The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1877-07-25
II. Il. YOUNG, EDITOR
More Producing laborers.

not so many merchants and middle
men. The Grange in its teachings
emphatically asserts it is the surplus
they are opposed to, and not that
this class of the community are not
necessary. The over-importation Of
goods during the last year, and the
number of men who have been en-
ployed in their sale and the capital
directed in this channel, have been
the cause Of the present, what is
called, tara tines. The wholesale
merchants over-import, depending,
of course, for their sales on the en-
ergy and push Of their agents: they
rush goods to retail merchants :;
and they, in turn, deal Out to the
farmer on credit, and he being the
last link in the chain bears ali the
burden OF the system. The Gran
gers have tried to correct this IN
certain commercial business Of the
country by paving cash, that is, by
urging upon every farmer to guide
his wants by his means.
zhe produce OF the soil is a source
upon which all classes of society re-
]y and upon this they look for pros
pcrity Or adversely. How many
merchants at the present time are
looking for bankruptcy on the turn
ing of the coming harvest ? How
many young men who are struggling
for an existence in our towns, by
the least exertion on a farm, could
live comfortably and independent?
The supposed prosperity Of towns
and their people, has been a great
cause OF young, thoughtless farmers,
leaving farm life for city avocations.
The Grange is trying to remedy this
by making the homes Of their farm
ers attractive, and farm life honored
and respected. Now that there is
SO many improvements, the work or
farm is easy compared with what
labor was few years ago in the
time Of scytaes, cradles, &c. But
if the physical part is lighter, it will
1equire more advanced Ideas in the
treatment Of the soil; a more ex.
tended knowledge Of agricultural,
scientific farming. As land grows
old 1t loses it's vitality and becomes
the prey Of noxious weeds and in
$ccts, which were not known when
the country was new and the land
fresh. How best to supply these
wasted energies will require more
liberal education in scientific knowl-
edge for our, farmers sons. And
this is what the Grange is advocat-
ing in its princip pies and teachings
TO make better class Of farmers
and more Of them; to keep young
men on the farm instead Of infesting
cities and towns; thus benedting all
classes. When farming pays better
it will be considered more respecta.
bic, and more will follow it. When
it is thought as respectable to sell a
,bushel Of wheat or pound Of but
ter, as a yard Of cloth or a paper Of
pins, young men will take pride in
farming and have an ambition to
make this calling honorable.
Intellectually speaking, the Grange
is destined to supply the Mechan-
les Institutes and Clubs which are
found in all our towns and cities
where amusement and instruction
are combined. The life of a farmer
is isolated as compared with town
life; and he wants frequent associa-
ton to relieve him from the mono
tony Of farm life, and to talk about
subjects in which he is more directly
interested. The Grange, in this re-
spect, is introducing different meth
DDS Of farming for discussion in thei1
Lodges, thus making their meeting:
a source Of social and intellectual