Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1876-07-29
LETTER FROM CHARLESTOWN.
THE GRANGE AND PouTICs.

Grange Candidates
made no fight against the Grange,
and every sentiment in that article Is
heartily endorsed by all fair minded
men. Our farmers have perfect right
to combine, and so long as they keep
this society trae to the great principles
they proclaim l am with them heart
and hand. The association has ten
dency to reduce charges on the rail-
roads; to promote the success of agri-
culture, and in many other ways ad
vance the general welfare. But If this
secret order meddles in politics, or at
tempts TO regulate the wages Of mechan-
les, or tries to monopolize all :he places
of honor and profit. or in other words
if this association declares war against
the balance of the community, then, it
becomes the duty Of every good citizen
to break down and destroy its influence;
and in this good work We will receive
the hearty CO operation of nine farmers
in every ten.
Entertaining these views, it is not
likely l would write any thing calcula-
ted to iniure the Grange, and | repro
duco the article which has provoked
Nspirant to make malicious and vim
dictive reply. Here it is:
ct is reported the Changers are fix
ing to dictate our politics. This must
be mistake. 1t is likely three or four
chronic aspirants are trying TO prosti-
tute the order and make it subserye
their individual advancement, but such
men are beaten every time they run for
Office Secret societies must not NEEDLE
with politics. The rank and file OF this
association are patriotic, and Joined the
order upon an Understandable. that 1t
would not mix in public affairs, and
they DO not intend to have their society
oxen up by afew designing men. We are
not hostile to this combination Of farm
ers, but if a Grange ticket is presented it
will be beaten. If you want to cut your
wheat, keep politics out of the harvest
field. Guano is better manure than
stump speeches.
This was all | said, and surely there
is nothing here calculated to offend the
most fastldious Granger,
] say cit is reported they are trying
10 dictate politics. and it is reported ;
we hear the charge every hour Of the
day every man has heard this report
except those who are SO deaf they can
not hear it thunder.
The Changers admit few men are
disposed to turn their society into 4 po-
ltical machine, but they boast that thus
far this iniquitous purpose has been de-
| feated; and | expressly said, this report
must be mistake" because We all SEQ,
four or five Changers fighting each 9th
or for the same office.
did proclaim the principle, that no
secret society should NEEDLE in politics,
and if ever this, or any other secret or
ganization attempts to control public
affairs, l will fight against it with every
faculty God has given me. Our poll
tics must be open, above board and
conducted in the face of all the people.
Hence, have been striving, to my own
personal injury, to break down those
secret, underhand combinations by
which certain of our politicians seek to
manage the State, and those who will
glance over some remarks | made in
January 1875, on the election OF L. 5.
Senator, and compare the sentiments
then expressed, at time when this re-
in m
my recent writings in the Register,they
will find my record consistent and that
| have always been true to the same
principles
If | understand the object of the
Grange, it is intended to obtain concert
Of action among farmers in respect to
matters which relate TO agriculture; the
object is, to concentrate attention upon
subjects which relate to farming and in
this way promote the success OF farmers.
The Grange, meets to discuss agrlcnl-
ture,-not politics, and hence | adopted
a scntentiouS figure Of speech to ex-
press this idea, and said {: "If you want
to cut wheat, keep politics out of the
harvest field" viz: the harrrd feM
represented Grange meeting; and
made my meaning still palmer IN the
next sentence: "Guano is better ma
nure than stamp speeches" viz: Grange
meeting should discuss the best way 10
run farm, and not how to manipulate
a county convention.
Here is every idea in the article and
yet this modest expression Of my views
a, citizen induced "Aspirant" TO print
the following malicious, unjust, and un-
called for, reply: "Grangers are warned
by one of the Court House Clique not
to NEEDLE in politics. They must vote
under instructions and leave speech and
law making to gentlemen who have
been educated for these exalted duties.
am puzzled to decide whether this ar
tice comes from fool or knave; but
on reflection, | am inclined to think
it was written by some honest man who
has gone ofon The half cock and entire
ly misarprehends the intent and object
of my remarks He says, | am one OF
the Court House Clique and iusinuates
that | want to stife the voice Of our
farmers; that | don't want our farmers
to take an interest in the management
of politics. Now, it is well known to
the readers of the Register that | have
always been fighting the Court House
Clique. | have written more and done
more againstit, than any otherman in this
county, old or young. The consequence
Al -, -, lraoy ,,,