National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-05-02

70 THE PzTEoHs or HUsBAHDRY.i
As an early and active worker IN the cause
Of labor reform, and feeling deep Interest m
the movement you have inaag1fsteds beg 70
Invite your earnest attention to the following
viewswhich have been foscibly suggested 70
my mind IN connection With the subject, w. j
thiak Ii may be safely assumed a. an
automatic truth, that al secondary objects
should slbserys, and be subordinated TO, the
prtnaary object. Now, as understand the
matter, the primary object Of the Grange
moyement--its great objective point--is oppo-i
sitfon to railroad monopolies, with view to
reducing the rates Of transportation. Now,
then, the important question presents itselfs
In order TO effect the primary object OF their
organization, Il It necessary for the Patrons of
Husbandry 20 antagonize with the existing
political parties Of the day as some of your
writer's and speakers have done, or do they not
possess sufficient power within themselves 70
subsidizs those parties--to eliminate from them
all necessary elements or power TO aceomulish
their own end, without !disintegrating, or dis
turbing in the least, the present organization
of those partiesi ST = ttst,- ~ =
One Of the most powerful political machine
ries that probably the world has ever known is
the Republican party. Nos only has Il the
euppoEt VI ~ tuoIluOub 0oFtEuulcuh pklIOn-
age, and the immense inertia of the stdtn gbo-
OF longsettled policy and routine-but its
principles nestle down deep IN the hearts and
affections, Of millions of the masses. At the
head OF this party stands, man who 10 not
only identified with the preservation Of our
national life, but who has shown a,warrn and
active sympathy for the industrial interests Of
the country. When wretched attempt was
made to take advantage Of the letter Of the
ur,1 e.
1amus, President Grant stood kindly by the
workingmen, and enforced liberal eonstruc-
ton Of that law. Your attention Is also in
vited to the many unconstitutional may
add earnest appeals-he has made to Congress
In behalf Of our PROSTATE shipping interests
and liberal internal improvements. In view Of
what has been advanced, permit me TO ask, as
q mere "matter of business" should the Pa
irons OF Husbandry, Ike the Illinois bull we
have read Of, attempt to butt down the loco
motive engine of the Republican party, or
should they not quietly watch their opportu-
nifty, slip upon the platform, and make the
engine take them to their desired point Of des-
tinstioni
II there are bad men In the Republican
party controlling legislation, are there not also
many good men, able and willing to cooperate
with you in the great work Of purifying bad
legislation, and doing full justice to the indus
trial classes Of the countryl Would 1t not be
your wiser course to stand up boldly before the
world and declare: "Gentlemen of the Repub-
lican, Democratic and all other parties, we are
Independent tillers of the soil; we don't want
your political honors or spolls of Office; we
are perfectly willing to fight 1t out on that
line among yourselves; but we do want all
good, true and honest men among you to CO.
operate with us-'to fall in ranks'-in our on
ward march against moneyed monopoly; we
want not your selfish demsgogues or unprin-
cipled politicians, but your able, clear-ninded
and pure-hearted men to lead us on to victory;
and when our great work Is accomplished, we
we wiz retire, like Cincinnatus Of old, to our
plows, and leave the strongest party-'the
upper dog in the fght'-in undisturbed enjoy
ment Of all political honors or emoluments Of
Office" r
I submit the foregoing questions for your
earnest consideration, adding, IN conclusion,
that, for myself, am profoundly impressed
with the conviction that the wise and polite
course of the Patrons Of Husbandry would be
to stand upon the pure, simple principle Of OPP
position to moneyed monopoly, and resolutely
decline all competition for the more selfish OBJ
jects Of party Organization. 81. .als-lir-
I 20 II. CLAY PREuss.