The anti-monopolist., 1875-03-04

sted County Council, II. OF H.. BY
the Lecturer, VIM. Elliott. Feb. GO,
1875, and Ordered Published by the
Members.
One Of the most common objections
urged against the Patrons of Husbandry
is the secrecy and exclusiveness Of our
order. Our opponents find fault that we
con6ne the order wholly to agricultur-
lists, and argue that it would be to our
advantage to admit other classes who
have greater abilities, with whom we
might counsel and advise. Lawyers and
editors are especially recommended to us
Is advantageous associates. Your troub.
lers say these people are political and
legal, and for correctness you will have
to consult with those who have made
politics and law their especial studies;
hence lawyers and editors are essential
elements in your Order if you propose to
accomplish anything. You would also
advance your interests, they tell US, by
admitting merchants and bankers, who
would keep you posted about commercial
and financial matters.
To one who has given the subject only
superficial examination, these may
seem conclusive arguments in favor Of
opening the doors Or the Oranges to the
public generally ]; but it is well for us
that the founders Of onr Order were not
misled BY such talk; that they had the
sasacity to foresee that the injury which
might follow the admission Of those Of
other occupations into our Order would
be likely to far exceed the benefits that
would result from their association with
us. It is true that lawyers ought to be
compete to give beneticia. advice touch
ing legal matters to the farming commu-
nifty; but it is not true that it is neces-
sary to admit them to the Grauge to
enable them to do SO, Nor is it probable
that such admissio4 would make them
any more likely to do SO. They have
long known what the farmers complained
Of; tAey have heard our dcnanciations Of
the extortions Of transportation compa.
nies, Of the oppl essions Of the protec-
tive tariff; Of the evils growing out Of
our system Of patent laws, and Of the
general injurious tendencies Of class leg.
islation upon our welfare; but never yet
have they sought to point out remedy
for these evils. On the contrary, as .
class they have hindercd us from finding
and applying . remedy. When the far.
mers began their moven ent Of resist
ancc against railroad extort'ons, the
entire legal fraternity, almost with
out exception, and might say
almost tie entire editorial fraternity,
told us that we had no remedy; that we
must submit to the injustice, that the
charters Of the company were perpetual
contracts and invested them with rights
and privileges superior to the legislative
power Of the government. So, too, Of our
commercial, financial and patent law
grievances. Lawyers and editors are
more apt 70 oppose than favor the appli.
cation Of remedies and for . very good
reason the railroad companies, manu-.
factures and merchants, are far better
customers than the farmers can possibly
become; and therefore they receive more
attention and greater Difference to their
wishes than farmers can hope for. Had
the members Of these professions been
generally admitted to our order instead
Of aiding us they would most probably
have sought to use us TO further their
own interests, and their selfish instincts
would naturally have led them to sscri.
fice us for the sake Of those from whose
patronage they derived greater gain. By
Excluding al such men our Order ha.
been generally kept clear Of disturbing
influences, and We have been enabled "a
proceed harmoniously in the work Of I'd
vancing eur own interests . . class, ant
thereby promoting the happiness of tn
entire community. Being the producer
Of the wealth OF the nation the prosper
ity Of the nation necessarily depend
mainly upon us. If VI prosperou
those Of other caliings 5erally must b
lifted BY us into prospe y. Oar fullnes
becomes 8 it were IN creasing Of tn
foundations upon which he entire fabsi
Irests; and 8 We grow W LII the Who'll
structure into higher degree ofprospe1
] lity. Instead q inja5ing . the secree
lssd exe3aivene1 q enr 0Ed9 hGye be-
loar psatnt advanfa0. 1tns fhey =
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