The star of Pascagoula. [volume] (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1873-1878, 1874-09-12
THE PATRONS or HUSBAND.
RY.

II T.
1T IA questionable whether any
country ever produced an ofqaniza.
lion, non-politioal in ils character.
whose growth was more rapid, yigo.
rou5 aud hcalthlul than that Of tic
order known az the Patrons Of lIus.
bandy. Tho wonderful rapidity
with which Oranges have multiplied
ia every State Of our own country,
not to speak of others, and the syste.
matte, we'll ordered network OF cons
uection which has already been estabs
lished from the district or primary
Grange, up through county and State
to the national organization, is a
marked illustration Of the real execu
tive ability Of the yeomanry, when
called into requisition. We have had
faith from the outset that much good
would come OF this movement. 1t is
the legitimate outgrowth of a deep
seated dissatislaction-an organized
protest against a train of abuses
which have been gradually fastening
themselves upon the governmental
and business machinery of the coun-
try. Chief among the latter is the
undue multiplication of what are
called middlemen, and the opportuni-
ties afforded these for taking adyapt-
age of the isolated, disorganized, ag.
riculiuIa al producers.
In the broad and scientific sense of |
the term, middlemen are themselves
producers. They are such just so far
as they are instrumental in satisfying
the wants and desires of men. Such |
agencies are indispensable. They
serve an important purpose, but they
mag do it very inefficiently. A laxi-
ty and elumsiness have become mani
fest in the machinery of exchange,
growing out Of the want Of intelligent
and harmonious corporation among
the agricultural masses, on the one
hand, and a willingness, not uEpatur>
al, on the part Of organized capital
to take advantage Of the situation, on
the other, The result is a waste in
the producing power Of the country
and in many instances an Unfair dis,
tribution of the rewards of industry.
If the Grange movement shall sue
,eed ia remedyipg these evils to any
extent, without indict-
ng others equally mischievous, it will +
rave subserved an important end.
1t is destined to WELD wonderful
power in the country, and along with
is power comes grave responsible
iy. 1t has serious dangers to encoun-
ter. Not least among these are the
alse teachings Of demagogues, with
,ut the order and within it. AS il
hall grow in strength, the opportun>
ties for corruption in lis own ranks.
Is in the case of political parties, will
greatly multiply, though, from the
nature of the organization, by no
means to the same extent.
"The members Of this order have
,een charged by the MONOPOLY organs
With being communists. Nothing we [
believe could be farther from the :
ruth than such q charg No class
II our population are more deeply in
crested in the preservation OF all
hose rights and privileges which law '
md government were instituted to s
ecure, than the farmer. None have /
/ higher appreciaiiol of the rights Of
or a keener sense Of the ne
,essity Of their preservation. We
lave no fears of communism from \
uch source. On the other hand, {
he oranges. it seems to US. if rightly ;
must prove valuable eda>
iating agency. In this fact ccnters
iur chief hope of good results. The
novements Of the Patrons then, will !
'e watched with interest. not by DEM
gogues alone. but also by good and
rue men everywhere. With power
comes responsibility. Let them bear
I sobegly and discreetly.-IEx.