The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1880-08-14
Hold Fast.

Hold Fast.
We have noticed a tendency of
late, in some portions ofthe country,
specially IN our Northern States, on
the part of some who are, or have
been Patrons, to go into other or
carnations claiming to offer ad-
vantages to the farmer and to assist
in redressing the wrongs under
which he is now laboring. Just SO
far as Alliances, farmers Clubs, &c,
can be used as helps in advancing
the thorough organization of the
farmer, educating and preparing
him for the real work of the Grange,
we should give them our sincere and
hearty support but whenever advan>
tages are claimed for them superior
to the Grange, or that they can take
its place in the work we have to do,
we should unhesitatingly take our
stand on the side of the Grange and
under its banner, battled SCARED.
with its long years of struggle and
and trial, in the fierce conflicts with
opposition and persecution, but new
er so well adorned with the laurels
of victory as to-day, and say: We
will recognize in your organizations
helps, stepping stones to assist those
not yet within our ranks, but we
cannot give up the long tried and
proven Grange for experiments,
new or untried plans. GA bird in
the hand is worth two in the bush"
The Grange and its principles are
no longer an experiment; long tried
and proven they come out more
than ever purified and strengthened
by fire. Whenever lived up to and
applied they have won the results
claimed for them, and were never
so well respected by our own mem
bers or by those without our gates,
as at the present time. 1t has been
asserted by others that one of the
weak points of the American is his
constant desire for change; any
thing that is new, that has novelty
about it attracts and for the time is
tostered and followed with zeal, but
as the next new claimant for favor
is presented the older, and often
better, is cast aside for new. 1t is
so with our farming, so with our
hero worship, so with fashions and
customs. No other organization has
ever accomplished the tenth part of
the good for the farmers of our coun-
try that the Grange has done, and
we have hardly yet tested its capa-
bllities, are only standing on the |
Threshold ofits posstbnfr1es. Am
ances and Farmers Clubs, while
proposing a good and excellent
work in their sphere, have none OF
the broad platforms of the Grange
Their work, results, and influence
are local, while one of the proudest
boasts of our Order is its NATION
Atty. All thatlcan be done in.these
other organizations can be done in
the Grange and much more besides.
These others are organized for spe-
cial objects. The Grange combines
them ALL Ifthose Patrons who take
up with these newer organizations
at the expense of the Grange will
put the same amount of work and
energy into our Order that they do
with their new found love, more
and better can be accomplished
The Grange is already organized.
drilled and the machinery in good
running order: it covers the whole
land. 1t has taken long years to per
feet the organization, why cast il
aside and spend years reorganizine
on other plans? Our only hope as
farmers is in thorough organization.
Which is better, number of indie
pendent organizations, however
good their objects, or one grand or
ganization knowing only the shores
Of a continent as its limits? Through
It we can speak in thunder tones TO
Congresses and Legislatures, and
to the giant powers that would en-
slave us.
Let us extend the right hand of
to all other organizations
hat will help free and build up the
farmer and our whole nation, but
ever recognize in the Grange the
central power through which our
greatest help must come. Let US,
Patrons, ''hold fast to the profession
If our faith without wavering."
Let us be ''noted of our EIdeItty."
Remember, friend, and bear in mind
constant friend is hard to find,
But when you've found one kind and true,
Change not the old one for the new"