The Grange advance., 1874-04-22
SAINT PAUL.
10 the Patrons pr the Grange Advance,

IN so'o nrss appearance, associated with
the editorial department Of TIE GRANGE AD.
EANcs, beg leave to state that I do 80
simply because I foresee, in tho Grange
movement throughout the country, = new
power which has long lain dormant will be
speedily developed into action, which, in
time, will elevate the social, educational
and political condition Of the agricultural
and industrial community.
For ten years lived upon and managed
my own farm, apd was in daily contact
with my neighbors, growing familiar with
their modes Of thought and action. 1t re-
quired little experience to discover that
farmers, as class, were prey upon which
others fed and that this arose mainly from
two causes: neglect of education and
want OF unity Of action for purposes of SELF
defense. Nearly every other branch of
business or ndustry had it's, organization
for reciprocal aid and projection, the
farmer alone neglecting Or refusing to rec
ognize community Of interest.
This old, stupid and hurtful neglect Of
duty is now rapidly psssing away. 1t now
appears to me thet new and brighter era
is dawning upon the country; that an ele-
ment Of intelligence and power, so long
held in abeyanct, is boldly stepping for
ward and asserting itself by organizations
based upon just and sound principles,
known as the Patrons of Husbandry.
These Patrons Of Husbandry, ~ united
body, have high, holy and responsible
duty to perform. As = matter of necessi-
ty, for the preservation of peace aud self
protection, they will be compelled to assume
the guardianship Of the State. In conform
ity with the social and political organiz.
ton Of society, wherever the intelligent
and numerical force centres, that power
must be exercised by the body possessing
it. When the great preponderanoe Of polit-
ical influence is In the hands of the produc-
ing classes, then those entrusted with that
power, in whatever capacity, should spring
out Of, be in sympathy and close communion
with it.
1t is true, and as it should be, that the
discussion Of party politics in the Grange
is inadmissible :. but all questions affecting
the welfare, safety, prosperity and devel-
opment Of the country, Of national or state
interest, Of finance, revenue laws, army
and navy, taxation and education, are cer-
tainly subjects for discussion and investi-
CATION. No Grange can afford to reduce
itself to nullity by ignoring matters Of 50
much importance. It is idle to argue that
men will be satisfied to band themselves to-
gether with no higher motives thap pertain
to town agricultural clube. rhere is in
this new organization much nobler and
stronger cohesive element, inasmuoh as it
embraces all the interests of life, and men
anticipate, as result, . much higher grade
Of good from it for the common benefit Of
all. Here meet together in brotherhood
the educated and non-educated, whose in
terests in public affairs are in common.
Here are seen men fully competent to take
charge Of their own affairs in every sense
Of the word. TO organize, if necessary, q
state government, enact laws and superin-
tend their execution. Men, too, whose
hands are clean from the filth of peculation
and whose characters are free from the
taint Of corruption or bribery. For such
men, in times like these, TO ignore public
affairs is crime. 1t is to hand the state
and all its interests over to political brig
snds and entail the curse of bad govern
ment upon posterity.
As I heartily abominate the slavery of
party politics, so would I hope every farm
er might do the same. By thus acting, .
man reassumes his personal identity-his
perfect freedom and independence, and
brings his actions under the control of his
own Judgment. A few years before his
death l heard tie Hon. MIR. Clayton, in the
United States Senate, make 4 sort of re-
pentant confession. in which he stated if he
had his political career to live over he would
never again subject himself to the tyranny
Of party domination. In the fervor of q
party contest, passion, not unfrequently,
usurps the domain of reason, and SO thought.
less do men become of ultimate consequence.
that the merits Of the candidate and th<
cause are overlooked and absor6edjn wild
pursuit for victory. E. J
This disastrous evil is slowly being rem
edied by thouehtful I'd sisereet men fire
quently meeting with sheir neighbors
talking their affairs over in business lik'