Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1876-01-22
THE GRANGE AND EDUCATION,
Essay read before Montgomery Grange
No. f42, BY N. L. Whitfield.


It is matter of qualification TO note
the rapid progress in numbers and
strength made by the Patrons Of Hus-
bandry in the last four years. We con-
template with pride and pleasure the
material development of the Order, its
firm and decided stand taken among
the cooperative industries of the age.
But in the midst of its unparalleled
success in numerical strength. its magic
assumption of a position among the
oldest and proudest corporations of
the world it behooves US as people
to look well to the stimulating causes
which underlie this great peoples
movement, and to inquire into the best
methods to secure to posterity the
benefits of our labors.
And while we contemplate with
laudable pride the rapid onward pro-
gress we have made as an order, it is
not surprising that the education of
the young-the fundamental principle
which must form the basis Of this, as
we'll as every other superstructure,
has been entirely overlooked, if not
totally neglected by the order.
We meet in grave council and dis
cuss the varied advantages to be de-
rived from a united brotherhood-the
best manner to develop our Landslide
most profitable investments in the
way Of fertilizers-the most success
full methods of cultivating our varied
crops-and the most direct. channels
to the best markets. We turn the
thunder of our artillery against rings,
monopolies, middle-men, and the tariff.
While we eschew politics and political
discussions, we even hint at the as
sumption of political power at some
future day in order to obtain a redress
of grievances, in short we wage an un-
relenting warfare against everything
that initiates against the rights and
privileges of the farming class-los-
ing sight of the one grand principle
which underlies all others-that ia
order to be successful we must be ed
ucated; that in order to be eminently
successful our noble order must first
have foundation, and that founda-
ton is based in the intelligence and
virtue of its members.
| Every corporation, every co-opera-
tive union, every protective associa-
tion which has ever lived and four
ished in usefulness has built upon this
broad foundation. They recognize
the fact that ignorance is incompatible
with vigorous growth and develop
ment, that the maintenance of cor
rect principles depends upon the in
telligence and virtue of the masses.
| Our order is national order. II
has progressed until the sound of the
gavel Is heard from Maine to Texas
from sea to sea. The busy hum of the
Granger at work pervades every vii
lage and hamlet throughout the land
and it needs not the eye of the prophet
to foresee that ere long the patrons
signal will be heard in our legislative
halls. Coming events cast THEN
shadows before" The diversified In
terests of this vast republic demand
the serious atteatien Of the members
of our order. Its rapidly increasing
population, its growing wealth and its
diversified habits, pursuits, produc-
tions and interests-many of which
the sad history of the past has proven
to be hostile to each other-renders
necessary tne inculcation of a spirit of
forbearance and Cancellation. With
out the diffusion of education such a
spirit in sufficient strength to maintain
harmony cannot exist. Without sound,
moral and intellectual instruction the
functions of self government cannot
be duly appreciated nor successfully
maintained.
Upon the Grange will devolve in a
great measure the duty of laying the
foundation. for this great political and
moral reform. This object can alone
be secured through the instrumental
ity of we'll ordered systems of free
schools. These form their universally
reachingevery neighborhood and she'd
ding their influence upon every family
and into every mind, expelling the
primary causes of vice and crime, and
erecting affairs to patriotism and virtue
should receive the fostering care and
encouragement of every Patron Of
Husbandry.
In asserting that free schools furn-
ish the only adequate means for the
accomplishment of this end, l am
aware that serious and multifold OBJ.
jections are raised by various classe:
of objectors-among which may be
enumerated, by way of brevity. the two
extremes-those who are wealthy anG
are taxed by the State to educate theil
own children and the children of thu
poor, and the ignorant and destitute
who content with their own poverty an(
ignorance ask no better boon for thei1
offspring. They pay neither the tuition
which they voluntarily assume, mo-
the taxes imposed upon them for the
education of their children. Ye
blinded by ignorance and prejudice
they are ever ready and willing to b,
bounded on by others to cry down fire.
schools. No man on earth is so miser
able or SO much to be pitied as tn
man of prejudice. He lives within
, himself; distrustiDg his fellow man
His mind instead of expanding as i
should under the genial influence o
enlightened association, is contracte
} within the narrow sphere of self. an
!. is preyed upon by the ever presen
canker-worm of distrust. A spirit Q
distrust perEades his very being. Lik
the dog in the manger he neither en-
joys himself, nor wishes to see other
enjoy. He is blot upon society-a
ever present obstacle in the way c