The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1874-08-07
Correspondence.
Farmer" Close Upon the Heels
of the "Artful Dodger."

Farmer Close Upon the Heels
Of the "Artful Dodger.'
EDITOR REPUBLICAN-"Rural" has
certainly earned the name of "Artful
Dodger," and l would advise him to
study Franklin's maxims, and after
this, when he has nothing to say, to
say nothing" have at all times told
the truth to the best of my knowledge
and belief, and, if "Rural" has ever
positively denied any thing that l have
said, / have not been able 70 perceive it.
And | have also been unable to see
where he has shown that any part of my
argument is opposed to itself. And, as
to his assertions that l have virtually
admitted that the question has gone
against me, he will have to prove his
assertions to be true that .'the masses
(or the majority are always right be-
fore l will admit that to be true. Were
the masses right when they persisted in
staying at home last Saturday, and al
lowed few of the ''ring" to manage
affairs at different precincts ? At the
strongest precinct in the county, (Sa-
vannah) ring composed of but four
active members, run the whole machine
to suit themselves, while there were not
less than two hundred working men
within the hearing of 4 mans voice from
the place of meeting. And yet, 1.-THE
people are always right" Rural"
in closing his last letter virtually
says: "IIelp me Cassius or | sink, :"
when he calls on me to help put stop
to the insults thrown ut the farmers, &c
| am not responsible for those insults,
and let us hope that his skirts are clear.
Ever since the grange was first Or
ganized, in the county, / have been
laboring TO prevent all appearance Ito
Outsiders) of the grange taking part in
politics. Let us hope that he can say
the same of himself. People always
'.judge of the tree by its fruits" If
they see an apple fall from n tree, they
naturally suppose that it grew there.
If officers of a grange will solemnly
pledge their honor not to take advan-
tage of their position to bias in any way
the political opinion OF any member Of
the order, and then, before closing the
grange, announce that they wish the
members Of the grange to remain af-
ter the grange is closed for the purpose
of holding political meeting; and then
and there hold a political meeting, with
closed doors, allowing none to enter
without the grange password; who can
blame those outside if they
"claim that they are using the
grange as political party, contrary to
its positive rules" .'Rural7 himself has
witnessed something similar TO this
(without protesting) when he had
the authority. ana it WAS his duty
to instruct them in their duty, aud cor
rect all abuses. Rural was present
when |, almost alone, combatted the
proposition (made 10y a master OF IL
grange) to discuss political matters,
and the merits Of political aspirants, in
the grange, and only wrrlng from him
(said mastery at last the acknowledge
ment that perhaps the master had better
dismiss the grange first.
! do not know Of any one that IS try
ing "to prove that the farmers cannot
60 into politics without violating their
obligations as Patrons Of HuSbandry"
1t would he Il senseless task. think
that they should take great deal more
active part than they do, and have al
ways advocated the doctrine on all
suitable occasions. But | think that
they should always be sure they are
right, and if they hold political meet
ings, do it openly in the face Of the
world. Right never fears the light.
People everywhere are inguiring, where,
when, and how did the Committee get
their authority for calling the meetings
last Saturday. They have right to
know, but how many do know? There
are few that know that such a COM
mittee was appointed, but We're under
the impression that they were appointed
for another purpose. There is right
thing, and it is generally easier TO ac-
compiisf a purpose the right way than
the wrong. Hence the failure to get the
farmers an d laboring men to respond to
the call Of the committee. They didn't
knsw there was any such committee,
and they have q ri ght to be suspicious OF
things that are concocted in the dark
So, having laid the foundation wrong. it
will be easier to build Il new structure
than to try to build on this defective
foundation. Therefore, believe that it
would be better to have 4 new commit
tee, or have the old one commence
anew, post up hand-bills, calling Il new
meeting, explain the objects of it and
give the people chance TO act intelli-
gently, for no one can claim that they
have done so, or that the people have
taken any action at all in more than
one or two precincts. No one can OBJ
iect to this unless it is the ring that have
appointed themselves committeeman