The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1876-01-25
County Correspondence.
Written for The Spirit of Democracy.
From Green Township.
BY MRS. NJ. B L.
Our Opinion of the Grange.

OuT OpAutOu u tue ~HdHSC'
ED. SPIRIT: Nothing is. to be denied
to well-directed labor; nothing is 70 be
obtained without it. l have never heard
any one deny the excellence of industry.
have seen no class of people among
whom a more efficient system of indus.
try and economy Of time was establish
ed, than the agricultural population OF
our land My mind has been so taken
up with the subject of industry that ]
had almost forgotten the subject uibn,
which / had intended to writes zoe
question, number of times has been
asked me, what do you think of the
Granger l think well enough of it,
and why should l not? They are a
people, as far as can learn, who have
their organization builded upon pure
principles 1t will require no argument
to prove but what their motives are
pure. We can read their bylaws and
we read other books Of theirs aud in
them we see nothing that is corrupt
Turn to their preamble, if you please,
and read where they say "that the uiti-
mate object of this organization is for
mutual instruction and protection, to
tighten labor by diffusing knowledge
of its aims and purposes, expand the
mind by obeying the beautiful. laws the
, Great Creator has. established in the
Universe, and to enlarge our views oi
Creative wisdom and power" Where
will we find any thing wrong about
that? What else do they say? Why
to those who read Alright, history proves
that in all ages society is fragmentary
and successful results of general welfare
can be secured only by general effort
Unity of action cannot be acquired
without discipline, and discipline canno'
be enforced without significant organi
zation; hence they have a ceremony O
initiation which binds them in mutua
fraternity as with band Of iron; bu
although its influence is so powerful, it'
application is as gentle as that of thu
silken thread that binds wreath Q
flowers; and again they appeal to al
good citizens for their cordial co-opera
ton to assist in their efforts toward re
form, that they may eventually remov
FROM our midst the last vestige of tyr
amy and corruption. ,t,5.
They claim chat it is an abiding prin
ciple with them 10 relieve any OF thei
oppressed and suffering brotherhood b
any means at their command. Is nc
this good2 They also acknowledge th
broad principle, that difference of opir
ion is no crime, and hold that ''proe
ress towards truth is made by differene
of opinion, while the faut lies in bite
ness Of controversy" lido not, wisha,f Al
! Eget up a controversy. nor eyeH tesso'
bate the subject Of the Grange, onl5
s satisfy the oft repeated inquiry, what
: your opinion of the Grange? NJ
: knowledge of the teachings of Il
= Grange does not extend very far.
have had no chance, except so far as
9 little outside reading is concerned,
know anything about them. intend
use the little bit of influence / have
the direction of the Grange l hol
that my inquirers will not waste the
time in trying to stop the progress
the Grange, because you cannot do
There are plenty of better women, ar
men too, than you or l either that a
able to carry on this Order without l
" and if you cannot see any good tn
" are doing 1 cannot see any harm tn
!. are doing, and what is the use for "
4. to think that if you do not join them
% will be dreadful spite. But / thi
they can get along without you.
:, Turn to their. Declaration of Purr
= ses and see whati is contained therein.
y Don't they say that they are united
ls the strong and faithful tie of agricultu
II y They mutually resolve to labor for t
as good of their Order and the count
IS and mankind, and do they not heart
i endorse the motto :"In essentials, u
cd ty; in non-essentials, liberty; in
n things, charity. Now, begin and picl
a. flaw in this if you please Suppe
n some of us outsiders would take il
res consideration some of the teachings
us the Grange There are none of US Il
to knows much about them, but are til
z not somehow this way: Industry, Ect
De omy, Education in all its branch
> Cheerfulness, Faithlulness, Temperan
& Honesty, and so on. The next thing
By what outsider is there that does kn
much about them am well wis
of theirs. believe they are under
= Divine guidance and protection of
mighty Power.