and yours nav
be the common lot, to labor and 10 vait.
Hyou would succeed, demand nothing ex-
travagant, llllberal or impossible AS YOU
expect legislation on some Of these subjects
that so deeply concern you, your move
mcnt must become, to SOME extent Doliti-
cal. In my Judgment it should not be par
tisan. \ political party made exclusively
of farmers, of one interest or one class.
would be calculated to an,agonize all the
varied occupations and professions of the
country with you, and jeopardize the sue
cess ofyour cause. You can appeal to all
classes and parties for assistance, with an
assurance that if you ask but for what is
right, it will sooner or later be accorded,
Indeed [ believe your objects can be much
more certainly and speedily attained
through the instrumentality Of present par
ty organizations than by the creation or
new political party. The politician, some
malicious fellow has said. is whistle upon
which every man may blow his own tune:
and it is unfortunately but too true. OF
this, at least, you need entertain no doubt.
that when the popular breeze begins to
blow, parties will set their sails to catch
it.
But | am informed that you have no de-
sire or purpose TO run your order into poll
tics, unless politicians and parties COMPEL
you to do 50 in self-defense To secret
societies, as such, make no objection. but
those that are both secret and political are
dangerous to a free government. Such has
>been my conviction for years;7 and after q
sincere examination Of the k4bject/ in
despotisms where the press i<Muzzled and
oper and public discussion denied, re-
forms can only be reached through revolu-
tions and revolutions only put in motion
by concealing their beginnings from that
despotic power that would crush and de-
s:roy them. Here, with us, the tongue is
free and the press unfettered, and our
boast IS that "ursis Il na'iou OF free speech
free ballots and free men, Write, speak.
and agitate fully and freely. but do it in
the broad sunlight. If by fair and untram-
melled discussion, after you have appealed
to an enlightened public conscience, after
you have toiled and sacrificed as true re-
formers must always toll and sacrifice,
your cause fails to secure the appreciation
OF the people, you may be certain that it
deserved It's fate.