The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1874-03-13
A Blast from Bruin,

| To the Editors OF the Herald and Mad:
| In your last issue you published a
| synopsis OF the platform of principles
that were adopted and proclaimed at the
| late national meeting of the Patrons OF
| Husbandry at st. Louis. / was really
| glad to see it, as it has become subject
| of remark that you rarely ever publish
any thing about this new order. | an
no Granger, buC have for the past twelve
months been informing myself as to the
object and aims of this order. From all
1 have learned it is a secret organization
in the interest of agriculture, horticul-
ture and the common good of mankind.
By faithful adherence to the principles
as taught by them, it will, think, in
sure our mental, moral and material
advancement. This is a subiec, that
Bear Checkers are just getting interested
in. 1t is new thing and on this ac>
count imperfectly understood. Its oriS
gin only dates back to 1867. Although
it is young in years, it has reached the
full stature of mature manhood. The
single State of Missouri has sixteen
hundred Oranges, with a mem bership
of eighty-ive thousand, all of which
have been established in the last few
years. Its great stronghold is at pres
ent in the West. 1t has of late been in
troduced into the New England States
At the last meeting of the National
Grange thirty-twO States and two Ter
ritories were there represented.
Some who are inclined to see "hum
bug" in every new move, assert that
this is wOman's rights movement; otn-
ers that it is cover for political ia
trigues. The fact that women are ad-
mitted to full membership into the or
der, regard as one of its most worthy
features. Is there not as wide field for
improvement in woman'S sphere as in
mans? Where men are assem- bled for
mental culture or social chat what more
stimulates them to high-minded action
than the presence of woman? l am a
woman's "rights" man, and hope to see
the time when women will be allowed
the privilege of voting; then our election
days will be enjoyed throughout the
land, as pleasant picnic day; drunk
enness and profanity will be banished
from all such assemblies by woman's
presence.
Lawyers, physicians, merchants, tele- |
graph companies, railroad corporations, |
&C., have had organizations Tor mutual |
protection, and last of all, a few practi- |
cal farmers, literally educated, conceiv- |
ed of this method of putting their CO. |
labOrers on an equal footing with men |
engaged in other occupations, and a |
great cry is raised, Oppression" "Ag-
gression" / suppose something is saw
ed in clubbing together for buying and
preston that this is among the leading
objects of this institution. When the |
order of Patrons was first instituted, it
seems that it was not the intention of
the organization to make it a sn, r..sce ~ /,
pecuniary gain, This feature grew out
OF 1t. Western farmers conceived the
idea of clubbing together for the pur-
chase OF machinery, which is extensively
used in that country. When thew met |
in the Grange meeting statistical reports
showed that hundreds and thousands OF
dollars had been saved to the farmers OF
the west in this one particular. Now
is there anything dishonorable or dis
reputable for hundred men to band
together to avail themselves of whole
sale rates? The merchant and the gro
cerymen do so-why not the farmer?
Although it is not political organiza>
ton, yet its influence will be felt in pol
iticS. Our farmers are the bulk Ot the
nation, but what influence do they exert
on the affairs Of the nation-even upon
their own chosen occupation? The Con-
gress of the United States is composed
of over three hundred members, and
less than dozen ever had any knowl-
edge of husbandry, and tout OF the mills
lions of dollars that are yearly appro-
priated in land grants, less than one
mill of each dollar is appropriated di~
rectly to the farmer" Farmers, think ..
OF these things, and if you wish your &C.
cupation-that upon which ali other in
dustrial pursuits are founded-protected,
prepare yourself for the work, labor in
unison, and not single-handed, as you
are new doing.
AS the farmer yokes the OK and har~
nesses the horse, and compels them to
be his servants, just so congressman
and politicians harness the bulk of our
population the agrioultprists, and COM
pei them to be their aids and supporters.
Now, If the dumb beast knew its
strength, it would less readily yield to
mans will. Just SO with farmers, if
they were properly informed and we'll
they would no longer be the
tools OF WIRE pnllers, but knowing their
rights and duties, would have the man
illness to resolutely stand up in defeuce.
During the past ten years the fields of
the farmers have added to the wealth of
the world MANY millions of dollars, and
caused prosperity to smile Cd every one
who has handled the crop, save the
land oNner aud the lauoFeF, who strug~
gled tor its production. The landowner
generally furnishes land, horses, houses,
farming implements, &c.. and gives
one half of the amount produced to the
laborer; the other halt is consumed in
th5 support of the family, taxes and
other Incidental expenses. Now the
ohiet object of the Patrons OF Husbandry
a~Ams to be to benefit the agricultural
Al-~-A ara nlRnv rea-
sons why this Society may be an advan
tage to the farmer, there is one alone
that viii give it pernananee, security,
endurance. 1t is, the facility it affords
for intellectual and social improvement.
Socially, it is the RIGHT thing IN the
right place. Our people are becoming
more and more unsocial, and have been
knnHinO n fhfc AiraNtinn ever since the |
war. The human being alone was ere
ated with the faculty of social inter-
course, and he who fails to improve it,