Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1875-11-24

II
tural Editor of the State Register, ant
himself member of the order, ha.
the following to say of the Grange: =
"From the fact that many Oranges
4 are surrendering their charters. or 6yi
/ ing out without an action, II is sup
posed that there ie nothing good OF
permanent in the Order. And even
many of those who have bcsn inside
Of the gates have not the penetration
/. to appreciate the benefits to DO dcri.
we'd from the organization when car.
ried out in its true spirit Noreason.
able man ever expected to make wide
awake business men of all the stupid
dolts,or narrow minded farmers found,
1 in all communities. The Grange cam
I not refine and elevate the human race
ina few months. Nor is it expected
that those who never read or think
will be able to conduct successfully an
organization involving all the interests
OF the financial, commercial social
and educational interests OF FIVE mill
lion farmers OF the United States A
Grange organized un wisely, "a many
hare been, by taking in the visionary
schemcr, the corrupt intriguer. the
frivolous gossipper, as weli as those
who never try to think 'intelligentlv,
It's career will necessarily be short
and aisgracefnl Those high in au-
thori,y acted with little or no wisdom
in their loose instructions TO the Or
gani2ing deputies, and The poorest and
rndost kind OF materials were maseed
In oranges, with The vain expectation
that good would result. Ii was the
extreme of folly. Tho purifying
and purging of the order of this use-
less and Injurious element is a serious
and dangerous trial. Their delinquen-
eies end indiscretions are accumulated
in the public estimation as serious OBJ
jections 10 the Order. And even sonle
good men have been frightened and
retired from the Grange by the cnor-
mites committed by the ignorant and
the designing.
"'Bnt where the Grange has been
built on solid rock foundation-s start
ed by honest and intelligent rarmera,
whose intelligence and good character
commanded respect. the Order has
boon one Of great usefulness. And
30 soon as the dead wood OF the
Grange can be slonghed off without
too great wonnds to the system, ii
will grow and increase in power and
dispense its benefits largely To those
who arc'able TO comprehend its true
objects. 1t is going through q scrions
trial, no it0m OF whichis more iniuri-
ous than the extravsgance of the high
OH .ials, but tho wisest Of the Order
believe it will weather the storm, be
purified by the conflict, and come out
pnrer and more efficient. '
"If in the start the gates had been
more carefully guarded, and kept ont
tho fancy man who was scheming for
high position and fat subsidies turned
away the mischief maker who intend
cd making it political ladder for ey-
cry unworthy aspirant rejected ev-
cry dummy, whether farmer or not,
who ia of no use in or ont Of the
this had been done thro'
the whole history to this honr, II
wonld have had q power for good i'm.
measnrably greater than 1t can now
attain in twenty years. The real farm
ers-thoac who manage their own bus
iness safely and successfully who la
bor on their farma. and have deep
sympathy with those who labor, and
who can reason, and furnish their por
lion of the intellect TO make a Grange
profitable and interesting. are The men
and women who shonld have been
gathered within the gates of tho Or.
der. We know Of sonmc Oranges
which were organized after this plan
In almost direct violation Of the
practices Of the head fugleman, which
arc sound and prosperous. They are
steadily and successfully studying out
The great problem Of the elevation of
The agriculturalist. Many Oranges are
lying out, and many more will have
20 before the Order ia brought back to
! solid basis. But it will live and
rrosper, and become a permanent in
iiss;sfiEl iiirac;sfiicEl in It's ihishtrjH. HHAa prlhvis
pies are right, and can be defended be-
lore all men. When administered in
ts trnc spirit, II is clevating and en-
lobling--teaching the pursuit Of NOR
.ls-incnlcating the highest code of
,thics which should regulate society
md the world. Soon rs the weak and
ignorant who can be used by the sell
ishly ambitious to aid them in their
are driven from the Order,
The fancy Office holder will no longer
manage our higher conncils,confideDce
will be established, expenses reduced,
,ol NraroiI .