Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-01-01
For the VERMONT FARMER.
Politics and Religion in Oranges.
ny A. GAYLORD sPALDING.

1t is evidently wise regulation to ex-
clude from the oranges all exciting aud Bit
ter debates and discussions Of partizan poll
tics aud sectarian religion, which tend to
distract aud divide the order, since the sue
cess and prosperity of any people or enter
prise require spirit of harmonic unity and
cooperation, firm and unwaveriug, that the
winds cannot shake. But the principles Of
true politics and true religion are very diff
ferent things. We want new political
dictionary for workingmen. When politics
means home interests and everyday duties
of labor, production, wealth, and comfort,
then it properly belongs to the grange. We
also need a new defining of religion. When
that is made to consist of the principles Of
love, affection, brotherhood, sisterhood, it at
once becomes most heavenly in character,
aud 6t for the Patrons and the family.
The politics of party, as understood by
professional politicians, is of course wholly
unsuited to grange exercises, because the
principle Of equity aud brotherhood is not
its basis. Its motive is selfish, and its meth
DDS, continual strife aud conflict for per-
sonal station and aggrandizement, aud the
spoils Of Office. 1t is rough, heartless,
wrangling, and unprincipled, aud consists Of
cunning tricks of leadership and caucus man
agemeut, election days, counting votes, and
rooster growing. 1t is the politics of lottery
gambling, and not of the common people !;
of salary grab and monopoly, and not Of
plain, honest production; of the smal-sOuled
trinket.peddling Jew, and not of the fair
and sober farmer, mechanic, and worker.
The religion of sect, like party politics, is
a thing Of populur aristocratic professional
church leadership--of theological dogmas,
controversy and speculation. 1t gives an
easy living to men in high seats of sancti-
mony, who pick their bread from the hard
toiling class. 1t is not the religion Of hu.
manity, and not the kind for the grange. II
dwels too much 10 the clouds Of mixed and
debatable theologies and scars too far above
tho heads Of common minds aud common
sense. We want the practical, with less
theory and Sunday formula, and more real,
solid work Of moral reform and social inn
provement less Of costly and gaudy steep
les, and more Of home culture. That is SEN
sible grange religion. 1t emancipates from
the bondage Of party and sect,
Partizan editors and leaders are highly
grotifcd with the fact that the oranges are
non-pC 'itical, and expect, therefore, to retain
their party leadership, as heretofore, aud se'
cure the Offices aud emoluments, right along,
under the old names. The late election is
claimed as a glorious democratic triumph.
But is it not mistaken Interpretation
Aye, that is the delusion of it certainly, il is
a very different sort Of democracy, so far al
the grange vote is concerned. There hai
been considerable CT landslide under oul
very feet, and we stand on advanced ground
Some don't seem to know it, yet so it is
nevertheless. Tell the secret to Judge Po
land and other politicians. With the gran
gers, it is now democracy with an equa
rights plank. The reform element is IN
fused, which elovates it wonderfully.
Woman's suffrage is grand and happy
feature of the grange, Woman, in the ole
parties, has no recognition as part of tn
human family, except as mere subject, bu
is kept down as something JelOlO the humal
an inferior grade. But now, she rises up
and is welcomed to the grange, to its poll
tics, and its new government. Her domes
tic services fit her most admirably for gov
ernment housekeeping, and such clearin
out Of the filthy Augean stables of masculin
corruption will be marvellous in our eyes
Our baohelor-bal government will b
changed by the new order from house @
moral disorder to a ladies' parlor and hom
Of industry, refinement, frugality, and ecOno
my. Man without woman is but half a mai
With her help, corruption must fall, an
monopoly cease.
The grange philosophy remodels our oil
politics in all its practical arrangement
and brings the ruling power home TO tie pee