The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1877-06-27
Design OF the Grange.

ton; and. IN relation 10 The Objects OF
which, there has been SO many miscon-
ceptions IL was thought by many that
the main, or prime object Of the Grange,
was to wage war OF determination upon
all professions and every industrial pur>
suit outside OF agriculture. II was
thought, by many, that, not only agents
and spectators, but merchants. mechan.
les and manufacturers we're all TO be set
aside. Were such n thing possible, its
folly would cqual that OF the man who
fired his barn to get rid of the rats. No
one man can, successfully, carry on the
numerous aud diverse interests OF COM
munity. Efficiency ia aay pursuit is at
tainablc only 10y devotion to that pursuit.
A division of n mans time, talents and
lahors between two pursuits. reduces both
below second rate. Il isurSei that those
who conduct she various industrial pur-
suits around US have not acted Justly to-
ward the FARMER. But the remedy pros
posed by some ia insufficient. II is pro-
posed that farmers conduct these indus
trial pursuits. But farmers are not ex.
emPt from the common frailtcs Of hui
mainly. Surround them with the same
circumstances and !, would be unreason>
able TO expect to act different from other
men. When you take q man from the
farm and put him in the store, he ceases
10 be farmer and becomes n merchant,
and soon falls into the way OF conducting
the business so as 10 make it suLserve his
own interests. So in all avocations. And
if those with whom the farmer deals
stood upon a basis OF fair competition
there would be lees demand for the
Grange. But these men combine to-
gether for the purpose Of running the
price OF farm produce down as low as the
farmer can possibly afford to raise them (;
and TO sell him the machinery necessary
to run his farm, for double as much a. it
ought TO cost The Grange enables
farmers, in some measure, TO meet COM
bination with combination, and to keep
themselves posted upon the market value
Of what they have to sell as we'll as what
they wish to buy. Another object Of the
Grange. and one that rises very far above
the one just noticed, is. that by thus
uniting. we may assist each other in
learning the best methods OF cultivating
the soil; become better acquainted with
the nature and needs Of the lands we till F;
the way to utilize the various fertilizers
that are wasting upon our farms; and
the advantages, present aud remote, OF
buying chemical and other fertilizers.
But the Grange never was designed for
q political party. and never should be-
come one. Il Is made up OF men OF all
religions and all political predictions,
with the expressed understanding that
politics and religion do not come within
its purview. OF course Changers have
political rights just like other men. And
il, through the Grange, they learn that
they suffer through unjust legislation. il
is their privilege TO proceed, in any prop
er way, to the removal of the evil. But
the Grange is not the proper ehanne
through which TO operate. II sound,
very pretty to talk OF purifying the polit'
ical atmosphere with the yeomanry o
the country;but thaiman knows very littl,
about human nature who claims more IN
nate honesty for farmers than other men
And if ever the Grange is INSIDE politi'
cal party. all it's higher and more impor'
tant principles will be sunk in the mael
strom Of politics. American institutions
stand upon the basis Of political and civ
il equality. This is regarded by thu
people, not only as fundamental princi
pie, but a sine qna non in politics. All at
tempts to inaugurate political parties EN-
bracing any proscriptive feature, hav'
been failures. And should the Grang,
resolve itself into a political party, j
would be intensely proscriptive; am
would be unjust to others, and, in tn
end, ruinous to itself A political part.
which by its very constitution debars al
but one class of citizens. las the Grsng
would do. should it become politiea
partly should never have place amonI
a free, republican people. Efforts, il
some places, have been made to CONVEX
the Grange into q political party. An,
unfortunately, for the Grange, these ct
forts have been attended with some sue
cess what is called a County Council
has been brought into existence, no doub
by designing men for political prefermen,
This County Council is nothing NOR
than q convocation Of Changers. met Ou'
side Of the Grange, to do what they coul
not, lawfully. do in the Grange. An
though it is really no part Of the Grange
yet political dsmagogues have attempted
by this trick. TO secure the vote OF tn
Grangers. And had general, instead @
very partial success. attended this effort
The Grange would have been change
into a political party. But the Count
Council is discarded by the Grange, an
with it. the only political feature ever at
ten pied to be fastened upon IT. The at
tempt Of some men to hitch the Grang
10 their broken down car has very seri
ously crippled the Grange in its influences
The Grange lie very important institr
ton Ear farmers, and works no injury I
any legitimate branch Of business. hon
estly pursued. AMERIcus.
BackhO I'm Letter
Hx,cvuouu Nv lime 81