The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1874-07-23

Remember this, that your leaders are
because they are YOUR leaders,
and that the measure of abuse is usual
II the measure of their faithfulncss to
you; and that they could. at any time,
purchase not alone the silence, but the
praises Of the enemy by selling you out.
Brains and Muscle.
The celebrated Elizur Wright writes
to the Boston Commonwealth, and ut
tiers some profound truths. He says:
ssThe problem OF society is to prevent the |
upper and lower sides Of it from preying up
on each other. 1t is not half solved yet"
That is the problem we are trying to
solve in the West through the Oranges.
But Master Parsons says we
should sit in silence and suck our
thumbs until the Lord comes to our
help, or the devil gets ashamed Of his
prosecutions.
Mr.. Wright continues:
ssBrain has, and always will have, the ad-
vantage of muscle. 1t tends to the upper
side. But its domineering too much Is of
suicidal tendency. Its own prosperity lies in
fair play 1t must give as well as take"
Farmers should commit that first
sentence to heart ''Brain has, and al
ways will have, the advantage Of mus
cle.'' Muscle goes in brogans and
overalls with thin ribs and an empty
pocket. sBrain' rides in its chariot,
clad in purple and fine linen and fares
sumptously every day and get all that
Brain has, he took from, MUSCLE
for he created nothing himself. Now
why can't Brain and Muscle be united !!
That is what we are trying to do in the
Grange. But Worthy Master Parsons
says, syou can't do it, boys; don't talk
about anything that concerns your ma
terial welfare for that means politics !;
and you cannot discuss the robberies
you endure without saying something
hard about the robbers, and if you do
you'll get mad and hurt somebody.
Stick to rituals and ceremonies, boys
suck your thumbs, and vote for the
devil if he is regularly nominated on the
Republican ticket
cts own prosperity lies in fair play"
True; and that's the trouble with
high tariff and high transportation.
They cannot destroy their customers
and still have their customers. They
can't kill the goose and still possess the
golden eggs. They impoverish the peo'
pie, they drive them to the narrowest
economies, and then they are surprised
to find business collapse, their cars run
empty and their factories stand idle 70,
want Of buyers.
Mr.. Wright continues
ssWhat society needs is LcUs and institu
t;ons which give to those who have the leas
brain power, as far as possible, the full ben
eft of the wisdom of those who have tn
most, which prevent the upper from prey
ing upon the under side as eifectually as tn
reverse Is this hopeless? Not entirely"
claws and institutions Yes. But
how are they to be obtained? At tn
ballot boz. Even Master Parsons Will
his thumb-sucking could get them NJ
other way. And what is necessary t
. get them at the ballot box? That tn
t people should be prepared to vote TO
: them. And how can the people be s.
prepared! By thorough information
growing out of thorough discussion.
Brain has grown rich by using Mus
: Gle. Is it not time that Muscle shoul
: grow rich by using Brain
E Turn the Changers into debating 81
i cieties where every question concern
c ing the interests Of the farmers can b
t discussed; let the workmen in tn
: cities form clubs where they can di
), cuss their interests; let us then a
81 meet at the ballot box and vote togetl
# er, and SO stop ''the upper side of 81
ciety from prcying on the lower
Mr.. Wright continues
z "The brain-power of the man who wro
Shakespeares plays is enjoyed considerable
by the lowest stratum of al tcho speak Enl
y lish. So Is that OF Watt, Stephenson an
'e Franklin. The latter converts most OF II
A Irish servant-girls into capitalists throue
the savings banks. Richard Price, who il
5, vented life insurance, makes poor man
D. will as good as moderately rich ones. b
: even these good institutions are capable,
- being perverted into suction engines,
h which people Of large brain may prey upt
nf those OF small. ),
= The thoroughly demonstrated fact, II Il
people could only understand the demo-
straIion, is that life insurance Is now,
nearly all cases, run too largely for the be,
eft OF the runners The policy IS not a tai
= wise or equitable bargain. The accounts
= not iutelligibly or scientifically kept Thin
N are undistingnishably mixed up winch Dug
to be kept separate. The principles az
methods Of simplifying the business 50 as
$. give every one all he can equitably claaI
II and by which all the mystery can De dlspel
j, ed, have been before the companies, 2
= the public, for three years past. One Or =
K COMPANIES out Of this State have essayed
~ partial adoption Of them. But array
- against them is the interest OF managers e
trusted with many millions Of the people
A. money"
J. And that reminds us that the farl