The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1874-02-19
TIE CHANGERS.


M Tho sentiments contained therein COM
mend themselves to the conslderate Judg-
mont Of the country, and cannot fail to meet
.Ae sanction of all classes Of men, who are
ambitious for the attainment OF higher
standard of citizenship and the inculcatlon
of safe, solid and progressive ideas Of public
policy. The difficulty, we fear, that will pre-
sent itself, will be in living up to the stand
ard established. We all admire the perfect
morality and christian rectitude implied IN
the Ten Commandments, but who OF US mas
ever come in contact with man who strict
" conformed his life to them? 1t is true, We
can attain no excellence, unless we first NIX
standard at which to aim and while we
may not reach the ideal Of purity We may
have formed 10 our minds, yet each step we
take in progressing towards it is SO much
gained. To fully realize the reign OF that
harmony in excclences which the Changers
have proclaimed, we thiak it must be pre-
ceded by the millennium, when it is suppos-
ed the Devil will bsibound for thousand
years, and the Prince of Peace reign in per-
son on the Earth. fti@ r
The general ideas contained in the plat
form of the Grapgers ARE in consonance
With the true principles Of political economy
and the science Of free government. They
address themselves to the dispassionate ap-
prevail Of the Judgment and the conscience
of every good citizen, sincerely endeavorlng
to discharge the duties imposed upon him
by reason Of his constituent relations. Es
pecialy are they adapted to our system of
Republican government, which is the oreti-
cally based upon the intelligence and virtue
of the popular element, and designed to OPP
ate for the advancement and protection OF
the interests of the people. It cannot be
denied, that while the theory proclaimed in
our formula Vt fundamental principles, har-
monies with the liberal views announced
bv the Grangers, the benefits designed for
tho people have been arrested and appro-
priatad by INSCRIPTIONS demagogufes, thus
psrversing the purposes of mfnt' and
infictiug upon the masses the rbitrAry ez-
ACTIONS Of powerful and corrupt qomblna-
ito IS.
We know Of no class of men who would
be less likely to be lead into excuses than
ths farmers. Their associations, habits Of
thought ana general training necessarily
make them conservative. La the quiet OF
their country homes they read and digest
the news. store their minds with useful in
formation, study the relations of govern
meut and the people. free from the every
day excitement and constant innovations To-
cident to other pursuits. Whether the men
tai balance thus acquired. will be seriously
disturbed by formidable combinations, and
consciousness Of power, remains to be
seen. The order, to which we are now ad
dressing our,elf, las certainly made marvel
Gus progress, and been distinguished, as yet,
by no excuses. 1t has quietly worked its
way. IN a brisf period Of time, from CON-
parative insignicance to be a power in the
land. Now the responsibility appears, ant
we will await to see whether, in Il e exer-
else Of the power implied by its GROWN;
numbers, it will be equal to the hercuear
and almost supernatural task, Of carrying
into effective operation the principles ant
policy embraced ia the platform.
While these principles come in conflict
With the legitimate and rightful interests Of
no class of people, and if they can be sue
cessfully put into practical use, must neces
sarily benefit all healthy employments, !
becomes an important question, whether lh
Legislation for and regulation of all the vas
interests of this country can be pFoperI
placed in the hands Of one class Of persons
While the Changers are particular to de
clare that there is nothing political in thei
organization or purposes, this very announce
ment would seam to imply that they hav
taken very superficial estimate of thei
organization. Throughout all their resolu
tons, they discuss the very foun dation worl
Of political economy. They propose to reg
ulate commerce, currency, and the genera
interests of labor. What other legitimat
objects worth mentioning are embraced il
r
politics They constitute the essence Q
government, and in order to carry out thei
purposes the Grangers must necessarily
seize the machinery Of government, and di
rect it for the ends they claim to be tn
objects of their creation. This NJ ovemen
can no more be separated from politics, thai
can the government be made distinct from
the people. 1t may steer aloof from tn
two great political organizations Of the day
or possibly absorb much Of them, yet
must become necessarily political -organi
cation, for its declared purposes are com
prised in the fundamental ideas Of politica
economy.
| Will it succeed and fix itself as perma
nent power 10 the country Can any seere
organization, whose membership is conf pe
to one class of persons, or even to ever
class he nlaced in the coptro, Of the gov