Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1879-06-07
GRANGER'S DEPARTMENT.
,r,IE DUTY OF THE HOUR.

AT the last annual meeting OF the
National Grange, held at Richmond
Va, the following resolution, among
others, was adopted:
"2. We shall demand by our ballots all
mission into the Legislature OF the sever
nj States and in both branches loi the ma
tional Congress for representatives OF aS-
riculture, chosen directly from us Votar-
les, as the only means OF reiiel.
SelE,reserya,ion aud lfdefense is
the highest law, and is imperative upon
ms Selfesteem and self-respect, when
nronerlv exercised, are calculated 10
command the respect of others Why
should not the agriculturist aspire 10
the highest Seats OF honor IN the land =?
II is duty they owe 10 their calling.
Agriculture being the normal and only
true foundation OF the wealth of a ma
ton it should have its votaries; those
who are practically engaged, those
whose interests are identified with 1t IN
all Legislative bodies; for the land and
its products are the fountains which
contribute to the support of the govern
ment; and i'll these days of lavish eX-
penditure upon the different schemes OF
public plundering no men are as well
calculated to stay the squandcring hand
as those who toll to produce nation $
substance.
We need more men in the councils OF
the nation whose interests harmonic !;
who, under the restraining influence OF
q common interest, will suppress sec
tional chickering's; who will not pander
to the building up of gigantic monopo-
,ies that may build up one class or sec
ton of our common country to the det-
riment aud ruin Of another, as IS the
case now. The middle belt OF our
country has become the predatory field
for the transporting monopolies, whilst
the money monopolles are sapping and
subordinating every industry of our
land Now, how are these evils to be
checked! l. can only be done by the
selection and election of men OF both
State and national legislative bodies
whose interests are mostly adversely ct-
fected by the preferences which Is now
accorded by our lawmakers to the two
leading mouopolies above indicated.
Oar land, which is the primitive
source of our wealth, is subordinated to
the money power; it no longer stands at
the mead Of our securities as i'll former
days, but is deprecated by the legisIa-
tiua OF the country, and made inferior
u money whicE is transitory in its ma
turc, and which is suLjrct to legislative
manipulation; and 50 varied and dcX-
truuS has become that legislation that
the value Of property and labor is III
danger of absorption, and under a con
stauL drain OF taxation; SO adrOltIy is
this arranged that our land labor must
pay t!jhe to sustain the government Sc
curllirS upon which the muCcy is based.
Farmers, manuiactur, r., miners, mcr-
chants, mechanics and laOorcrS Should
not treat iudillyrcuIiy the tact that their
Investments and industry is taxed to1
the benefit Of the money class; govern
mrut bonds, and United States TrraSu-
~ certificates place every dollar OF
money handled by the industries Of the
nation under a tax, while the owners OF
the basis of the none are released from
TAXATION, bat receive their bonus; this
Cn>lavcS the former, while i makes mas
tcrS of the lattc,; so with the products
OF our land, factories, mines, etc, with
out their products railroads could not
he sustained, vet they are 50 taxed by