The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1876-04-05

to you by them in that you are permitted
the privilege of making a purchase.
Even from the wheat.buyers you receive
more considerate treatment, and if you
are still cheated in price and grade, it
is now done in genteel manner and
with obvious efforts to conceal that un-
pleasant fact from your knowledge.
ITS EFFECT ON LOCAL TRADEsMEN.
So, too, With local merchants. These
have learned to recognize you as men
whose good opinions are worth having,
and, to your faces, at least, they are will
ling to concede that you possess your
share of brains. Instead of accusing
you of carelessness in the event of your
having poor crops, they have really come
to regard such misfortunes as unavoida-
BILE and cause for sympathy. With q
considerable proportion of the store
keepers; and with mechanics generally,
you have increased in Importance so
far as to be regarded as equals, and, in
some instances, even as superiors. And
this is the case not only with Patrons,
but with farmers generally. Even in
the estimation of bankers and profess
sional men, you have advanced wonder
fully! Most Of these now regard you as
belonging to the same species with them
selves, and some even believe it possible
for you to become their equals and still
remain farmers!
ON LOCAL POLITICIANS.
But, perhaps, the longest and most
noticeable stride made by the agricul-
turalists, in the estimation Of any other
class, throug h the influence ofthis Order,
is that attained in the opinion of the
professional ofice-seekers-the petty
politicians. You are no longer looked
upon bythese gentlemen as mere voting
cattle, who have no other political duty
to perform than to come to the polls and
vote as they direct; but you have sud-
denly grown to be sovereigns, to whom
they owe fealty and whom it is
their highest glory to be permitted to
serve. They hunt you up now to pro-
cure your attendance at caucuses and
conventions, and even urge you to be-
come candidates for the legislature and
other positions. where the honors are
plenty and the profits meagre. They
have become as obsequious when ad-
dressing you as they were formerly i'm
pertinent, and seem to consider them
selves 1attered by your condescending
to notice them; aye, they even admit
that you have right to voice in the
party management and in the selection
of candidates, and trust to their shrewd-
ness to induce you to manage as they
desire and to select such candidates as
they prefer to have nominated. Now,
no matter what their motive is, your
point is gained, and it can only be your
want Of sagacity that prevents your
taking advantage Of the opportunity
offered. Remember to be "wise as SER
pents' as we'll as "harmless as doves"
WHAT IT WILL ACCOMPLISH.
Recollect that this Order has, as yet,
only begun to exercise the influence it
is capable Of exerting; that you have
only started things in the right direc-
ton, and that they have not yet got
fairly under way. Reformation in polit-
ical life will not be suffered to stop
here it is, but the Order will push it
onward unto completion, and until a
man. moral character must be, at least'
passable to entitle him to distinction.
Transportation companies will never
again be quietly permitted to control
the government, but will be forced to
make still greater concessions ~ their
business increases. Manufacturers will
be gradually driven to make further
reductions Of prices and to manifest in
creased suavity Of manners, az their
patents expire. Merchants will learn
to avoid extravaganza in living and to
be satisfied with smaller profits. And
even wheat buyers will be obliged to
make more earnest and sincere efforts to
deal fairly by their customers. The COM
plete consummation Of these reforms is
merely matter Of time, and the dura-
tion of that period depends largely upon
the action of the Order and its fidelity