Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-01-22
A Defence of the Grange and the Grang.
era
Read at Lower waterford, NJ the public In
staIletion OF ohcsrs Of Connecticut River

Read at Lower Waterford, ~ the public In
staiIStion OF officers OF Connecticut River
Grange, Jan. 9, 1873, by r. v. Powers.
The subject for discussion to-day is one in
which | take a deep interest. Being one of
a radical turn Of mind, have never felt at
all fearful in examining those matters Of re-
form that sooner or later will come before us
for investigation. The grange to-day stands
before the world as an institution Of reform.
1t probably occupies the same position in the
public mind that all other reforms have oc.
cupied before it. The person who has read
history, knows full well that every great
subject that has come before the people for
investigation has had to go through fiery
trials and ordeals Of bitter opposition, and
even OF persecution.
1t is no queer thing that men can always
be found to oppose any new movement. The
world has always gone in that way. The
very best and most moral subjects in the
world have their opponents. And seeing
that this is so, am inclined to think that
opposition is not only necessary to the &C.
complishmont of great things, but that it is
really ono Of the means in the hands Of Di.
vine Providence, for these very purposes.
As Patron, believed in the grange
from the beginning Its objects commended
themselves to my judgment. | expected
there would be those who would kill it if
they could But as truth is greater than
error, had no fears, and do not have any
to-day OF its fiua success aud glorious re-
suits.
Now | do not propose to boast about the
grange or the grangers. hold that as
measure Of reform the grange had become a
necessity, and | have only facts to offer to
you to-day, One fact is, that very many
good people felt the necessity of better social
conditions than what was possible to be had
in common farm neighborhoods Farmers,
more than all other people in the world,
have become exclusive, in their habits OF as.
ISOLATION. They do not visit their neighbors
aud friends as they used to. If anything,
there is not that good feeling existing in
neghborhoods to-day that there used to be.
This feeling of isolation is not confined to
special localities, but it has become general.
Now, we Patrons have proved beyond any
doubt that the grange is good place to 20
to. Do outsiders know any more about this
than the grangers themselves? Matters of
great interest come before us for conversa-
ton and debate. To all who are sincere,
any meeting or association Of responsibility,
where there is decorum and good order,
must be profitable.
The Patrons take great pride in their
meetings. All seem anxious to make them
places Of happy resort. Now know that
| 4 4 f.o,
what we felt before the grange was institut-
ed. 1t has cultivated friendship, aud en-.
gendered good feeling among us. Can any,
thing like this be bad, that promotes concord
and good will? Most assuredly not. | am
sure, that the social features of the grange
are of great benefit to its members, and
think there are few, if any, that would now
be willing to dispense with it on this ac-
count alone.
The Patrons have learned in the grange,
to a greater extent than anywhere else, the
ways aud the tricks Of traders. And l can
assure you, that what they have learned
here will not be easily forgotten. A food
Of light has been thrown upon the schemes
and the devices Of traders and spectators,
who have at once grown rich out of the la
boring man, and become imperious and over
bearing in their manners.
The grange discounteuauces all of these
excuses that men fall into, such as intern
perance, profanity, cruelty to animals, and
suits at law. However much other people
regret these things, the Patrons are cspe-
cially antagonistic to them. Is there any
thing bad in this ? 1t discards the credi /
system, urging people to do with less things
and to pay as they goa reform no man
will deny is right. And never has there
been time when so many people try to
practice this lesson as now. The Patrons
inaugurated this system. Is not this credit
able in them? Don't you feel like thank
ing them for it2
Why should the opponents snarl, and turn
the cold shoulder at these things, that, proba-
bly,, at heart they believe in as much as the
Patrons do? have always regarded this
as an anomaly. The more that the grangers
and their work are understood, the more
they are respected by oil right-minded per-
sons Some of the best pcople in the COM
munity already belong to the grange. 1t is
represented by all shades of religious and
political belief, The poor can go there and
are considered as good as anybody. Ladies
join US on equal terms, with the same rights
and privileges as the men, They don't
complain of bad treatment but all become
anxious, working members. Not only per-
sons of good hearts, but with good minds,
well educated, aud many that are wealthy
belong to the grange.
The most that our opponents have to work
upon against us, is their deep-seated preju.
dices, and their determination to be on the
contrary side at all events. Now, what DE-
they care, ii the graugers do see fit to organ
ize for protective and educational pur'
poses? What do they caro-, if We are good
citizens, obeying the laws Of the land, and
abusing none?
Now, the same spirit that seeks to oppose
the grangers aud their work, opposed the
railroad, the telegraph, and the sewing ina
chine. This same intoerant spirit will al
ways be opposing something that somebody
else is advocating. If it were possible, you
would find those who would shut out tn
pure light of heaven, and lay tax upon the
air around us, if they could only keep some
others from enjoying as good things as they
do
The grangers don't care who is repubi
can, nor who is democratic. They don't care
who is orthodox, nor who is catholic, only
that common decency, common justice, anc
the feelings OF common humanity be metei
out to all equally. They are nov labornq
for this purpose, and they don't expect tn,
wheel Of progress to turn backward in it
revolutions, Already has the poor man has
reason to bless the grange, and thank tn
grangers. His bread comes easier for it. Ii
is Me graugers, principally, that have causeC
T the chief tumble in prices. Had they no
, organized, your flour would, in all probabili