The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1874-02-19

/ We give place TO the following article
from "Countryman" through courtesy
to the writer, and wiz be glad to SET
some friend of the order answer him
In week or two we shall publish a full
and authoritative declaration OF prinei-
pies from the National Grange
which we think very few objections can
be made We do not endorse the posi-
ton taken by "Countryma= :"
Mr.. fEDIToR I'm this the Edays OF
prosperity in which we are travelling at
a ts7O forty rate, it is not the least sur
prising to see our sturdy farmers rush
ing pelI-meIl into the Oranges or any
thing of like nature which holds out
such fIattering inducements on It's sur
face. While it is true that our farmin0
interest is the largest distinct interest in
the country, it does not go to prove that
it can prove successful in the attempt TO
control Legislation, or by a united eff
fort break down monied and railroad mo-
nOpolies; as a political organization it
cannot expect to attain to higher po-
sitiOn than merely a go-between, a
something to be earessed and fOndled by
both Republican and Democratic par
ties, for in the South the very nature of
the organization place the white laborer
and negro in opposition to it, while at
the North none but those directly inter
ested in agriculture can or viii support
the movement.
The majority of the members of the
order in this as well as other sections
fatty deny that the Oranges or Patrons
of Husbandry have any political faith
whatever, which is a very wide mistake,
and in order to prove that l am correct
will only site our Changers here to the
effort that is now being made by their
Northwestern brethren to induce Hon.
+. B. Wash burn of Illinois to resign his
position as Minister to France, return
home and run for Congress in his old
District with view of placing him on
the next Presidential ticket These are
facts that cannot be successfully denied.
Thus far, therefore, the political sigai-
hcance of the movement partakes of a
nature of most CRISIS fer relief and re-
form, and is something of a glItCering
generality-a mushroom in its growth
and doomed to an uRtimely end, and
bears a close resemblance to the old
Know Nothing party in its object and
workings. This distrust is deepened by
a knowledge of the fact that the prime
movers and leaders of the farmers move
ment are rather parasites than Patrons
of Husbandry. What practical results
can reasonable thinking man expect
to derive from this movement in finan-
cial point? Can we expect to control
the finance and trade of this vast com
mercial world?
The idea is simply absurd. There is
but one law that can control it, and
that is supply and demand. There are
instances where a local benefit could be
derived in a small way by an organiza-
ton created for that especial purpose,
and again it is worse than folly for men
to talk about Congressional interfer-
ence, as far as Railroad monOpolies are
concerned. Congress could not, if she
would, and in case that Congress could
govern and fix your freight and passen-
ger tariff, they would, in that very act,
create monopoly more dangerous than
the one you wish to avoid. But let us
now look at the practical workings of
our subordinate oranges at home.
In the first place you start out with a
of objects in view, among
which are most prominent, intellectual,
Moral and Pecuniary Advancement,
which is all very good, and if L am cor
rectly informed, you intend to establish
a. cash system in all of your business
or in other words, pay as
you go, which is better still. But in do
ing this arc you not encouraging some
of your members to commit a moral
For instance, you are receiving
men into the order every day who have
for many years permitted their accounts
with the merchant, Doctor, Preachers
and Printers to run from year to year
without making an effort to pay them
off, but allow those debts to accumulate
until it has become a very serious mat
ter with their creditors. Now you take
them into the Grange, consume all their
cash to start with, ignore the claims or
existence of Middle Men, forgetting
past favors and leaving the creditor to
suffer for his folly of having at a past
time placed confidence in his neighbor.
No, gentlemen, this win not do. If the
Grange is such good thing, first dis
charge your obligations to the man who
has befriended you, before embarking in
a wild scheme you know nothing of. in
regard to its practical workings.
/ am very much in hopes that the
Grange movement may work good for
the whole country, for am sure the ne
cessity exists, and there is ample room
for improvement financially, politically,
morally and intellectually, but is there
not some danger of the Grange taking
too much upon herself, no difference
how laudable may be each undertaking
There is an old addage, of ''tOo many
irons in the fire." &c. By the way, it
puts me in mind of the little boy whose
mother had gorged him with candy
''He had too much of the good thing.'
Now in all candOr, would it not be
wise to let the strong minded toOGseR and
visionary men of the Northwest try
this thing until we can see some of its
practical workings, before we become
party to their folly? think it would,
and am of the opinion that many more
of our farmers will be of the same
mind before the close of this present
year. CoUNTRYMAN.