The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1880-11-27


ten thousand Oranges were organ
ized. To organize and properly in
struct so many in so short a time
was impossible Many of the
Oranges were hurriedly organized,
and left, never to be visited by the
Organizing Deputy again. Thou
sands joined the Order without q
correct knowledge of its real pur-
poses, vainly believing that in do
ing SO they wonld be able to cor
rect all the evils, and redress all the
wrongs they had suffered, or which
had interrupted their business pros
perity; and with little OF no effort
upon their own part, further than
joining the Grange. This move
ment attracted the attention of the
whole country, and the combined
and incorporated capitalists became
apprehensive that the farmers were
organizing not only to. correct ex-
isting grievances, but to retaliate for
past wrongs, and would soon be
able to assume control, aud carry
out their purposes. Ambitious men
worked their way into the Order,
and in their Efforts to become lead
ers, sought to influence the minds
Of members with the hallucination
of farmers party that would be
able to crush out all others and
build up an agricultural aristocracy.
Our Declaration of Purposes,
adopted by the National Grange,
they treated as a compilation of
glittering generalities, and intimated
that the real aims of the organiza
tfsn were hidden in its secret mys-
teries. While these influences had
the effect to increase the member
ship, yet they deepened the suspi-
cions, and aroused the opposition
of those engaged in other pursuits.
The membership doubled in 1874,
and when the National Grange con-
vened in Louisville, in November,
1875, the Secretary reported 24,2oo
Oranges, with a membership of
762 ,263, a growth unprecedented in
the history of similar organizations,
and too rapid and crude to be
healthy and permanent A reaction
was inevitable. a great broth er-
hood, organized for the edu ;ation
and elevation of a class, could not
live and accomplish its mission
without system, discipline, and
united action. The Order must
pass through an ordeal, in reorgan-
izing and consolidating Oranges,
enforcing discipline, and systema-
tizing its work, that would reveal
its weakness and inefficiency or de
monstrate the correctness of its
principles, and establish its strength
and perpetuity. Through that chi
sis we have passed. Though some
what depleted in numbers, yet bet
ter organized, better disciplined.
and better prepared to make the
principles of our Order understood
and appreciated. There can be no
better evidence of the vitality of
our organization and the value of
its principles, than is to be found in
the fact that under such circum-
stances so many Oranges have lived
and prospered, and that so many
intelligent, high-minded pen and
women all over our land :are still
laboring in its ranks, and advocating
its principles.
All there is of our organization is in
the Subordinate Oranges, and with
them all authority is vested. The
National and State Oranges are but
representative bodies created by
them, to legislate for their good,
and make such recommendations for
their united action as the welfare of
the Order, and the great interests of
agriculture seem to require. Repre-
senting the Subordinate Oranges,
and all the diversified interests of
agriculture of our common country,
we come from the north, the south,
the east, and the west to look over
the situation, counsel together, and
take such action as, in our judgment
is necessary to foster and protect
the interests we represent. In yonder
spacious hall, beneath the lone Of
our Nations capitol, the represent
atives of the people annually assem-
bic to legislate for the common wei
fare. In the past, but few repre-
sentatives of our class have been
found there, and in the legislation of
the country, the greatest interest,
agriculture, has been almost entirely
neglected or ignored, while other
interests which are managed by
corporations created by legislation,
have been the recipients OF legisia-
t've favors to such al extent as TO
enable them, not only 10 tx the price
of every farm in the lanl, but in the