The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1874-02-18
Patrons OF Husbauiry.

years, has like it assumed such gigan-
tic proportions and attracted such
widespread attention. About the
middle of last December the number
Of lodges iu the United States num-
bered near ten thousand, with an ag-
gregate membership of about seven
hundred Thousand, but nyw, consider
ing the rapidity with which this far
mers' movement has advanced, the
above figures must be much too small.
Indeed, It now officially announced
that there between II 900 and $4,000
oranges in the country, aud they num-
Der nearly 100000 Men.
From Maine to California this orgsu-
izatiou is augmentiug its forces in
every State, and in gone States, in
every County, but it is in the West
and South that the order has been
most successful and e1erted its indu-
euce most powerfully Though hav-
ing no direct connection with politics,
its influence has already been felt at
the ballot by uniting in common
cause the yeomanry Of the cou:.try.
1t arose from the necessities Of the
times, from the principle OF self-pro-
lection. Up to its initiation every
class and Interest of society has com-
bined and organized for the promotion
of its particular objects, except
tho fsruling interest. As the Georgia
senator, Hon. John B. Gordon, in
recent speech in Congress, eloqueutly
said:
"Why should it not combine? Has
not every interest combined? Is not
the money power of the country COM
bined, and did it not dictate the fnan-
cial policy Of 1852, which has brought
such disaster to the Producer, aud
does it not now, even at this very hour
while I speak, by its delegations from
Boston, from New York, and else
where. block the duors Of this chamber
to influence the vote of this body !?
Labor combines, aud receives at the
hands Of the government Al eight
hour law. The fisheries combined,
and received from the Government u
bounty. Manufacturers combined, and
received high protective tariff
The irou.mougers combine, and, un-
like the farmers pigs which must
De fatteued from his own crib, they
have their iron-pigs fatteued from the
Government crib. Railroads combine,
and by Government bounties and Gov.
ernment grants they scale the noun.
tains and link with bands Of steel our
Eastern and Western oceans. But.
sir, this great interest, which lies at
the foundation Of all other interests |;
this interest, without which no interest
can survive; this interest, which num-
bers among its subjects near 20,000,-
900 of the 100000 of the popula-
tiou Of the country; this interest,
which bears on its Atlsntean shoulders
the wealth, the commerce, the nanu-
features and the very civilization Of
the country, has to-day less influence
in shaping the Legislation Of the coua-
try than the fishers Of the salty cod fish
on the shores of New England"
But, however negligent agricultu-
ralists have heretofore been ON the
subjecr Of organization, the day has
come when they too see tho importance
and necessity of union, ard are deter
mined to reap the fruits Of it. In the
order of the Patrons Of Husbandry
we see q marked exemplifcstiou Of
this fact, and the uawonted success
which it has attained in these few
years promise for i, 3 glorious future.
Some are opposed to this lrove.
nert, but opponents are to be expect
ed to every good thing, and the exis-
tenco Of such opposition prssupposcs
worth in the Objectionable object.
as the existence Of. couaterfeits pre-.
suppose that there are genuine bills
somewhere It is thought that it is
dangerous for any class to have sucl,
great power as organization would give
to farmers So it might bc said that, it
is dangerous for man to b. able to
repel the attack Of robber, becslsc
the same strong arm may strike with
cruel blows the dciencclcss heads Of
his wife and children. The stale OBJ
lection of secrecy is sometimes urged,
but that has been s!.irered into i
thousand atoms so frequently that it
is as foolish to answer it as it is 7idic-
ulous tu press it.
We prefer to look ou the bright
side Of the question. We prefer to
couteuplate the social and intellectual
advantages which this Order offers to
the tilers Of the soil. the great means
it affords for the dissemination of sg-
ricultursl knowledge by the Interchange
of views aad experience. Union will
enable them to carry out plans In
which individuals would fail, expert
meuts can be made, and immigration
promoted. The great sectional bar
rierS which have existed so long and
have been so bitter, this order will tend
to break down, BY uniting the far
mers of ali sections in one com:aon
brotherhood.
Though they claim to have nothing
to do with politics, which is en-