Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1873-10-03

There are the traitors who teach the
young folks that anything is better
and more respectable than farming.
The grange will counteract their
miserable teachings. Its principles
rightly understood and applied, will
not only increase the the farmers in.
come and surround him with moro
of the comforts Of life, but what is
far more cheering, it will be made
the nucleus for social and mental
improvement. Libraries, essays,
lectures, discussions and other lite
rary exercises, with music ard
pleasant conversation will be its nat
ural out-growth, and these cannot
fail to quicken and strengthen the
best impulses and cultivate the
graceful amenities of life, till our
rural population shall be recognized
by all as the very best representa-.
tives of our grand Republic. 1t
will, indeed be sad ending to the
pure and beneficent purposes of this
society if an ambitious few shall
convert its meetings into political
harangues and intrigues.
l would not insist that the farm
crs should never unite for their own
defence, but it seems clear to me
that the political part of their strug-
gle, if it must come should be kept
outside Of the Grange. If brought
within it, it will be certain tdscre-
ate disorder and bitterness, and de-
stroy the order, and this would be
a disaster to the farmer and d.
rect robbery of his wife and chill
dren to whom the Grange has al
ready become the means of social
and mental Improvement. Please,
gentlemen, don't fight your battles
so injudiciously that you undermine
your house. Your shells must not
burst in your own ranks.
The principal PURPOSE of the
Grange should be educational. 1t
should institute neighborhood fairs
and encourage both boys and girls
to compete in farming, gardening,
fruit raising, homework and in men
tai and moral excellence. There is
a certain nobility in independence
in money matters. Girls should be
taught this as we'll as boys, for
women learn to understand it gen.
orally too late. This reminds me
of gentleman who wants women
to vote and hold office, and and vet
his wife said one day in his abb
scnce, "don't you think it sad that
woman should work hard all her
life, and raise a family of children,
and never have a dollar she can
call her own, never n penny but
what she coaXes out of her hus-
band" This question was a revc-
lation as mourntul as tragedy. l
hoped to see the Grange change all
this. 1t holds women worthy to
fill its offices, now let it encourage
the girls to have their own garden,
orchard or farm, to work at some
thing, earn money and invest it.
Don't be alarmed girls. If you hap
pen to marry poor man, you will
wish you had some money of your
own, if you had earned it digging
potatoes. ! have faith that the
Grange will ennoble labor and so l
pray for its success, but if it is
to be turned into a mere political
machine, for one l am willing that
the curses OF discontinue and de-
feat shall fall upon it. A secret
political society should not be toll
Grated in a Republic. If you can
persevere and strengthen the
Grange and leave it heritage for
your children, it may become to
them better than broad acred estates
or boarded gold.