Omaha daily bee., 1874-05-23
A TALK TO THE CHANGERS.
Grand Master Allen, Of Missouri,
Gives Some Advice to His
. Brother Patrons-The
Grange in Poll
tics.

Oh the Sldtt, IL DCCoitiCo ny uuty u
again call the attention of patrons t.
our true status on the subjec, of poll
tics.
Brother Patrons: You must al
low me to be plain and emphatic;
am naturally SO, and never tried {,
learn to be otherwise. The position
1 occupy in u order is by your vol
untary suffrages. You placed me il
a position TO require one to take
solemn obligation to see that Oul
laws are enforced. To the best Of
my knowledge and ability, Intend
to perform that duty. ~
Allow me again to quote from the
"Declaration of Purposes of the Ma
tional Grange"
ave emphatically and sincerely
assert the oft-repeated truth taught
in. our organic law, thai the
G~range-National, State or subordi-
nate is not a political party organi-
zation. No grange, if true to its OBJ
legations, can discuss political or re-
ligious' questions, nor call political
conventions, nor nominate candi-
dates, nor ever discuss their merits
in its meetings."
Yet the principles we teach under
lie all true politics, all true states
manship, and if properly carried out
will tend to purify the whole politi-
cal atmosphere of our country. For
We seek the greatest good to the
greatest number. We must always
bear i'm mind that no one, by be-
coming u Patron of Husbandry,
gives up that inalienable right and
duty which belongs to every Ameri-
can citizen, to take aproper interest
in the politics of his country.
On the contrary, 1t is right for
every member to do all in his
power legitimately to influence for
good the action of any political
to which he belongs. 1t is
his duty to do all he can i'm his own
party to put down bribery, corrup>
ton, and trickery; to see that none
but competent, faithful, and honest
men, who will unfiinchingly stand
by our industrial interests, are
dominated for positions of trust ;
and to have carried out the princi-
Pile which should always character
lie every grange member, that the
office should seek the man, and not
the man the office.
We acknowledge the broad prin-
ciple that difference of opinion is
no crime" and hold that "progress
toward truth is made by differences
Of opinion" while 'sthe fruit lies in
the bitterness of controversy" We
desire a proper equalization, equity,
fairness; protection for the
restraint upon the strong i'm
short, justly distributed burdens and
distributed power. These are
American ideas, the very essence
Of American independence, and to
advocate the contrary Is unworthy
the sons and daughters of an
American republic.
We cherish the belief that sec
is, and of a right should
be, dead and buried with the past.
Our work is for the present and the
In our agricultural brother
hood and Its purposes we shall rec
no north, no south, no east,
no west.
1t is reserved by every patron as
the right of a freeman to affiliate
with any party that will best carry
out his principles.
Here much is said in little space,
and it is so plain that no one need
misapprehend it.
The first proposition is that the
grange, as such, can have nothing
% do with politics.
The second is that by becoming q
member of it We n not released
from any of the duties or response
.ilities Of citizenship.
The third is that it is the duty of
every citizen to take a proper inter-
est in the politics of the country:
The fourth is that it is his duty TO
do all i'm his power legitimately to
the abuses and oorruptions
that exist by putting honest and ca
pablo men into positions of trust and
power.
The fifth is to beware of men who
seek office.
The sixth is that an honest differ
ence ofOpinion is no crime.
The seventh is a fair and equal
representation, distribution of bur-
dens and of power.
The eight is that sectionalism is
wrong and should be ignored, and
the past differences of opinion
should have nothing to do with the
present.
The ninth is that the right of every
man to be governed by his own
honest convictions of duty is fully
recognized.
Now, brother patrons, there is
one restriction found in the first
proposition, that is, that we, shall
not bring politics into the grange.
This is an essential with US, and in
this there must be unity,
But is there not liberty enough in
the other eight propositions, with
included, to satisfy any
or reasoning mind? But
some of you saySg "The old parties
have become 50 corrupt that We can
not trust thenes,- Al, my friends,
Of whom are these parties COM
Mostly of ourselves. BY a
neglect Of duty We have allowed our
important interests to fall into the
hands Of a few designing leaders,
we following blindly where they
lead. We have allowed them to do
our thinking, planning their own
elevation to places of trust and
power, and then legislating to suit
themselves, bowling to the behests
of higher party leaders, or al
lowing themselves to be seduced
from the path of duty by the
money and influence of wealthy
monopolies. But could they have
done this without your aid? Think
q little. Have you not been in the
habit of attending the primary
meetings of your respective parties?
What for2 Why simply as a matter
of course, of party routine, What
did you do there? Why took seats
near the door, back seats. Less
than half a dozen men in the pre-
cinct, q little sublatern ring (under
instructions from the next higher
grade, and so on up through all the
grades, march up to the front
plan all cut and dried, resolutions
ready. One Of these dominates a
chairman and puts the motion,
You say aye! Then another of the
e.. coaroAo.r. .-o.