The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1874-06-19
GRANGE POLITICS.

the grange, there IS nevertheless
an idea in the breasts of man,
Patrons that we intend dealing i
politics severely through tn
grange organization, or at leas
an irresistible and pure politica
organization will unavoidable
grow out of the grange move
ment. Patrons are heard to de
clare that if it were not for this
they would not give a snap O
their fingers for it. Master
of oranges are taken by some t.
be formally constituted leaders o
political movements. Other:
give a fiimsy definition of the
word political, and hold that any
thing not in direct issue between
the present parties, is allowed fol
discussion in the grange. Others
again call a farmers meeting on
short lnotice after the grange is
closed.
1t seems to me that these ideas
and actions place us in a very
awkward position, as if we really
intended to contradict ourselves.
We have a good cause, and it re
quires no means of defence that
are not manly and upright in the
strictest sense. Indeed the use
of such subterfuges would be I'M
worthy of, and injurious to, any
good cause. We must never
think of making our own laws
dead letters, if we would respect
ourselves, and be respected by
others, and in fact we cannot do
it long, because we have taken no
pledge of secrecy that will apply
in such cases; and it is absolutely
certain to bring disunion and de-
feat sooner or later. A secret po-
litical organization at this day,
would be ten times more con
temptible than the know-nothing
league ever was, because the ma
ture and consequences of such a
league are well known now, while
it was new and untried to most
of the members of that day.
But it may be proposed by
some to overcome these scruples
by a public political organization,
composed not only of Patrons,
nor of farmers alone, but embrac-
ing all the industrial classes-an
anti-monopoly party, peoples
party, or whatever name may be
thought most expressive of good
intentions, except q grange party.
The idea however will be to grow
it out of the grange movement
under 4 cloak, as it were; and |
have the same objections to it as
above, and a great many more
than l will be likely TO hint at in
one short article.
1t is claimed by some that the
present political parties are so ex-
cessiyely corrupt, that it is inn
possible to save or maintain them.
This has led me to inquire who
compose the present parties, or
who are meant when thus spoken
of. If it is the people-the vo-
tiers Reconsideration of course
the Patrons are included, because
they are all either Republicans or
Democrats, and therefore power
less for reform, until the fountain
is purified. Without denying
that a deplorable amount of cor
ruption exists, and without laying
q large share of it to the woman
ry or other industrial classes, /
think truth would compel us to
admit some responsibility for it.
While public sentiment esteems
it less crime to over-reach, cheat
or defraud q commonwealth than
An individual, honesty in public
officers will be governed by poll
cy. Such a sentiment is wrong
and therefore somewhat corrupt,
and the Patrons are no more ex-
empt from it than other voters.
Neither have they scrutinized of
ficials and their actions closer
than other classes, so as to be
prepared to stamp them with con-
demnation or approval, and very
likely have often misapplied both.
Nor can we truthfully claim to
generally possess a larger share
of honesty and capability than
other classes. All we can claim
is that we ought to, and will, give
more serious attention to such
matters hereafter, acquire more
information about them, and vote
more intelligently, than we have
been doing. If we do this to a
sufficient extent, we can accomp-
lish reforms in the old parties; if
We do not, new party will soon
be like the others, and bring dis
grace and disaster to our order
besides.
If the party leaders-the office
holders-are responsible fer all
the corruption, then we can easily
push them out of their present
places in the parties, by the
means l have indicated; while
without close application of these
means, we cannot keep them out
of the new organization. At least
we will either reinstate them, or
put others no better in their
places. Either one will no doubt
profess to be the champions of
the down-trodden classes, and all
that sort of clap-tra.p
IL the press-the party organs
are largely responsible for this
corruption, as they sometimes
charge upon each other, then how
can we avoid their influence in
our puritan party9 Many of
them are evidently anxious to en-
brace and advocate our cause,
just as soon as we show that we
are going into politics on our own
hook. How can we prevent
them? Or do we want to prevent
them? five admit them into our
new party, will they be thereby
regcnerated at once? Can we de-
pend on that their former pro-
clivities will be at once obliterat-
ed and forgotten, and a new and
better course adopted and per-
severed in? Or will they snuff
the wind and see which way it is
going TO blow, and now and then
say some good things for the hon
est Yeomanry2 Perhaps we will
be compelled to start organs of
our own, as We do business agen-
cies. l don't believe instantane.
Gus conversion will at once de-
velop a new and perfect man.
CHAs. PATTERSON.
l-Colman's Rural World.
/ SUGGESTIVE FIGURES.