The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1875-10-13
Not the Same.

Killing OF the anti-monopoly party, as
a political organization, will, it is
thought by some politicians, eventually
destroy the Order of Patrons Of Hus.
bandry. Why this idea should have
obtained place in the mind of any in
telligent man, is more than we can i'm
agine, but that it has cannot be doubt.
ed; and that the conduct of some DEM
ocrats, who were most DESTROYS of con.
trolling the anti-monopoly convention
and absorbing the parry, was prompted
by hatred Of the oranges is equally true.
We were recently in company with one
Of these, in St. Paul, and his great OBJ
lection to the anti-monopoly party was,
that it was "secret organization" We
asked an explanation, and were told
that it was made up of Patrons of Hus.
bandry, with such outsiders as thew
could induce to join with them. eAnd,"
ne added, "you are seeking to make a
political party Of a single class, who,
having first associated themselves in
secret Order, are now anxious to place
the entire government under the con-
troll of their organization This he
followed with a volley of abuse of the
Patrons, and a declaration that he
would do all in his power to break up
the organization of both party and
Order.
We did not attempt to convince him
Of his mistake, for experience has
taught us that all such efforts are time
wasted; but his remarks led to a train
Of reflections that would not probably
have occurred otherwise. Prominent
amongst these was the recoe-
milton of the immense power
for good or ill which the Order
OF Patrons may WELD, and the obliga-
ton it is under to 50 train its member
ship that this power may always be
used for the good Of society generally.
1t has within its organization absolute
control Of the entire politics of the
country, and that, too, without forming
itself into political party, or attaching
itself to any one Of those now existing,
or which may hereafter spring up. And
1t may even exercise this power with
out violating any princi pie or law Of
the Order, or becoming obnoxious to
the charge Of being political society
in any sense Of the word. Indeed. if
the Order shall carry out the intentions
Of its founders, it must necessarily exert
an influence on both the politics and
morals Of the country, far stronger than
that OF any 0::55er existing organization.
Let it but inculcate the principle that
is avowed by the Massachusetts repub-
licans, at their late State convention,
that no man is fit for official position
"whose personal character is not an
absolute guaranty of fidelity to every
public trust" and insist upon its men,
bers living up to that standard in the
discharge Of their duties Of citizenship.
and it will already have accom-
plished more for reform in governmental
affairs than all the political parties of
the country could effect in generation.
If, to this, it adds the encouragement
of its members to study carefully all
political questions and shape their con-
duct concerning them on the rule Of do
ing che greatest good to society, and, at
the same time, discountenances parti-
zanism, it will soon have the satisfac-
ton Of knowing that it has solved the
problem of chow best to govern the
country
On the other hand were the Patrons
to degrade their Order to u political
party, and enter the lists as such to OBJ
tain control of the government, they
would soon find their organization pow
erless to promote any worthier objects
than merely putting in office aspiring
men, who will be willing to profess
friendship for and sympathy with
them, in order that they may have their
sufrages to help them into honorable
and lucrative official employments. To
our mind it would be one of the most
unfortunate things that could happen to
the Order or the country, for the former
to become political society, and we
A~n