The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-02-19

III pflSOu iOT Soule tAue W bue USuSnt oA
his moral health. "'- '-' faf' y
= a. -------.---a-
The Granger ss Elem ent. -
Incasting their political horoscopes.
both parties are accustomed to take an
account Of political stock in what they
commonly call the ''politieal elements
OF the country. An element, in this
sense, is constituent OF the great body
polite and corporate that comprises the
voting people of the United States. The
politicians make careful and exact esti-
mates Of the German element, or the
Irish element, OF the 'colored" element,
tbeatemperance element, and SO on. -
But there is an element, which is des-
tined to become, indeed it now is, a most
important factor in these results, and
which seems to have been disregarded,
treated as an unconsidered trffie, in
their political calculations: it is the
GRANGER ELEMENT. Politicians may
smile at the idea OF this element, con-
ssting of men who are not lawyers and
doctors and divines, being able to infu-
ence the political destinies of the par
ties which they themselves either follow
nr lead. But the day is not distant
when that smile will become a grimace.
There is Power gathering in this land,
particularly in the West, which ere long
will teach politicians their own weak
ness, and give them examples of patri-
otism such as they can not find among
their party records. The Granger elo-
ment may be quiet and unobtrusive as
to party oabals and caucuses. But this
element is already independent Of either,
and the sworn enemy or both.
Elements OF this kind do not take ON
an organic form and structure unless
the tendencies or condition OF public ar
fairs are such as to demand it for the
public good. The organization Of sucn
elements springs from a conscious me-
cessity ofcombining taeir common forces
for common protection against some
forms ot'evii that arise to threaten their
welfare. 1t il precisely from this per-
yading consciousness that the organiza-
ton of the Granger elements has arisen,
and now numbers its membership by
millions.
The skeptic in matters appertaining
to this organization may incredulously
inquire e,-what have these people, whom
we call Grangers, to fear or complain OF
as regards either their rights or their In.
teresls? Why combine when there is
nothing to combine against?i
But, is there nothing for them to COM
bine against? Have they nothing to ap-
prehend or complain Of as affecting their
rights and interests? Look out upon
the s'rings" that pervade the whole
country, and which are formed pur-
posely to control prices; Increasing the
cost Of all they have to sell and depress-
ing all they have to buy. Witness the
monopolies in the transportation Of prod
uce formed by combinations among the
great carrying corporations Of the coun-
try. whereby millions Of the producers
of the West are made the victims Of the
cupidity and rapacity ofa single score Of
non-producing millionaires OF the East.
Even the millers who grind the farmers
grain combine themselves into ring to
compel the. payment of exorbitant
charges for such service. Meanwhile.
the tillers Of the soil, standing at the
head OF the great stream Of production,
can not place themselves in position
to dam its channel along its course and
turn its current into their own private
treasury, as the "middie-men" can. and
do.
Finding themselves thus pressed upon
by others as combined dictators OF
prices both for buying and selling, what
is there left for the farming classes to do
but to organize their strength into such
shape aud Place its elements in such
order as may, afford protection to their
rights and interests, against which all
others are variously combinedf From
the very nature OF things, under such
conditions, an organization such as is
known by 'sthe Grangers," in some form
or by some name, must inevitably arise.
1t would be prompted by human nature
and selsintersst. We do not undertake
to say that such a foundation is the. fair.
est orsfirmest that could be conceived
for any organization among men. And
yet thatis precisely the foundation upon
which all the rings, monopolies, and
combinations we have alluded ~ are
Nj