Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1875-04-02

like that of the horse in the treadmill,
consists too much in one unvarying
round Of hard labor and too little
recreation. In short, the life of the
farmer consists too much in trying to
provide three meals a day and do up
the chores. Now the Grange, if pro.
perly conducted, has tendency to
lift us out of the ruts worn by habit,
and while it allows us to slide along
in our groove in politics and religion,
it seeks to place us on a higher plain,
giving us broader view Of life, and
seeks in proper manner to develop
our social nature. Admitting, as it
does, woman with her refining intlu-
ences, on terms of perfect equality
with man, it becomes one of those
stepping-stones that are surely paving
her way to perfect equality before the
law; one of her title deeds with
which, by and by, she will claim the
ballot. The man who objects to wo-
man exercising the right of suffrage
| in the affairs of State after allowing
her to exercise it in the Grange room,
has narrowed his objections down to
a fine point, so fine, indeed, that he
will not be able to see it when she
demands it at his hands.
Then another use which may be
made of the Grange, is dissemina-
ton of useful information. A mod
ern waiter says that the information
we gain from reading is knowledge;
that which we gain from actual CON
tact with the world is wisdom. We
may theorize as much as we please
about the best methods of getting on
in the world, but we never shall be
able to solve the problem until by
actual contact with the contending
forces we meet and overcome them,
and when we have met with sue
cess, how easy it is to relate it to our
brother farmers and encourage them
to persevere.
And, brethren, perhaps state to
you no untruth when say there is
no class of people that know less
about their business in all its details
than the farmers, as q class; and in
saying this, wish to cast no reiec-
tons upon them unjustly, for no one
appreciates more highly than l do
the sterling good sense and honesty
of the farming community. But
what l wish you to understand is this,
that the operations of farming in
most of its branches, raising of crops
and sending them to market, embra-
ces so much of uncertainty that posi-
tive knowledge is out Of the question.
Wheat has been raised for more than
three thousand years, yet raisers are
not agreed as to the depth that it
should be plapted, nor to the condi-
ton and qualities of soil that are best
adapted to its growth. How many
Of us can give anything more than IN
approximate guess at what it costs to
prod ce bushel of it, and when we
come to sell the same we find our
selves in about the same condition
The most of our knowledge of the
probable demand is gained from our
middle-men, who do not ask US what
our wheat cost us, but simply say, l
will give you so much.
Another object which the Grange
should seek to accomplish, is to cul-
tivatc a stronger desire for farm life
among the young, by making it more
attractive. 1t is sad and melan-
choly fact that each census shows
that our large cities are gaining in
population during each decade, out Of
all proportion to the country, al
though statistics show that more than
80 per cent. of the men who engage
in mercantile pursuits fail and end in
complete bankruptcy. Yet the stream
of healthy life flows steadily from the
country to the city, and year after
year their decimated ranks are kept
full by this influx.
Let us discuss in our oranges the
best and cheapest way of Identifying
our homes SO that our children, i'll
stead of looking upon the farm as
place to be dreaded, and one from
which they would gladly escape, shall
look upon it rs the one place upon
earth most dear to memory, and one
from which only will they part with
reluctance. And, | consider, the great
hope of this country, i'll fact almost
the only hope it has of keeping and
perpetuating good government is in
keeping the balance of power in the
hands of the rural masses, for our
large cities have become 50 corrupt
that they are in great measure in
capable of self government. The
vicious classes hold the balance of
power, and many of them can scarce
Iy elect a Mayor without consulting
the wishes Of the gambler and drunk
ard.
Whether the Grange movement is 4
success or failure depends in 4 great
upon each individual mem
Der. The Grange itself is not an
end, it is simply means to the &C
Of an end. The end
to be achieved is to better the condi-
ton Of the agricultural society, men
tally and financially, and l here wish
to disclaim any intention on our part
Of trying to advance our interests at
the expense of others. We simply
wish to keep up our own interest to
the proper standard, not by pulling
down any other Legitimate business,
but by building up our own. The
laboring man must always remain
the great foundation upon which the
fabric of civilized society is based,
and upon his welfare and prosperity
will, in a great measure, depend the
interest and welfare of the whole
Take from the farmer what justly be-
longs to him, and he is less able to
pay the merchant, the merchant is
less able to pay the manufacturer, the
manufacturer the artisan, and SO it
extends through all the various
branches of society. "Be very good
to yourself, John,'' were the parting
words Of a mother to her son as he
was about starting for the West, and
indeed, it is truth which we may
not readily recognize, that man who
is good to himself will seldom be a