Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1874-01-13
For the Spirit of Jefferson.l
PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY.

Mr.. EditOr:-The above heading desig-
mates the new secret organization whose place
of meeting is called Grange. This combs
nation is chiefly composed of \ griculturalists,
whose chief purpose is to lift themselves out
of the subsection to which they have ever
been held in this country, by the Legislative
classes, and their ahettors.
The laborious pursuits of the tiliers of the
soil usually takes up most Of their time, and
when not at labor need rest. which per con-
sequence keeps them aloof from the more
scbeming and head working portion of the
community, who in their wilcs beguiIe the
unwary into support Of their crafty measures.
And by this means the farmer and his true
friends. the mechanics, have been made to pay
tribute to the non producing classes from year
to year But this new movement has opened
the eyes Of the oppressed, and from this fact
a plan to extricate them has been jud iciuusl7
organized, with many incidental advantages,
collaterslly applied. Such as social culture.
and mental improvement in order thereby to
fit and prepare this, hitherto latent power to
become adequate to the task of assisting in
the various dispensdtons of all the functional
duties in life. AS long as the more highly
educated branches of the people dispensed
justice with impartial hands the legislation
and administration of law was unc0mplain-
ingly conceded to their enactment, and dis
pensatiOn but unfortunately that dav has
passed away, and yet the selfish still hold the
various places in power. much to the dctri-
ment OF the labOrlng many. who now in their
turn propose to demand n new era in the af>
fairs of society and, this too without orga>
nizing themselves into a distinctive political
organization but through their organization
to so demand and control by popular senti>
ment the Legislative, judicial and executive
functions of the Confederncy rs TO secure the
ends of equality: by destroying 7,nrfiH en-
acrments and class adjudication Of law, with
favoriteism in the execution of official station.
Patrons oppose the whole iniqnity Of monop>
oIies; they favor general laws. and are OPP
posed to special enactments. Ard all charters
not strictly functional! are tabooed by them
Tariffs are viewed as concealed virus deaden-
ing to uniform prosperity. when made to en-
able certain classes to strut out competing
necessaries from the masses Cwho are mainly
the consumers) simply because they are for
eign. The tr0He in money is also I'M vorahly
regarded when it accumulates into useless
Golfers by stealing per centUns from the hard
earnings of the needy who use small loans in
thci" t0lsnme business. but who now arc re-
quircd 10 use the Bankers funds with interest
adjusted to the capahility of the spcCulstOr-
Another great enemy to the pro1uciny classes
is credit, or rather the present credit system
Of the country. What n bane is this system
to the poor. and to the rich too, in most in
stances. II is true. sometimes credit has
raised its recipient to ease and even afaunnce
hut such cases. although cited in favor of the
system. are but exceptions, and are far from
Commensurate to the evil cn-enderorl by the
system, hence. it is the teachings of the order
to discard credit so far as they esn, hence
Patrons arrange to buy at wholesale prices for
cash. thereby awaiting themselves of tho lowest
rates from frahnnds. or manufacturers prime
rates. Surely this is not an obiectinn when
weighed in the "baIances of Justice"
1t is c0nfessedly true, that NAV be shift
ing Of the advantage in material interest. to
some extent, to wit: The profits Of trade and
Of commerce. of staples and of mechanism
will accrue directly to the deserving aud the
mertnrious. Fiction with all its ramifcation
OF intermediate gains will be defeated The
producer will reap all the profits acrruing be-
tween him and the consumer. and Patrons
believe these are the only LEGITIMATE cainz
there is between the thing produced and the
thing consumed.
We conceive this changing of commodities
between the producer and consumer of recin-
rocal advantage under Grange arrangement
in multitude of ways; few of which NAV
be named. First it will lessen the price to
the consumer and make him better customer
for the goods, by keeping in his pocket the
profits of the middle man. 1t will enable the
producer to get better prices for his CONS
modites, for there will be TO division Of
profits. II will also give him cash for his
articles, thereby preventing great losses,
which are always unjustly added to tic bill of
him who pays for what he gets And lastly,
it will require many thousands Of schcming
spectators to turn their energies and their
capita! into much more nsefu channels.
MEMBER OF Elk BRANCU GRANGE.
Near Dufields, Jan. 9Th, 1874