The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-09-27
The Outlook for the Grange.
"Watchman tell us of the night.
What the signs of promise are.

Traveller, DER yon mountain height
Comes the promised morning star"
wonder if all the members of the or
der of Patrons comprehend and under
stand the progress made in the right
direction during tho last five years. If
understood in allit length and breadth
there would be encouragement on every
hand
Five years ago the producing classes
were content to reach the largest result
in the way of production, content to give
the lions share of their product to those
who took it to market, or who waxed
rich by its exchange, content to be hew-
ers of wood and drawers of water, con-
tent to leave the administration of pub
lie affairs in the hands of professional
politicians, content that those of our
young men and women designed for the
so-called learned ~ professions should
be educated, and that, too, At the expense
of the State, while those engaged in agri-
cultural pursuits plodded along in the
old dull routine, content that the class
which pays their full share of the taxes,
and which furnishes four-fifths of the
property exported to foreign countries
should surrender 10 the favored few the
absolute control of public affairs, end
leave the duty of legislation to the mem
bora o: che profession while they cult
waited the soil.
Bao Honderful change has come over
the spirit of the people. We remember
we'll when the Grange movement first be-
gan 70 attract attention, it was met on
every hand by open or secret ridicule.
A prominent railroad magnate on Wall
street, on being asked what would be the
effect of the Grange movement of the
West on railroad securities replied: "It
will not amount to anything; they have
not intelligence enongh to agree among
themselves for one year; aud if any en-
terprise required but dollar from each
farmer, they would let it die for want of
money" This was the opinion of man
who had accumulated millions from the
industry of the country. and who Droba-
bly, never earned an honest dollar in his
life. Nor were his views singular. Con-
tempt and derision are mild terms to ex-
press the estimation in which this famous
movement was held by the class who
thought that in some way they incarnated
in themselves the wealth and wisdom of
tho nation. Farmers were useful class
to produce corn, wheat and meat, but
anything beyond this was outside their
sphere.
When the first attempts were made by
an outraged and indignant people to as
Sctt the sovereignty vi the State over
soulless corporations, what howl went
up about granger legislation" When
railway official in our State was remon-
strated with because his company refused
to obey the law of the commonwealth,
he replied with pampered insolerce,
that may be Granger law, but it is not
railroad law"
The conflict between the people on the
one hand and the greed of corporations
on the. other has been a bitter one.
Those who first entered upon the contest
did so with full realization of its mag
nitude and importance. But even their
friends scarcely hoped for success. On
one side was the ablest talent with un-
limited wealth at command, and for them
better than all perfect unity of interests
and cc:nplete organization.
On the other hand there were only the
masses of the producing c.r sses-unac-
cnstomed to work together, living for the
most part in isolation, without cohesion