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

In speech delivered by Mr.. 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 freights 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 be 5most easily solved by
building up home Industries, manufactur-
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 At
tention to the question Of political \attidp
by the Oranges. While we db %ot fully
concur in all thatthe speaker lGys, we cod
slider his thoughts on the subject worthy of
most careful consideratiea-fhe part of
the speech referred to is as follows:
Having, Patrons, thus expressed myself
in sympathy withGyou 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
and unselfish. Your way is beset with
difficulties more formidable, perhaps than
you now suppose, and you should meet
them courageously, but patiently. Re-
forms are of slow growth, and yours NAV
be the common lot, to labor and to wait
lfyou would succeed, demand nothing ex-
travagant, illiberal or impossible. As you
expect legislation on some of these subjects
that so deeply concern you, your move
ment must become, to some extent politi-
cal. In my judgment it should not be par
tisan. A political party made exclusively
OF farmers, OF one interest or one class.
would be calculated to antagonize all the
varied occupations and professions of the
country with you, and jeopardize the sue
cess Of your cause. You can appeal to all
classes and parties for assistance, with an
that if you ask but for what is
right, it will sooner or later be accorded.
Indeed l believe your objects can be much
more certainly and speedily attained
through the instrumentality of present par
ty organizations than by the creation Of a
new political party The politician, some
malicious fellow has said, is a 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 comJel
you to do so in self-defense. To sekret
societies, as such, Tmake no objectioR but
those that are bothssecret and polhioai are
dangerous to freegovernment. Such has
been my convictionfor years7 aDd alter q
sincere exam inatiaa Of the kpbjectJ In
where i te press iL@uzzled and
opel and public discussion denied, re-
forms can only be rAached through revolu-
tions and revolutions only put in motion
by concealing theiH beginnings from that
despotic power that would crush and de-
s:roy them. Here,swit US, the tongue is
free and the press unfettered, aud our
boast is that ours isSa nation Of free speech:
free ballots and fir e men. Write, speak,
and agitate fully and freely, but do it in
the broad sunlight If by fair and untram-
melled discussion, ffter 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 lecure the appreciation
Of the people, you may be- certain that it
deserved its fate.
e-