Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1874-01-19
THE PATRONS OF HUsBANDRY.

", and statistics show that there are al
ready thousands of oranges and more
than million members. Not IN num-
bers alone. is the order becoming Of i'm
portance. but its influence is being felt .
on legislatures and in the halls of con- /
gress. Very Unexpectedly a few days I
since. the hay seed power, as it IS /
called. manifested itself in new quar-
ter. At the Republican state eonven-
ton in New Hampshire, when the votes !
for governor came to be counted. the far
mer candidate, whose name had not ap- |
peared on the political state, had a ma /
ioritv of the votes, and goes before the
people . nominee for governor. Perhaps
at our own conventions these grangers,
for they are becoming numerous even IN
Vermont. nav turn up and inaugurate
a new system of political management
We are often asked our opinion Of the
Patrons. Not being q member Of the
order. and knowing nothing of its Sc
erets. We can only speak Of it from what
it has done. and from Its avOwed objects.
To better understand its purposes and
whv it originated. a few lines in regard
to the past and present condition Of the
country may be necessary. Within the
past twenty years great changes have
been wrought in the country. The set
Element and development Of the West
has carried emigration and capital in
that direction. and great demand for
means Of transportation and for markets
for an immense amount of produce has
arisen. Railways have followed close
upon the heels Of the pioneer steam
boats have swarmed upon the lakes and
the rivers and the enterprise Of the
west has Joined hands with the capital
of the east, until numerous lines of rail.
roads and of steamboats, have been built
T. develop the one, while it might enrich
the other. The war broke out, and {
food Of money was let loose, to be gath
cred up in most cases By those who leas
deserved it, bu. who could take advan
tage Of the necessities of the government
and the people, to enrich themselves
monied moaopolies sprung up lines anc
systems of railways went into the hand
Of miIlionaires the bonds Of the gov
eminent and stock Of railroads wer
bought up by stock jobbers to be manip
ulated as best served the purposes {
the owners politics became debauehed
and in the seething cauldron Of excite
ment and corruption brought on By tn
war. the worst element Of all parties va
brought upon the surface, to exert
baneful influence in legislation and "
on society dishonesty stalked in hig
places. and painful state Of democrat
zation was brought upon Us The harl
resulting from this state Of affairs v;
most seriously felt by the industrioJ
and honest classes Of the land. The IA
mer, who had labored hard the We;
through. and had striven by rigid eco
omy to reduce his debt, or to add lit
to his store, returned to his home wi
sad heart, when he learned that &
the profits of his labor had been absor
ed and pocketed by others as his pr
duce went TO market The miner Ii
buried himself in the mines. and Bor
ed diligently the year through for on
enough to poorly clothe and feed 1
family. learned with no feeling Of sat
faction that the corporation for which
labored had been growing rich from t
products of its mines. The poor wol
man Of the East. who had found it ha
to buy his -four and his meat, did l
rejoice to learn tina; the prices Of tht
articles Of food had been unduly incre
ed By excessive freight charges. Ind
trious classes that had attained prosp
ity through honesty and economy, lea
ed with surprise and Indignation Il
many Of those they had selected for
siiions Of honor and Of trust. had stol
or misapplied the revenues of the col
try. aud had labored harder for per
al aggrahdizement than for the good
the people. Hence a wide spr,
feeling of dissatisfaction grew up in
country. among the farmers and labor
classes. Something was asked for. I
would afford redress. The order Of 7
rOns Of Husbaudry originated. and N;
believed it to be the panacea desir
Its object, as Is shown from its consti
ton, was 70 overcome some Of the e
mentioned, and to afford Its memE
opportunity to meet together in eoun
and for mutual enjoyment and impr,
ment We see no objection TO any
the avOved objects Of the order, and
less it hides behind its curtains, m
which Its respectable members VIC
aot be likely to tolerate, it ought to c
mand the respect Of many There
grievous evils in the country. that Il
be overcome before the most deser
classes Of our citizens can be prospe
and with wise management, and the
lection Of honest men for the direc
Of the affairs Of this order, We see
reason why 1t cannot result in Il
good to the people The frequent u
ings Of the oranges ought to afford 4
pleasure and profit 70 the member.