Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1877-05-24
PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY.
sELr.PRoTEcT1oN NECESSARY.

lIat IlOG III tli| po"i VI
light beyond. Five years ago the out
look was dark, the tide of legislation seem
ed controlled by money kings, and the pro-
tests of the laboring classes were ignored.
The grange with its aggressive ideas was
scarcely known, and the name was spoken
only with derision. 1t was not Il political
organization. said politicians, aud amounted
to nothing, BY this they meant it would
command no influence Did these wise
heads pause for a moment, to think that the
organization that makes public sentiment,
ultimately makes law? So the grange has
done. It has kept clear of political traps,
but has sounded loud it's demands for JUS
ticc to the agricultural classes. And at last
these appeals have reached the most high
courts. Four years ago, while the railroad
law was pending in the legislature of Iowa,
which law was urged by u strong petition
from the State Grange. said in The lecture
ut Council Bluffs, referring to the petition:
1t requires no spirit Of prophecy to tell that
the work that we are doing today, the de-
cisions we are giving the world, will be pre-
ecdcnts fer all coming time. and while we
reach forth our arm Of power and grasp
firmly the pillars of State, We extend ear
sccpter to the poor and oppressed Of every
nation. After the lecture, a lawyer very
kindly inquired, why ! was SO sanguine OF
the future, | replied: The cause lies in the
great need of the wealthy agricultural
classes, and the effect must be justice to their
interests. Besides. the same print iples Alat
are agitating our country to-day, have been
at the foundation of all the great revolu-
tons ktaoyn to the civilized world the is
sues hayc ever been human rights against
oppression capital against labor.
Dur revolution differs in this, we have both
labor and capital to throw into orr struggle.
The legislature of Iowa passed a railroad
law, us did Illinois, Missouri and Minnesota,
all in obedience to the demand Of a public
sentiment that was the outgrowth Of the
grange movcment. The railroad kings
laughed, and refused to obey. In Iowa
most of the railroads paid no attention to
the law, until Il test case was taken to the
Supreme Court, and the law was decided
constitutional. Since then monOpOliSts have
hoped that these decisions would be over
ruled by the higher courts. But, thanks to
the grange, the supreme court has sustained
the decisions Of the lower courts. The
precedent is established. railroad corpora
tions are subject to legislation.
Brother Patrons, have we any right to be
discouraged. if we can so soon create 9
public continent that results in q just pre-
cedent, and this too by simply agitating these
subjects until the agriculturists begin to un'
lerstand the opposition they were enduring
and demanded justice ut the hands of thei1
representatives? Monopolists could foreset
these results. hence their extreme nngel
against the grange movement. But IN spit
Of the frowns of organized capital. the
grange movement has spread far and wild
its influence, until 1t numbers in Its rank
100, 900 souls. and these souls represeu
what? Not the ignorance and poverty, bu
the intelligent land holders of America
having invested in agriculture $ll.0W.OO
capital-three times as much us is represeu
ted by any other producing class.
And yet we are treated as though We Ia
no claims to the III and trade Of thi
country, and no rights that capitalists shout
respect.
Yes. brothers, spectators have alway
regarded the farmers as their natural prey
and we need not wonder that they loo
with jealous eyes upon every movemei
that looks like mutual self-protcction.
hope before many years every farmer IN Il
,,,1,, will coa tbot II iS NOT aypanSe n,