Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1875-12-02

one. 1t was an infant, but it is now a
eiant-a yeritable Sampson, fighting nobly
for the farmer, Without going into lengthy
details. it may be said that the duties OF the
National Grange consists IN directing into
the proper channels the trained energies of
the power thus placed in their hands. 1t
will not do for the Grange ignorantly to
strike down any Of its friends; and even
towards its worst foe, Patrons can afford
to be magnanimous.
Looking at the thing from this standpoint,
We think that nothing should be urged
more strongly than eduation. Really on it
everything in the way of solid improve
ment depends. The ignorant farmer is the
prey of the demagogue, and it is needless
to say that there are Granger demagogues
as well as the old fossilized political kind,
the marks of which are familiar to all. II
the members of the National Grange view;
the matter in this light, they will of course
take action calculated to give practical ex-
preston to such decisions as are reached.
Dvery INTELLIGENT Granger is aware that
nearly all the impediments that now block
the way are rooted in ignorance. Let us,
then, have more knowledge, and let the
National Grange do all it can to build up
the schools and colledges of the country
especially those that exist in the name of
agriculture.
We might go on to refer to the most
important streams that flow from this
great fountain head, all calculated to bear
blessings and prosperity TO the farmers
home. Many questions that are still topics
of vital importance, and are in various
ways linked with old, dead issues, which
have to be separated from their past asso-
Citations, and viewed simply in their rela-
ton to the present. For this reason we
think the Constitution of the National
Grange should be, as it is, marked by
great liberality, for only by its being so,
is required in a country with so varied an
agricultural interest as that of the United
States. In this connection we may observe
that from present appearances it is likely
that not a few matters will be brought be-
fore the National Grange which properly
belong to the State Oranges. For example,
there is the subject of Free Trade. This
we consider a question on which it would
hardly be judicious for the National Grange
to express any opinion, though it m
properly within the province of Political
Economy, and should be discussed in the
subordinate Oranges. In many State
Oranges it is a matter upon which it would
be safe to take action, because it would in
troduce 10 discord. But it is not necessary
to go further in this direction, as our aim
on the present occasion is to be suggestive,
and not exhaustive.
We repeat, intelligence is the only thing
that will lift the farmers up to to their
proper social position, and that in every
step that leads to this great end, all good
Changers can unite. There is another thing
upon which all Changers who understand it
are a unit, and on which the National
Grange before it separates, should put its
approval. We allude to Cooperation. This
is second only to education, and that on the
well-knoWn principle that the physical is
always subordinate to the mental. By
a proper use of this power, the Changers
from one end of America to the other can
carry any point desired, if upon it they are
only combined. If they want to build a
great pork-house they can do it, and never
feel the loss even if 1t happens to catch fire
and burn down the day after it is COM
pleted.
And whilst treating of cooperation we