The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1876-04-05
Concluded from Fo,.rtA page.1


'usly, but unostentatiously, laboring to
'emedy the evils with which the country
8 afflicted and to restore it to a condi-
ion of political and material prosperity;
Ind the reforms which have already
>een instituted, and those which are
till taking place, and those for which
he country is being rapidly prepared,
re due mainly to the discretion of those
Who have controlled this Order.
HOW 1T ExERTED ITS INFLUENCE.
Strictly refusing to identify itself
With any political organization and rig
dly excluding the discussion of partizan
opics from its grange meetings, it has
nevertheless exerted an influence in
haping legislative and governmental
.'olicy far exceeding what any mere po-
litical party could have welded. If 1
m asked, how? I can only answer that
!; has done this BY bringing together its
1embers in fraternal association and
ffording them opportunity to become
'cquainted with and thoroughly under
tand each other; convincing them, in
his way, that their interests are identi-
al, their political purposes and desires
imilar. and their dependence upon each
ther mutual; that they are one commu-
ity whose general welfare will be best
romoted by the union of their efforts
4 striving to obtain that which is best
1 the policy ofgovernment as we'll as
1 the conduct Of their private affairs.
By informing its members of these
ruths, or, rather, by leading them to in
!ruct each other, as simple conse-
uence of their fraternal association
nd by intoxicating lessons of faith in
ne providence Of God, hope in the in
egrity of man, charity towards their
sllow-creatures, and fidelity to the
rinciples of truth and honor, the Order
as accomplished what attribute to It.
his is the method it pursues to work
bod to the world, and the efficiency of
le plan is too palpable in the conse-
1ences which we can perceive on every
and, to require any argument to win
oproval for it. All that is needed for
lat purpose is that we shall use the
7esight with which bene6cient Gre
sor has endowed US.
" IN THE POLITICAL FIELD.
While it will not do to con6lne our at.
ntion to the political field, if we
Guild appreciate fully the good work
hich the Order has already wrought,
e may tarry here long enough to sum-
arize briefly some of its most conspic-
JUS achievements. We find that it has
stigated Investigations which have
;posed official corruptions and forced
lmber Of those who filled high posts
honor to retire into obscuritr, and,
some instances, to the ignominious Sc.
usion Of jails; that it has induced 9TH
Of our public men, whose virtuous de-
limitations were fast being undermin-
| by temptations to vice, to turn back
= emblingly into the paths Of rectitude
I'd safety; aud that it is assisting still
rapid movements toward reforms in
e conduct Of our public affairs gener-
", and is making those, who are de-
rous of continuing to fill honorable po-
tons, willing to initiate the simple
I'd more virtuous lives of the fathers of
e republic. In short, it is easy for US
perceive that its influence in this
I'D has been powerfully and emineatly
ne6cial.
IN THE COMMERCIAL FIELD.
In what we may call the commercial
Id, the benefcent effects of the Order
we been no less marked than in the
'litical. Transportation companies
longer turn their backs haughtily
ION those who approach them to COM
ain of their extortions, but seek to
-oid such accusations by alleging the
.proftableness CT their enterprises.
aey do not now claim to be superior to
3islative control, but plead that the
.agerness Of the earnings of their
ads ought to exempt them from such
reference, and instead Of insisting
-on the right to charge fifteen
nts per bushe! for carrying wheat fifty
les, they are content to perform the
me service for about half the amount,
4 ko o,,v~x, n,ssounnr,, g..