The Grange advance., 1874-04-15
From the Waseca News.
A Failure.

"A OAAU1Cs
Shall the organization, known as the
Patrons Of Husbandry, prove failure !?
We hope not. It has been organized
for the very best ofpurposes--the moral,
mental, physical and material improve
ment Of the most worthy class Of men
and women. II it shall be maintained
and perpetuated in its purity of purpose,
the next generation will be a hundred
per cent. better than the present.
First, in its teachings Of fraternal
and brotherly love-if they are observ-
ed-the brotherhood may save thou
sands Of dollars which have heretofore
been spent annually in lawsuits. They
may, by proper exchange Of neighbor-
ly services and machinery, save much
more.
Second, it will enable each grange to
obtain library Of useful books for the
use of both old and young, and to enjoy
an interchange Of views for mutual in
struction and improvement.
Third, it will be the means of incul-
eating temperance, sobriety, frugality,
and charity; and do very much towards
wearing off those narrow prejudices
which make men unsocial and unkind.
It will teach men and women how to
agree to disagree without enmity one
toward another.
Fourth, it will enable the farmers of
the country to enmancipate themselves
from many Of the evils which beset
their calling. They may unite and ship
their grain through their own ware
houses. They may, to certain extent,
control the markets Of the world, after
a while. They may so manage affairs
as to compel greater remuneration for
their toll.
These and many other desirable ends
may be attained if the order of p.
Of H. shall be continued and properly
conducted.
But there are distractions, and blind
bitches, and rough places through all
the journey of life, unless the Patrons
are diligent in labor and wise in qeunfil
they will stumble and fall. During the
past year, ever since the organization
became power, the old4emocra}ic
and played out Republican tpoliticishs
have made desperate effort to use the
organization for their~~sel6sh purposes.
Every local politician, having no merit
of his own, has joined the grange, hop
ing thereby to gain Office. These as
piring brethren have "worked up" To-
cal, class and individual jealousies to
such an extent, in some places, that the
better class of members have become
disgusted. There should be change
in this respect. Unless politics are en-
tirely excluded from the oranges. they
will soon cease to exist. Politics can
never be successfully Carried on by
secret societies. and never ought to be.
It is claimed by the faint-hearted
that nothing has been accomplished,
and that nothing can be. This comes
from want Of comprehension of the |
magnitude Of the undertaking. IF any
one expects to revolutionize the world
in one year or five his expectations will
never be realized, and he will die in
disappointment. To accomplish any
great undertaking requires years Of
lime and labor. We are very apt to |
clutch at things beyond our reach, leav-
ng those near at hand untouched.
How many Patrons are to-day clam
ring for reform in others, while
bey forget, apparently, that they m light
themselves inaugurate quite a reform
y paying their small debts and keep
ng out Of debt in future How many
len, both borrower and lender, are
ained by the credit system :? Interest
. debts to-day il the great inpoverisher
We hope to see the oranges main
lined and their members improved. I