The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-02-09

An article appeared in THE GLOBE. Fri
day entitled The Power OF the Grange
Movement which through inadvertencc,
certainly without design, was not credited
to the exchange from which it was taken.
as it should have been We say it so an
pearcd without design, because it docs not
express our sentiments and we do not be.
lieyc any fear OF the grange movement"
influenced Congress in its action in refer
encc to what are known rs Gland grant"
railroads Such an organization, certainly,
should hayc nothing to do with legislation
and politics. except so far IA the individual
members thereof ho,o the ,isl, ~ ,nonv
nclr mnucncc ielt by petition or otherwise
as has every other citizen Of the country.
Tho article in question was published sim
ply rs showing the tone Of public opinion
in certain quarters. In making this cor
rection, we desire to say word in refer
encc to the relation of these oranges to
politics. In doing this, we must 90 upon
the maxim of judging of them by their
iiulto, anu NilNit titN ilaht lOItu
no fruits, then, by their membership. We
may further premise, that we are not q
member Of the patrons Of IIusbandry" or
Of any Grange" neither do we conceive
that we have any right to become a mem
Der of any such organization, or that we
are eligible to membership therein. If we
understand the organization, as explained
to us by members thereof, it was intended
for agriculturists, and agricuturists alone
1t is true, we presume, and it is so au,hori-
lively stated, that in the constitution of the
order, it is declared that those interested
in agriculture" are eligible to membership.
BY forced construction, this would in
clude every man, woman and child in the
country. There is not human being in
the world that is not ''interested in agricul-
ture." Our very life depends upon agricul-
ture. In this broad sense, perhaps, every
person can became member, but we do
not believe the founders of the order had
any such intention, or the clause in ques-
ton will bear any such reasonable construc-
ton. We say this much that it may be
understood that we are not member there
of, do not believe we would be entitled to
membership if we desired, that we know
nothing of the inside workings Of the or
der, and can only judge of it by its works
and the general character of the individuals
belonging thereto, In reference TO the ac-
tual inside working of the institution, we
are somewhat in the situation of the clergy
man. who mol being member. was called
upon 90 act as chaplain AT funeral con-
Quoted by secret society-wc do not re-
call whether it was Masonic. Odd Fellows,
Sons of Temperance or Good Templars-
and, in his prayer, stated he did not know
much about the order, hut asked that
what was good in ii might be blessed and
"what was evil might be damned"
by their fruits and general membership
shall we know them. We must confess 10
feeling Of hostility to the organization at
first. This was caused by their aitged and
srlposed course in the judicial election of
Illinois, Iy means of which that able and
upright jurst, Chief Justice Lawrence, was
removed from the bench of the supreme
court of the statc-a position which he had,
for so many years, adorned. This seemed
to be direct interference with politics on
their part, If judicial election may be con,
sidercd as having anything TO do with poll
tics. We looked upon this faction, and
still consider it SO, as unjust, unwise, OF
more than doubtful cxpediency, and dan
gerous in its tendency. This sin, however
is not to be laid at the door OF the oranges
The FARMERS movement" 80 called, which
controlled that election, has nothing to dc
with the "Patrons of Husbandry" They
arc entirely distinct organizations, although
it may, and probably does, happen that the
same individuals, in many cases, belong tc
both. The former was instituted for politi
cal purposes For that reason we opposed
it. We do not believe II consonant with ar
institution that any one class should com.
bine and form political party to the ex
clusion of all following different occupa
tions. We all have the same interest In
good government We believe with Wash
! ington that "a government for the whole 4