The patron of husbandry., 1879-09-13
THE GRANGE-ITS POWER AND
FLUENCE.

The founders of the Order of Patrons of
Husbandry did not begin with primitive
people to inculcate primitive ideas, follow
ing aboriginal legends to fanatical con-
clusions; on the contrary, they were men
of enlarged views, cultivated intellects,
and possessed of the full and direct in
formation of the condition of those they
sought to organize. They put forth no
mere mysterious dogma, binding men,
bers to the organization by midnight or
gies, with threats of blood and crime. No
tribunal of inquisatorial vengeance formed
a part of their deliberations, but calm,
thoughtful, wise, they in their favored
position at the capitol of the nation, saw
the manifest destiny of the Republic, saw
that enterprise and genius were develop
ing in the great moneyed centres, that
bold strokes of policy were being affected
by legislation; that constructive and pro-
tective privileges were being secured that
would eventuate in such monopolied
money power, as to wholly endanger the
welfare, happiness and prosperity of the
agricultural class.
This class, unlike the corporate element
of cities, which is closely allied in move
ment, thought, commerce, and business
interests, while the farmer plods alone, his
isolation seldom meeting in business con-
cert, and by force of his segregated inter
ests, easily becomes the dupe of protected
monopolied combinations. For this class
of citizens the founders of this Order
met together, and after years of thought
and experimental trial, have deduced the
present plan of organization, and have
published to criticising and censorious
public, the principles purposes and objects
of the Order, only Withholding from the
curious eye the mere signs and symbols of
membership.
| Few at this date will ask what was and
is its mission. That system of mercantile
agencies which formed an army of drum
mers-for each State an agency and in
turn an agency for each county, and in
some instances an agency in township,
was system wherein was The 'slast
feather that broke the camel's back"
Sewing machines costing in construc-
ton not to exceed $I8 or $40 were sold
for $50 and $50 Reapers, mowers, cut
ters, plows and all kinds of machinery
were only obtainable through the regular
channel. No army Red Tape policy was
ever more fxedly routine.
1t were useless to dwell upon facts now
so patent to every reading man.
transportation also levied it's hard en-
barge, notwithstanding the people in
| their personal and corporate capacity had
furnished aid more than sufficient to con-
struct the roads, and after princely sala-
ries had been paid to presidents, vice
! presidents, and business managers and
uperntendents, such was the rate per
centum of dividends that they could not
publish them in fact for fear of revolution,
consequently watered the stocks to mill.
ions, and the enormous revenues thus ro-
| ceived mado for these railroad kings
princely fortunes
Yet, during this period Of financial cor
ruption, the crops Of the West in 1871
filled every crib, granary, and warehouse,
while that of 1872 added to this supply
1,O92.000,000 bushels of corn, there not
being a sufficency Of stock in the West
to consume this production it was freely
used as fuel. being cheaper than wood or
coal. Everywhere the best talent OF the
! country was evoked to arrest this demon
of railroad combination and high tariff
rates, State after State held its Conven
tons, their Assemblies appointed COM
missions. and the whole problem was
studied from every stand point.
The masses borne down by an extrava.
gance INDUCED in under the plenitude of
the money system generated during the
war, were largely in debt legislative
crime. 1.-THE characterization of silver"
added to the burden; the exposure of the
great Credit Mobllier scheme DESTROYED
confidence; and, to culminate the fearful
ordeal Of suffering, the Government de-
cided upon the disastrous legislation of
resumption, ard bankruptcy, ruin and
| desOatiuii were the resuIi Has
|. The great labor strike of Pittsburg was
followed by fearful murmurings in the
West, and became ominous of impending