The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1874-09-03

UuOcIllc Ill pOllClCS, oil VI U0 0S~SoAAAs'AA
ship, and which, if properly carried out,
will tend to purify the political atmos-
phere of our country. This education
al feature of our Order we claim to be
the first and an indispensable step to-
wards success. Thoroughly to incul-
cate the cardinal principles of our Or
der upon the heart Of man to educate
him to believe the primitive doctrine Of
republicanism. and to feel that public
office means the service OF the people,
and not the means of speculation; that
his vote should in no manner become
an article of merchandise to teach him
honesty of purpose, fidelity in the dis
charge Of official duties, and jealous de-
votion to the interests of his constitu-
ents; this is the legitimate mission OF
the Order of Patrons; and this the full
extent of its bearing on questions of
a political nature. This mission ac-
complished and we shall hear no
more of fraudulent elections,
nor of official corruption.
For these many and dreary years.
Bro. Donnelly, we have submitted our
interests to the keeping of political Of
flee seekers and demagogues, and as
often have been deceived and ignored.
We now propose to intrust our inter-
terests to own class. We are not as
ignorant of the sources OF our ADVERSE
ty as some imagine; we instlnctlvely
look with jealous eye to that higher
stratum of society; to a moneyed arts
tocracy, and official corruption. as the
invading force, to which we aim our
deadly charge. 1t is to the ''farmer S
movement that we look for help;
it is our last and only
hope; and can you blame US if we
guard our Order with jealous eye,and
watch with dread the introduction of
any element that bodies evil. We do
not wish to impugn your political char
acter, but being aware that you repre-
sent entirely different class of people;
that you are of those to whom we have
formerly trusted our interests, without
any benefit, and believing that you
cannot, under the circumstances, ap-
preciate the motives that urge us on IN
this struggle, We naturally ask, is he
honest is he sincere! The circum-
stance ofy your urging upon our oranges
the discussion of political issues, by
which they would inevitably be convert
ed into political parties, is very signiti-
cant. DoEou not know las reader
of history you must know that poll
tics is death to all such organizations!
and that political parties have been and
always must be, subject to the inexora-
BILE law of growth, maturity, decay and
death!
And yet, with full knowledge of the
facts, you urge us on to inevitable de-
Struction.
As for your efforts as an editor in
fighting monopoly through the press, l
think speak the mind of most of my
brothers when l say they are noble
and powerful, and l bid you God speed
in the glorious work and will introduce
your paper wherever can.
A. B. Coors.
Comments I. We meant no I'M
kindness to our friend when we COM
mentcd upon his letter. He should
regard it rather as compliment that
the ASr1-MoNoPoL1sr selected his utter
ances as text for discussion.
II. Technically, possibly, he is right
in some of his views; but he abideth by
the letter which killeth.
The Grange is farmer S association ;
the farmer interests are the same, one
with another. We cannot see how an
effort to discover what their class inter-
ests truly are can disrupt them. If the
Grange was made up of farmers and
protected manufacturers, then the DIS
cussion of the tariff would inevitably
tear them asunder. But if hundred
farmers cannot discuss the unjust tax
alton inflicted upon them by the tariff
without tearing each others hair out,
then they are incapable of discussing
the taxation imposed upon them by the
railroads, by the legislature, by the
county board, or anyone else. and they
are unfit for self government.
We are free to admit that such dis
cussions of the tariff will inhict serious
injury upon the Republican party; but
we do not understand that the Order Of
Patrons of Husbandry was instituted to
conserve the welfare of any political par
ty, and we do not think that question
should enter into the matter at all.
We hold that A. B. has perfect right
to argue, in the Grange, that Pro-
tective Tariff is wrong, that it taxes the
farmer unjustly, &C.: and he is not
talking politics in SO doing; but if c.
D. rises and makes the point that such