The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1874-09-03
WHICH THE WRITER GOES
FOR Us WITH A SHARP STICK.

FOR US WITH A SHARP S11CAs
FAIR HAVEN. Aug. 18th, 1874.
Hon Ignatius Donnelly:
DEAR SIR AND Bro: In the fourth
number of your PAPER, the AS71-MoN-
oroLIsr, you take the liberty to make
an unwarrantable criticism of an article
under the head of Common Ground Of
Action In endeavoring to make
white appear black, or in other words,
in trying to evolve inconsistency from
few ideas hastily written, though per-
fectly compatible, you exhibit yourself
to calm unprecedented mind the veri.
est victim of that mental confusion, OF
mirture, of which you accuse us. If
by such shallow aspersions, you expect
to bring into disrepute the efforts of
your weaker brethren, you wotully
mistake the mental calibre Of your
readers. You first charge me with
saying that it is right to discuss
railroad high tariff but wrong to
discuss revenue high tariff Now l
submit any such declaration exists in
the quotation you make or in any part
Of the letter referred tc, but what we
did say, what we emphatically repeat,
and what every patron, at all CONVEX
SAINT with the laws Of the Order knows,
is, that it introduces into the Grange
for discussion political party issues,
such as revenue tariff, &C., is viola
ton Of the law of the Order. Now,
ask is this declaration synonymous with
that which you attribute to us. In
saying that it is wrong to discuss reve-
nue. tariff in the Grange, do we say
that it is wrong to discuss it anywhere
else; is there no other possible time or
place to discuss such subjects, but in
the Grange? Yes, Brother Donnelly,
and we take this occasion to affirm, that
eve are opposed to any such spirit
or management of any corporation as
tends to Cypress the people and rob
them of their just profits and we urge
upon our brethren, as american citi-
zens, to take proper interest IN the
politics of the country" for whoever
takes such interest in the politics of his
country will not only talk but act poll
itics in the exercise Of his right of suf-
frage, and on all other proper occasions.
They well understand that it is by such
action only that they can free them
selves from the oppression of monopoly.
Again, you ask if some of the subjects
contained in your Autobiography Ad
dress, arc proper subjects for discussion
in the Grange, why not discuss them!
l answer, We do discuss them whenever
We think proper, but never at your sug-
gestion. And why! Simply because
Donnclly and the purpose THAT
some think) that influenced
him in issuing the address-is the rock
upon which grange in discussing these
issues would split into political parties;
hence it is not dread of the effect up
on the Republican party, as you affirm.
but Of the demoralizing influence upon
the grange, that we exclude party is
sues therefrom. We wish to offer few
more suggestions. We represent
verv large class of the Order of Patrons.
some of whom have known luxury but
arc now reduced to comparative pow
ertv. Some Of US, who have tasted of
the sweets of luxury even are now ex-
pericncing the bitterness of want, while
others of our class have struggled all
their lives against adversely, looking
wistfully. vainly hoping for some means
of deliverance from the oppressive bur-
dens of poverty imposed upon us by the
merciless rule of monopolies and official
corruption.
have had extensive opportunities
Of observing the effects OF this abnor-
NAL state Of society upon tie domestic
happiness of this class of people, and l
think have good grounds for the as
sertion that there is to-day more moral
and physical suffering here than ever was
or could be produced by the curse Of
American slavery. They have drank
the bitter cup to its dregs. But they
don't propose to swallow the dregs with
out final desperate struggle. They
are now ripe for revolution. For the
purpose of defense they have organized
en- mosss, and have inaugurated plan
Of warfare. First, they propose to en-
force in their ranks system of disci- |
pline, well knowing that an army uni