Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1874-03-07
MERCHANTS AND CHANGERS.

We have learned, with regret, that
the impression is abroad, that one OBJ
ject of the oranges is to establish CO.
operative stores and thus destroy the
merchants vocation-they coming I'M
der the head of middlemen. We are
not member of the grange and have
no authority to speak for the Order;
but will venture the opinion, that it
will do the farmers more harm than
good to undertake to pull down, indis-
criminately, legitimate and long estab-
lished pursuits, upon the plea that
they are neither mechanical nor agri-
cultural. Diversity of pursuits is the
life of business and the key to gen.
eral prosperity. Merchandising is as
old as the first advance towards civili-
cation and will continue to the end of
time. As more reliable proof that
the cry of war, upon merchants, is a
mere fabrication we will quote the re-
ply of Mr.. Saunders, Chairman of the
Executive Committee of the National
Grange, to question put by Herald
reporter, on this point:
Il have received a letter to-day"
said Mr.. Saunders, from the master
of grange in Tennessee, who writes
we have capital of $4,000, with
which to start a cooperative store.
Please send us your plan. My answer
was: The Grange does not encourage
cooperative stores. Until one can
be found that has stood the test of
twelve years business, such organiza-
tions cannot receive the appreciation
of the National Executive Committee.
They all run into speculation, and that
is what we want to avoid.
This is from headquarters, and if
anything we have written, conveys a
different impression, the fault is ours,
not that of the oranges, which will
have enough to do to break down
dangerous monopolies, to break up
corners" in wheat and -four, in pork
and corn, as well as all other corrupt
rings-the administration included
held together by common desire to
rob the people. When they have done
these things and replaced Liberty on
her throne and Justice on the Bench,
their labors will better bear curtail-
ing than extension. Nor will they
make any permanent progress in the
work of reform unless they proceed
upon the cardinal idea that the intel
lectual and moral faculties ofall classes
must be cultivated, in order that vir-
tue and intelligence shall become, as
originally intended, the safeguards of
liberty and justice and the leading
characteristics of people and govern
ment.
Whilst on this subject, we will give
our principal reasons for advocating
the Patrons of Husbandry. We de-
sire the success of the oranges at the
| North, because we belieye they will
prove most efectual agencies for the
overthrow of the oppressive aristocracy
established by fraud and force, upheld
by corruption and money and sustained
by people too ignorant to foresee its
disastrous results, or too corrupt to
care what becomes Of their rights and
! liberties We want to see the oranges
succeed in the South because they will
bring about such cooperation of the
farmers, as will tend to enlighten them
upon ali suDyeclS DedIIuS upOu luSlI
duties as the majority class and their
rights as the supporters of government
and CONNIE zee, as, in fact, the staff of
life to every interest developed by
commerce and civilization. Such or
CARNATIONS will be schools in which
farmers can learn to appreciate their
own Importance to the world, and how
they can best advance themselves to
the position of wealth and power, and
make every grange an efficient agent
in building up the common school sys-
TEN in every southern State. All
other considerations are but secondary
to these and if due consideration and
effect be given to them, the correction
of all minor evils will follow as effect
follows cause.