The patron of husbandry., 1879-07-26
"THE GRIP AND PASS BUSl'

The Connecticut Farmer contains an.
editorial paragraph, in reply to suoscrl-
her who desired the insertion of an article
ON "The Grange" The article was re-
fused for the reason that the /'ar'nter'
"don't take much stock in the Grange, =
that 1--WE are aware of no advanta-
oes that it can give to us farmers winch
we cannot get through our local organIza..
tions-such as farmers clubs, agricultural
societies or friendly unions" That ''lust
as much good can be done, or as much
secured for the public good through the
farmers clubs or societies which we now
have as to go into the grip and pass busl-
ness" The gist of the objection lies IN
in the secrecy of the Grange-and yet
we can hardly fail to see the smirk of con-
ceit which says to the miserable publican,
'stand aside, for | am holier than thou,
or to the credulous rustic wisdom will die
with us.
In every community we find few who
are hostile to all "secret" organizations.
No distinctions are made between the
dark lantern, furtive and suspected Grim
inal conclave and the association whose
purposes, modes of procedure, and mem
bers, are known to all men. 1t is suffi
Gent arouse lIlCll dIldlllClIl@S " hilO"
that the uninvited guest is not welcome.
A man of intelligence ought to be asham.
| ed of such prejudice We expect illiberal
opinions and suspicious distrust from the
| ignorant-the Paul Prys and the bigot-
and our general observation leads US to
place the opponents of the Grange in one
or the other of these classes. AS rule
they sit in judgment concerning that OF
which they confess ingnorance, or they
are the tattlers with itching ears, ever on
the alert to tell or hear some new thing
or the religious fanatic that has eliminated
from his creed that charity that sis moi
pulled up and thinketh no evil" We
know that many urge that secrecy in al
organizations which have for their pro
fessed objects the good of their fellow
men is unnecessary-th virtue, truth
and right action, do notneed concealment
The error lies in attaching wrong motive
to an innocent act A thing may be un
necessary, but it does not therefore follow
that it is either criminal or sinful.
The Grange has published to the worlc
its declaration of principles. 1t proposes
to advance agriculture; to educate the far
mer; to build up a nobler manhood.
seeks to accomplish these by social inter
course and cooperation. 1t invites al
who can see good in their fellow man en-
gagged in similar pursuits to join them
But how do we know this? How shall
we know that it is not another Ku-klux
or Know nothing, or Agrarian conspira
cy, bound together by ''iron- clad" oaths
made impressive by darkness, masks, tht
clanking of chains, and the rattle of dead
mems bones? And yet the men who con
jure up these spectres repudiate the charge
of ignorance. We commend to their read
ing the fable of 1Esop, of the ass that GOV
cred himself with the lion skin, but wa
unable to hide his ears. The character o
the men who compose the Subordinat
Oranges is sufficient refutation of all sucl
idle stuff. Besides the wives and daugh
ters of these same men-"honorable wo
men, not a few"-give sanction of its higf
character and aims. But they who see
. IN the Grange the means of accomplishing
\ the same good work as is sought to be
attained bv farmers clubs and kindred as
sociations. see also other worthy and nee
essarv purposes to be accomplished unat-
tainable by local organizations. The
Grange is in no wise antagonistic to farm
ers' clubs and agricultural societies, but
without scruple accept the "grip and pass
business" as the link which shall unite in
common chain the agriculturists of the
country, and by this bond of union has
accomplished in almost every section oi
thirty five States and Territories all thai
the farmers club has sought or been abe
to do in its isolation, supported by the
learning, ability and worth of its advo
Gates Grange Bulletin. a'
AS they did two years ago, the masse.
of the people are making their voices po