The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1879-12-06
FROM TENNESSEE.
SHELBY COUNTY.

Editor Patron:-It has been num-
Der of years since the Grange was first
organized and since the time of its birth
it has had quite chequred experience
1t was at first, of course, novelty, and
like all new things of its class it attracted
multitude of varied interests. Individu-
ais Of all callings imagined they saw with
in it the means of promoting selfish pur-
poses. 1t was to the political hack
machine to open the way to the public
crib Rings and combinations imagined
they saw within it new fields looming up
for fraud and speculation. To many Wis
onary farmers it was rainbow of prom
Use with bag of gold at one end and ease
and comfort at the other Thus being the
center of attraction for sordid ambition
and unprincipled avarice all went pell
nell into our Order and the Grange be-
came the biggest thing of the time. We
had Grange papers almost without limit,
Grange orators, Grange poets, Grange
stores and so on, ad infuitum. -r.
AT this time the Grange was said to
flourish. 1t had considerable influence
and a great deal was expected of it. But,
IN tact, the Grange at this period was
weak and undeveloped. Although there
was great deal of noise and demonstra-
ton 1t came from those who were follow
ing tor the 'loaves and fishes" and who
were attempting to run the Grange in
ther own interest. t.a .t-.g grla.l ora,
This great enthusiasm did the Grange
much harm. 1t raised the expectations of
many good man too high and multitudes
OF them became disheartened and aban-
doned the cause. Those who entered if
lor selfish aggrandisement were disap-
pointed and left it, as they thought, to
anguish and die; but although they wait
Gu long and patiently, it is not dead yet;
nor is 1t likely to die soon. f
1hat there has been a considerable fall
lng on IN our numbers and great abate-
"neht IN enthusiasm and demonstration is
d" al true enough, but the Grange during
al al ol Its seeming apathy has been build
icn9 up slowly and substantially. When it
IiSt lell from the womb of time it had a
UeSuny before it, and could not be cir
subscribed within the narrow limits OF
u idual selhshness nor perverted into
sHdnheIs incompatible with the public
5ooo' Being founded upon the broad
anu humane principles of Justice and
IIquaity its object is to mete out even
-,1naed justice to all men. In short, the
PIN OF the Grange was opposed to the
80 interest that was attempting to con
uG 10 II and it languished for a while. Blu
WIZ" nat OF the outlook to-day? If we take
load and philosophical view of the
~ nS Oh the times we will conclude tina
GGoy Portend bright future for the
p'Iange' 1t may be that some would like
v W Nnow upon what we predicate our con
Gr Cons as they cannot see what tn,
tba @nge has accomplished. We answe
C ia' me greater portion of what thu
noatna:s, mas accomplished is not of tina
lateral rai:r and tangible nature which i
re@u;ly grasped by the vulgar mind.
drII T'sts principally in the preliminar,
VOL OF our membership for the grea
"1 VI OF the Grange.
\ 10 tnose who took cool and sensibl
a a,ew OF the subject in the beginning it wa
bbp p9 4 that this was necessary. w
t l~u 10 learn to think together and to &C
t;a% This required time and pa
five . =, put at last we are prepared for &C
Gee - ations, Indeed, in MANY instai1
f tiva II II. mas slready commenced. Cooper
sec ' a S.9reS' cotton factories and enterprj
S eS ana experiments of various kinds ar
GTsnn to mark the progress of tb
""ge iAits progress toward its uIt;mat