The comet., 1879-12-20

growers of Virginia and Kentucky
began to ask if there was not some
where in this a mistake; the sheep
master, grass-farmer and stock-raiser
were not enlightened by the discuss
sion; the orchardist and gardner fell
rather lonely in this crowd of sewers
and reapers, while the cotton and
sugar planters, full of enthusiasm al
first, lost it all in this interminablc
diffusion and Capitalization, and be-
came as indifferent as they were en-
thusiastic. And not satisfied with
Joining in this unnatural and indis-
soluble way the buckwheat farmers OF
, the Northern lake shores to the indigo
planters of the Louisiana lagoons,
the doors were opened to the rap
of almos all men whose fathers or
had been farmers, lawyers, poll
ticians, doctors, merchants, preach
ers, and no questions asked, J
schoolmasters, editors, and men
representing every mechanical pur-
; pursuit, filled the Grange, and in most
instances held controlling influence.
The farmer was actually lost as much
in the diffusion of interests in the indi-
vidual Grange, as his delegate was be-
wiIdered in his national character at
the stupendous grasp of his Order.
From this rapid growth, national
feature, and conglomeration of its
interests, grew up insensibly the
idea among the many farmers and
others that the Grange was the cave
of the robbers, where gold could be
had for the taking, and the rush to
get in was as eager as the disappoint-
ment, when in, was pitable. One
serious defect will sometimes enfeeble,
if it does not destroy, the best char
acter, as too much salt will utterly
unfit the most palatable dish from be-
ing eaten.
The Middle Ages, for more than a
century, have been the great reservoir
from which writers and speakers
have drawn illustrations to show the
great advancement, since those days,
of society into the light of education,
privileges and liberty; and it is the
fashion to look to the Middle or Dark
Ages for the source of all the woes of
mankind. And yet, from the associa-
tions of the industries thousand
years ago, into guilds and confraterni-
ties, do we to-day trace many of our
dearest rights and privileges, and our
municipal and other corporations their
original. But these associations were
founded on the strictest principles;
organized to teach and protect peculiar
interests, not to oppose or in any man
ner obstruct others. Each craft was
a little government of its own, willing
to confederate with others of like in
terest elsewhere, but not tributary to
them; having each its officers, funds
for the unfortunate, rights and GER
taln cAtluSlNV piiNliNSVoi 'ii"thihS '
place and home for the indus
trious poor, forming altogether
species of aristocracy of indus
try, where the interest of each was
the safety of all. They gave sense
of human fellowship, however hum
Bile the calling, for all We're enrolled
under some banner, and every laborer
congratulated himself that he had a
definite and fixed place in society,
and that thereby he was assured privi-
leges not to be elsewhere obtained,
and certain protection and subsistence.
Unlike the Grange, these associations
were not universal, seeking members
on every hand. The weavers admit
ted only weavers, well ascertained as
such; the shoe maker looked upon the
trade of the tanner as one essentially
different from his own; the shepherd
was not farmer, and the interests of
the gardener and orchardist were as
different as that of the shoe maker
md tanner. Under such especial and !
societary organizations every
fiourished, for they were the
sustainers of each other. And it was I
not alone the laborers in shop and
field who thus organized, but COM .
mercc and merchantile interests felt
the necessity for united efforts, and
yildG mercatolia, or merchantile assOcia-
lions, and commW,lid cOrpOrata, or incor- :
Dorated communities, followed in the
wake of the laboring cOnfraternities
If southern Europe. Liverpool, to-day
he great depot of the cotton of the
world, was organized into a CONNER
,ial guild as early as the reign of
Henry III, of England, in the twelfth !
century. c
1t was an evil day, not alone for the /,
abOrers of Europe but for civilization
md liberty, when, by the false theo-
les of licentious, bigoted and un- il
,ridled Jesuitism, the very guilds
llellSelNeS uulUGl WIFI JuG uIedHltTS J
# an universal brotherhood to pull ,
lown and destroy these associations
md abolish the exclusive privileges Ii
md crafts. The workers became at
nee, and still remain, huge multi :
ude without head or order, each
for himself alone. Isola-
ion was the only thing universal. =
IOne were permanent or fixed. The
rue tramp was born; the poor be-
anne serfs, and individual wealth with
he few, increased enormously. The
,Iasonic craft only escaped as a name
o be fondled by royalty as speculative
Masonry, unconnected with the art of
or with architecture, but a
rand monument nevertheless, by its
harity and benevolence and perma-