Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1877-03-29

moneved power in the hands of a few was
to a great extent controlling political parties
the elections of States, legislative bodies,
State and National; the power of corruption
was seen and felt everywhere. But none
had the courage to oppose or had even a
plausible remedy to suggest, until the grange
was organized, and the farmers united in
the strong bonds of brotherhood with a firm
determination to change the order of things
for the better; turning evil into good ;
curses into blessings.
The grange seeks to gather the agricul-
tural classes (Which is about one-half of our
population) into a social organization, to ed
ucate and practice them for good, and to
oppose all schemes gotten up for selfish pur-
poses and detrimental to the general inter-
ests and well-being of the people.
The Grange offers the most practical
means for relief, as it has united the largest
class in the land in strong array against ev-
cry evil, and is::exerting a powerful influence
for good, and for the welfare Of the entire
country.
The cooperation of our great member
ship in the exercise of their power for good
is not ignored and returned unto them void,
but is more and more respected and accept
ed as a matter of right and justice to all men.
The farmers have in the grange, an organ
ization, if properly used, more etficacious
for general good than any of it's kind i'm the
known world. And we repeat here what
we said in a former communication, that she
farmers have relief within their reach, if
they will but keep united in their efforts
and work in harmony for che good of their
noble order. They have the power within
the gates of their own organization to con-
troll trade, and government to
their great relief, and the advantage of every
legitimate and honest enterprise. Patrons
will you assist in making the necessary eff
fort, and employ the proper means to &C
complish the great end now in view? If
we by neglect, Oh through s~elfishness, or in
fact, from any cause, fail in this, do we not
prove recreant to the trust voluntarily as
sumed 2 Not only are the members of this
order interested, but every farmer in the
country, and is 1t not strange? yea, remark
ably so, that many good and we'll disposed
men and women who have lived and toiled
nearly a life time on the farm, and have suf-
fered in consequence Of the evil surrounding
us, and have seen the threatening clouds
against the agricultural interest OF the coun-
try, gathering thick and fast, until danger
appeared to be nigh and certain. And
Notwithstanding among those who were
loudest in their condemnation against mon
opolies and oppression, were some of these
same farmers who have kept themselves
aloof from the grange, and have thereby alb
solutely exerted an indirect influence against
the order, many OF them readily admit
that much good has been accomplished by
the Patrons, and that they expect and hope
for much more, and stiM they keep on in
the same old way and habits that brought
upon us the distress of which every farmer
has complained, and is still suffering j; for
getting chat it was by this same old way of
selfishness among farmers, each one pulling
on a single string Of their own, instead of
the strong pull and a pull o1together.4
Brother farmer, you have an interest with
us in this work ; you can have equal ben
efits with us if you will but unite with us in
the grange, and give us your aide and your
counsel; unite your efforts and your intlu-
ence with ours in the advancement of our
common interest, and in the elevation Of
the farming population Of the land, so that
we may be able to leave the great agricul-
tural interest of the country in a better con-
dition than we found it; not only would we
receive Urpat henafitS hnt n,r copc ond