Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1876-01-22

OUNCES iuiiy one-half OF the people who
do anything, to engage in the cultiva-
ton Of mother earth. That fve-tenths
OF the people of a republic should fail to
put their impress upon the laws and
usages of their country, is lasting re-
proach upou the farmers. That we
should come so far short OF proper
tionate representations in the law-mak-
ing bodies of our republican, devoted
to the equality Of the citizens, concludes
our shame in the faces OF the nineteenth
century. If the Grange shall fail to
unite farmers, to make each and all of
us Patrons Of Husbandry, in reality
brothers and sisters the form had better
not have been assumed Aware that
the unorganized and isolated condition
of American farmers, before the advent
of the Grange, untitled them to demand
the control our numbers presume, ac-
counts Tor lie not having been dis
couraged, and leaves me still hopeful
for the future. While this is the i'm
pelling force that dominates my actions,
the farmers who are the daily recipients
of benefits, owe their officers in the
Grange moral support Patrons must
stand by each other in the same form of
action which bands the other classes,
in open or secret hostility to us and our
order.
| desire to be fully understood in
avowing what appears to me as the
cardinal element ofour ultimate success,
the esprit du corps is the saving, and
selt-sustaining element of success, with
all classes who have history of mark
ed Importance.
Farmers will never rank with the
classes engaged in trade aud transpor-
Notwithstanding and mining-or
those who render professional services
until they become as closely associated
and act with the same combined inhu-
ence The Grange organization is
expected to destroy the Traditional iso-
lation of the farm class. The desi On
Of our subordinate Changers is to enable
farmers, scattered over township, 10
come together at regular and frequent
Intervals. The only secret feature in
our order is that which relieves us of
the presence and domination of other
classes, who have long since combined
against the laboring portion of the peo-
pie, who are chiefly farmers
The lessons of our ritual service have
only to be lived up to in order to EN-,
ancipate our class. The freedom and
independence TO think aud act in behalf
I of the real laboriug class is what far
mers want. Independence, however,
is not in store for class of people
whose business pursuit entails annual
Loss There is no freedom or health
giving in labor that is unrequited. The
American farmers will cease to be pro
prietors unless they shall revolutioniz,
and overthrow the present unj Just system
of discrimination which the laws anC
usages of this country have thus fan
made against them as class. Do yor
not realize, farmers, how effcctua! The
various associations Of other classes arr
in securing profit for capital employed
and labor bestowed.
Do not farmers realize that great adj
vanlages are secured of a social charac
ter by the action have mentioned!
II our farmers expect that laws vii
never be made in their own behalf, tc
the extent OF equality, by the Other
classes, how sadly they will be diSap
pointed. The American agriculturists
have utterly failed to put their impress,
upon the laws of their country-nol
Will they until they staad together il
solid phalanx and demand proportionatt
representation. We may meet in the
National, State, county, or subordinate
Changers and talk, and complain, anc
talk again of the injustice and unfair
ness of laws i'll this republic dedicated
to the equality OF men; it will be in vain
The preponderating class in any law
making body on earth will favor them
selves.
| have dwelt upon this subject, since
it is the key that will solve the problem
of the farmers inequality.
When our overwhelming numbers
shall become conscious of their rea
power, and in the true spirit OF the
brotherhood demand propor,iona'e re-
presentation, other classes will find i,
impossible to hold us down thereafter
and not until this shall come to pass
will our day of emanci patton be known
The Grange is a sure road to the
equality of the farmers with other
ciasses-siuce it is tie very form Of
action taken by those who have made
themselves masters and farmers subser
Went. The Grange will teach our class
the great lesson of combination and
secure the cooperation which is its
natural attendant. The subordinate
Grange is the sheet anchor of our order.
and it will not be effectual unless week.
ly meetings are established and adher-
ed to infexibly.
This union of the farming class will
finally create desire for information
that can only be supplied by a Journal.
ism devoted to the interest OF the farmer
class. How far short of this desirable
end does the journalism of this day
come. There is not daily newspaper
in all America devoted to the interest
Of farmers, and but few weeklies and
even mon,hlies, in comparison with the
lumber devoted to the interest OF other
classes.
The newspapers are mainly in the
interest of tha commercial manufacture
ing, professional, banking or moneyed