The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1879-08-16

ballot, before they can secure that posi1oh
through which alone they can be eleva-
ted to that level occupied at the formation
of our government and to which they
must attain or stupidity sink to the degra-
ded position of serfs-desert their once
honorable and profitable calling like rats
from a sinking ship, rush to the cities ana
villages with their sons and daughters
and allow the Shylocks to proceed unmo.
Tested with their present programme OF
transforming this once happy country,
with its millions of industrious, contented
families, into a nation of aristocratic land
owners on the one hand and Ignorant, de-
pendent serfs on the other.
The sanguinary battles of the nations OF
the earth are being fought to-day in the
interest of labor against organized capital
The conflict will be long and bitter. The
plain duty of every workingman the
world over is to enlist in this great moral
conflict with all the zeal born of desperA-
ton; to ask and demand wi;houtreference
to partisan politics that position and legal
protection that of right belong to those
who by their toll feed the world of man.
kind, furnish transportation, mine the pre-
cious metals, raise the flood-gates of com
merce and start new nations into busy,
teeming life and prosperity. Say that the
Grange cannot engage with zeal and safe
ty in the discussion of those great ques-
tons of political economy and needed re-
form without losing its organization or
violating the fundamental principles of
the Order, and you have deprived the
membership of all hopes of anything more
than the mere privilege of its social gath
ering for the short time that intervenes
between this and the time that our homes
and self-respect will pass forever from our
grasp and we will tamely submit to the
terms so magnanimously offered by the
New York World, where it says: t'For
its masters men must be content to work
for less wages. In this way the working
men will be nearer that station of life to
which it has pleased God to call them"
They will then be prepared to hunIbly
accept that blessed condition referred to
by the meek and lowly Henry Ward
Beecher as he reclines on his velvet
cushioned sofa, or breaches to bondhold
ers from his lavishly furnished pulpit, and
tells you water costs nothing, and man
that cannot live on bread is not fit to live
When these doctrines are being preached
from wealthy and fashionable pulpits to
edify bondholders, and published by the
leading papers of both the great political
parties, it is time the laboring men of
America had met in grand council and
| calmly and deliberately resolved upon the
future course for labor in this struggle for
| life and independence, and then strike as
one man for the right; and let everything
stand from under until the rightful inde-
pendence of labor is acknowledged and
justice again pervades the land
Talk of social gatherings and educa
tional advnntages-they are blessing TO
those who have time and means to attend
and enjoy them, but we are constantly
| advised by our would be masters, and
| their fawning, sycophant-like hirelings
| that we must be more economical and in
dustrious if we would prosper. Those
men who have succeeded in legislating
the tax off their entire wealth, and by a
| studied course of legislation doubled the
burden OF labor, increased the public debt
and decreased everything else except the
| salaries of officers and rate of interest on
money, continue to tell us to stop tinker
ing with the currency, cease to talk poll
| tics, work harder and spend less money if
we would be more independent and hap
Ply. Do you believe this is the remedy !?
if you do, you are the fit servants of your
weather. masters and ready to forge the
calling chains.to be worn by the children
of race of cowardly, unworthy sires.
Never while that powerful weapon the
| ballot, is ours to WELD will intelligent
| farmers and Patrons cease to agitate every
| question of interest to the country until
learn their rights and manfully assert
them, without being blinded and driven
| by party lash. These with other impor-
tant matters believe to be the mission of
| the Order, and until these ends are accom-
plished Oranges will continue to meet and
increase their membership with this mot
to constantly in view, ''The greatest good
to the greatest number" IS r5.-. e5
| FARMERS AND Pol ITICS =.