The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1879-05-24
+ A TALK TO A GRANGE.
BY |. M. .sTAHL, SECRETARY OF BERLIl

&
There has been good deal said about
the present condition of our Grange, and
of the proprietv of keeping up the organ :.
ization. No doubt there are persons, and
even those who have been grangers, who
would be rather pleased to see the Grange
die; while there are Others sorry to see the
present condition OF things, and are will
ING to even make some sacrifices to keep
up the organization. 3fi Il s.63c
The object of this paper is to take an
impartial view of the whole subject and
to learn, If possible, what is the best
thing to be done; / shall begin by asking
the question, do we as farmers of this
great country feel the need of some or
ganiztaion by which we will be brought
into closer relations with each other; some
organization by means of which we may
unite our strength for the better protec:
ton of our interests? / say do we feel
the need of such an organization, or do
we not? If we: do not, we are certainly
different from tile, rest OF mankind; for
believe that without an exception every
other calling and profession has its or
ganization of some kind or other. Are
we, as class, SO independent that each
individual can stand alone1 Perhaps we
are nearer SO than any other class, but
still believe there is general feeling
that in union there is strength, general
feeling that there are forces at work
which are undermining our firm founda-
ton, and may eventually enslave us; feel
ing that whispers TO us, let us unite that
we may be prepared to meet all forces
that may invade our rights. And then,
too, our social natures are not entirely
crushed out, and / believe there is a gen
eral longing for better conditions to de-
velop and crafty that noble part of our
nature. .o# 81 ls6.ea nL EylJ
Taking it for granted then that some
kind of an organization is needed, the
question arises, is there any better organ
ization for the farmer than the Grange?
What is this Grange movement? Is it an
organization, as some have thought, con-
cocted by few designing men to gather
thousands of dollars into treasury and
then appropriate it to their own selfish
ends? Or is it an organization founded
upon principle, having for its object the
good of mankind? From the base ras-
cality we see going on throughout the
country it is natural, without due consid-
Grafton, to answer the former question in
the affirmative, and say that money is the
grand object in view. But bad as the
world is, it is not all bad, there are those
who see the great wrongs of the world
and are ever willing to do all in their
power to right them. Such we believe to
have been the founders of the Grange
movement. a5 |
They saw the unprotected condition of
over one half the population of the coun-
/ try, and how portion of the other half
was, by cunning devices, fastening its
coils around the laborer as the serpent
coils itself around its victim. 1t was in
view of this condition of things together
with the lack of the intellectual and so.
cial advantages Of the husbandman, that
the Order of the Patrons of Husbandry
was founded 1t may be question
/ whether the Grange is the best possible
organization for the work it is intended to
accomplish. Some may contend, and
with much reason, too, that an organiza-
ton that has for its object the better
| ing of the condition of one half the pop
ulation of the country, and through that
| half the whole population, should have
nothing hidden or secret about it; that all
REFORMS must be open and PUBLIC. But
| be this as it may, it is evident that there
is some magic power about secret or
| ganization that cannot be obtained with
out it; and had it not been for that little
/ bit of secrecy that is connected with the
/ Grange, it Is doubtful lift eyer would have
become the vast organization that it is and
have accomplished the work it has. -.
Can 1t be possible that an organization
which spread itself in a few years not on
ly throughout every State and Territory
of the United State, but into other coun-
tries, until more than half a million of mem
bers " ere gathered into it's folds, is based
upon no principle adapted to the wants oil
the people? Is it possible that an organ
4 ization on SO vast scale as this one, hold
/ ing hundreds of thousands of meetings
and discussing the various topics connect
ed with the interests of the great farming
community; thereby waking up thought
and bringing out talent, has dsne no gooc
in the Worldl We are little aware what
the Grange has done and is still doing.
IL 1t is rather by inference than by de
i monstration that we can measure the
work of the Grange; for we must take in
to consideration that the Grange has not
been in existence long enough to make any
very perseptahle change in the life of the
farmer. atl We have been expecting
too much. As American citizens we art
inclined to hurry things; We want to reach
the goal of our ambition in a Single bound
and because the Grange does not take u.
from our lahoss of toll and land us at once
in a haven of eternal repose, We are dis
(. posed to give up the ship and try som.
other road to that better condition fo
which we are longing.
Il Let us glance now at some of the thing,
the Grange has done and is still doing
And, first, as to peeuniary matters It i
evident that something has been done t,
towards bringing the producer and con
sumner closer together. Farmers are buy
| ing things at nearer cost prices now thar
in former times. This may not all be at
tributable to the Grange movement. but WI
) may be safe in saying that all farmers
ii whether belong to the GRANGE or not. o.