The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-02-10
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1874.
OVER SENSITIVE.

Over sensitiveness to public opinion is as
direful in its tendencies and results as
total disregard thereof. The true man and
citizen will regard public opinion only as it
commends itself to his conscience and sense
of right. Popular opinion, in its sober,
second thought, is generally right, and few
will go astray by needing Its bchests.
There is class Of public sentiment, SO
called, to be distinguished from this. AT
certain periods, ebulitions Of passion will
sweep over the country, with seemingly
irresistible force, and many fear TO oppose
it, but, on the contrary, yield unhesitatlng-
~ to its force. Happily for the country,
these waves of sentiment are short lived
and die out before much of harm is pro-
duced therefrom. We have an instance of
this bowling before the storm just now. We
alluded Monday, to tie fact that the
Patrons Of Husbandry' had made some
mistakes in the admission of members
that ii was probably true that some had
been admitted who only by a very forced
construction Of the expression could be said
to be interested in agriculture" and that,
as in other Institutions men would doubt
lcss be found who would cndeayor to pros
,tute the order to their own personal and
political ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. This is 10 be eX
pectcd. The history Of every church and
sociely, whether open or secret. shows that
such men seek and gain membership. Be
cause of these mistakes mistakes iusep-
arabic from humanity and of unworthy
membership, urged ON By Jealousy, - cry
has been raised against this institution. We
do mol propose, now and here, 60 enter
upon Il defence of The grange" although
aebarrcl from membership. our views are
well known. We conceive that the farm
crs and those directly connected with agri-
cultural interests have q perfect and un-
questionable constitutional, legal and moral
right to form and become members of such
a non-p0itical organization. No man can
say them nay. They have the same right
TO become members OF this particular
order as they have 90 bccoms mem
hcrs Of churches, or Of lodgca Of
Free Masons, Odd Fellows, Sons
Of Temperance and Good Tcmplars.
Neither by so doing, do they part with any
Of their civil or political privileges. They
have the same right to take part in nom
mating conventions, TO vote, TO be can
didates for and hold Office as if they held
aloof therefrom. How ridiculous, then, is
the resolution, which is favored we are
told by some, that no member of a
grange shall be candidate for political
office. Is not this "A cowardy and unmanly
bowling before that which is mistaken for
public sentiment? Must voter disfran-
chise himself because he belongs TO this Or
ganization? Is not the very doctrine dan
gerous? The same attempt was made,
years ago, to ostracise members of other
societies. The attempt did not, however,
como from the inside. The issue came
from the outside, but the SOBER second
thought of the people soon placed the seal
of disapprobation thereon. Let the order
frown down every attempt to use it for
personal, political ends, but don't let them
stultify themselves, disfranchise their men,
hers, and thereby, declare that they are un-
fit and unworthy of public conf Hence, and
not of sufficient intelligence or integrity to
hold places Of honor, trust and RESPONSE
bility. If necessary, they can pluck out
the noxious weeds without DISTINGUISHING a
large number of our most intelligent and
upright citizens.