The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1874-07-25
Defending The Grange.

cret Convention, in Syracuse, New York,
son, in this State, got off a ferocious
blast against the Grange organization,
denouncing the Order in unmeasured
terms. A correspondent of the New
York Tribune, a Granger, gets after
Greene in the most vigorous manner,
denounces his statements as false and
slanderous, comes to the rescue of of the
maligned Order. Combating certain
statements of Mr.. Greene, the cores.
pondent torcibly remarks: The Order
is essentially philanthropic in its origin
and modes of working its founders,
among whom Mr.. Saunders is the one
most widely known. so far from being, as
Greene represents them, 'dignitaries
without dignity, given to vulgarity, and
men who would hardly be received into
decent society," are men of refinement,
culture, and of most genial and benev-
client disposition. So far is it from being
true that they have sought to continue
themselves in Office for the sake of per-
sonal gain or honor, that, at the expira-
ton their first terms, all of them with
drew from office, and but two, the Secre-
tary and Treasurer, would permit them
selves to be reelected. The revenues of
the National Grange, under the great
but healthy increase of the Order, are
of considerable amount, the aggregation
Of millions of Titles; but every dollar of
its expenditure is accounted for, and its
books are now, as they always have been,
open to the examination Of every mem
Der Of the Order. There is nc conting-
ent or secret service fund, no money to
be used in brides or to be squandered by
rs O1TnrpH off nIaIS orr yTan1oH for TnnlIt-
ical or other sinister purposes. The sal
aries of all the officers of the National
Grange, though they are the hardest
worked men in the United States, are
less than those which any wholesale mer-
chants pays to his clerk; and it is true to-
day that the salaried officers of the Ma
tional Grange are poorer than they would
have been had they remained in their
several previous aYocations. The records
of any secret society in this or any other
country may be searched in vain for a
nobler, purer and more patriotic showing
than these earnest and patient men have
made and can make of their connection
with the National Grange" That is GER
tainly putting it forcibly and strongly in
defense of the Changers, but probably
not particle stronger than the history
of the Order will justly. Concerning the
alleged political aspect of the Grange
movement, the Tribune correspondent
has this to say, which is also to the
point:
"The whole story of the connection of
the Grange with politics and political
parties is equally false, and to any mem
Der of the Order is perfectly absurd.
The constitution of the National, State
and subordinate Oranges requires that
no political or partisan topic shall be
discussed in the Grange, and no rule is
more strictly enforced. The members of
the Order are from all political parties
aud from every shade or section OF each,
and their political views are never ques-
toned or influenced in the Grange Be
longing to the great agricultural class,
it is fair to presume that they will seek to
have the State and National legislation
such as will promote and facilitate, in
the highest and widest sense, the interest
of agriculture; and as these are affiliated
with all others, they will not probably
wrong any others The admission Of
professed politicians, or indeed of politi-
clans of any sort, into the Order, is strong
ly discouraged We do not want them, and
have no disposition to be guided or indu-
enced by them. They may scatter hay
seed in their hair, wear butternut shirts
and stogy boots, wear their trousers tuck
ed in, but they will not be welcomed"