The Grange advance., 1874-05-06

1u0 ullulOuS "a OVAA 0AA0AA OCAOlc
you like the mists before the morning
sun J"
The question supon which the country
has been divided for the last fifty years
the tariff, the National Bank, Inter-
nal improvements by Government aid,
and Slavery-are no longer national
issues; they have either been definitely
settled or, in the progress Of events,
have become of secondary Importance.
None of these questions can ever again
divide the American people. To-day
the only question Of interest to the pol
itician and the self-styled statesman is,
"Shall I be able to secure an Office 20
The only question Of interest to the
American farmer, or to the American
people, is, :s Where is an honest man,
that We may employ him in the admin
istration of the affairs of this Govern
ment?" Advertise in all the papers,
" Wanted-Honest men to hold Office;
people too lazy to work and too proud
to respect the farmer need not apply"
1t is no doubt wise policy that has
decided that the Grange shall not be
political organization. The Grange
should be bond to unite the farmers of
all parts of the nation, and, perhaps of
the world. The office Of the Grange
should be to educate the farmer, socially,
morally and politically to fit him for,
and to prepare for the great work Of pu-
rifying his nation.
The Grange is for organization, educa-
tion and preparation; it cannot we'll at
tempt more without interfering with and
violating the fundamental principles Of
the system Of government under which
we live. The contest, the work, what
ever that work may be, must be done
outside. This is as it should be yet
fatter not yourselves, ye trembling poll
ticians, that, because the grange is not a
political organization, what has been shall
continue to be. Already is the hand
departed from the wall the writing is
plain, I" thou art weighed in the balances
and found wanting" The Persian is at
the gate.
Ye farmers of America, to you is in
trusted great responsibility. The
kingdom is taken from the political
Belshazzars, who have ruled and rioted
SO long, and given to you. Henceforth
you are the God-appointed custodians Of
the liberties of our country. How will
you meet this responsibility? Awake
Arise! Act Shake off the stupor that
is benumbing all your faculties. Call
to mind the heroic days Of the past,
when great questions were agitated and
settled by the earnest thoug hit and &C.
tion Of the masses. Study the history
OF the farmers Of l776; pattern by their
example, but dwell not with past issues
" Let dead past bury its dead,'' and
hasten to the future. Let every farm
er make the Science of Government his
study. Let political economy and the
principles Of christianity, applied to the
theory and practice of government, en-
gage his most earnest attention.
Let every voter in the Grange con-
scientiously attend every primary meet
ing. crowd aside the back men and
roughs who have so long monopolized
and controlled such meetings, and see
to it that. none but good and honest
men are nominated for Office. Now,
let hs make politics a part of our relig-
ior. Let every member Of the Grange
feel that it is a duty which he owes to
God, as we'll as to his country, to elect
good men to Office. Be alert, active and
faithful, and the work can be accom-
plished.
Bad men have continually ridden in
to Office upon the tidal wave Of some
great national political question good
men have toiled and suffered and bled
to establish principle or maintain a
right and, finally, when success has
crowned their efforts, bad men have
reaped the reward of their tolls.
How often in the history of the past
have we seen the patriot and the states.
man who had fairly and nobly won ex-
alted position, heartlessly set aside, and
time-servers and knaves set to fill their
place! So long and so frequently has
this been done that there remains no
healthy stimulus to noble effort or to a
noble ambition. The young, finding as
rule that success follows knavery rath
er than honest effort, have become de-
moralized, and national ruin seems near
at hand
And shall this be? If the farmers of
America awake to the grave response
bilities which God and the needs of
the hour have ;,nnoaod l