The Grange advance., 1874-05-06

railroad corporations, bank corporations
or any other combined interests 70 out
of their way anu enact laws prejudicial
to themselves for the advantage of the
farmer, too negligent to look after his
own affairs? What might happen in an
imaginary community Of saints, but it's
not the way worldly sinners do business
nowadays. There are times whe. the
monied powers have become bold and
aggressive, and readily form combina-
tions; not for selfprotcction but for the
purpose Of accumulating some wealth
and power by invading the rights Of
the weaker party"
Mr.. w." How can we help our
selve,,?
Ed" Your forefathers never would
have asked that question. They were
at all times ready, one and all, to meet
and crush any evil that threatened the
safety or the welfare Of the country
Have the farmers become 50 degenerate
in these latter days that they mus,
stand helpless and inquire what shall l
do to be saved ? Now I tell you MIR.
W, if you intend to extend your
argument and apply it to the farmers
as class, it is the feeble, false argu-
ment Of decrepid old man. I tell you,
that what has been done in our coun-
try can be done again and what can be
mnst be, or your children and mine will
live to set days Of sorrow and ffliction
The time may again come when they
will see . Rachael weeping for her chill
dren and will not be comforted, becaues
they are not"
Mr.. w." Well, would like to see
the farmers coming forward more boldly
but you won't lift them out of the old
groove very rapidly with your newspa-
pers."
Ed" Mr.. W., although you
are Granger you don't seem fully to
comprehend the awakened spirit that
has gone abroad. That force is rapidly
maturing its organization throughout
the United States and bears upon its ban
ner the excellent notices Faith, Hope,
Charity and Fidelity. This power Of
truth itself, aud its divide mission, will
speedily and effectually burst assunder
the tyranical chains Of party politicians
release the mind from that debasing and
ignominious thraldom, and again restore
the country to absolute freedom"
Mr.. W.-With feeling, Amen, amen.
This is not fancy conversation, but
substantially what took place with my
old and excellent neighbor, Mr.. W
1t is simply put in form here, because it
is photograph of what takes place daily
and has been repeated over and over
again for years past. There is large
proportion of farmers in every commun-
ity too much like Martha, who look
closely after the small things of life, and
feel that they have accomplished their
whole duty, but are unwilling to trouble
their minds, as did Mary, with those
that are higher and holier. It should be
beneath the dignity Of any man who has
pride in the well-being Of the country
to feel, much less assert, that he can,
with impunity, shirk out of his propor-
ton Of public duty. A Republic, which
has cost us two bloody wars, whose soil
has been fertilized with the blood of pa
triots, and to preserve which, the nation
al treasure has been poured out like
water, should be worth the watchful care
| OF every one.
This is not the first time I have bat
tered my friend, Mr.. w., with ar.
guments, we never quarrel, however, SO
as not to part on excellent terms, but he
is heavy, square-built man, and it is nc
easy matter to pay him out of the
"groove " he speaks Of
Scandinavian Chopon<n~