Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1874-10-03
Patrons Of Husbandry and Politics.
Correspondence Rural Sun. ]

To answer the oft repeated enquiry
touching the relation of our Order in
its political aspects or bearing, it seems
to be demanded by our best friends
and we'll wishers that our position be
set forth authoritatively in few short,
concise propositions, which are such
as all good men in or out of the Or
der are only waiting to hear that they
may act in harmony Herewith.
/. That the order of Patrons OF
Husbandry is not in any sense, a polit-
ical organization.
2. That the organization, as such,
will not, and cannot, under the rules
prescribed for its government, enter
into the discussion of nor take part in,
the settlement of political questions.
3. Therefore, the Order, as such, or
in its organized capacity, cannot and
should not enter into the selection of
candidates for political offices, nor
should it as an Order array itself in
the support Of nor in opposition to any
candidate OF set Of candidates for such
Offices.
4. Although county offices, strictly
speaking, are not political, yet the best
interests of the Order require that it
shall eschew mixing itself as an organ
ization in the selection of county Off
GERS.
While these propositions are true,
conceded by all who understand any,
thing about the principles governing
the Order, still it is equally true:
l. That one of the objects of the Or
ganization of the Patrons of Husband
ry is to secure, if possible, an honest
and economical administration fpub-
lie affairs-National, State and county
2. To secure this, honest men who
are capable must be selected for places
of public trust-the politician, the
place hunter, must be ingnOred. The
Office must be made to seek the man,
and not, as now, the man Eyes, many
men) seek the office.
3. How shall the services of such
men be secured ? The character de-
Scribed as wanted to fill our places of
public trust will not push itself for
ward-does not in fact, desire the
place, and therefore will not seek it.
Upon the other hand, just such men,
in the main, would serve if elected,
and they would be of that independent
disposition as class necessary to good
officers. How shall they be brought
out?
A. There is nothing to prevent the
members of the order of Patrons of
HusbaDdry from acting in this or any
other matter as individuals. Their in
dividual action and right in such mat
tiers are not abridged by becoming
members of the Order.
B. Then the members of the Order
may unite in this matter as individuals,
aud as such, as citizens, act in concert,
and this will secure the desired object
G. And they should do so, because
this is the only feasible manner now
presented by which the evils which af-
flict the body polite may be removed.
d. Thus we may, without any viola
ton, carry out in good faith, princi
pie set forth by Dudley w. Adams,
Worthy Master National Grange, in
communication received from him
while writing the above. In.answer
to an inquiry | had made ofehim,
part of his answer is: But as citi-
zens | deem it not only the right, but
the duty of every member of our Or
der to take an active interest and part
in performing the work of an Ameri-
can citizen, which is to do his part in
ruling the land"
What is set forth in the foregoing as
the positions, purposes and rights of
members of our Order is true to the
letter. Not only is it true, but it is
precisely what the friends of good or
der and Government, outside of the
Order, are willing TO accept as correct
and just, and what representative men
outside of the Order would write up
for you If you were to refer the matter
of writing them up on basis they
could meet you and cooperate with
you My word for it, you carry out
those propositions and you have Sc
cured that cooperation and sympathy
that unites the whole government into
one family, working for the greatest
good to the greatest number.
W. maxwell,
Master State Grange