The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1880-09-04
COOPER
Letter from Past Master VIM.
Maxwell, OF the Tennessee State
Ennnun

Maxwell. Of the Tennessee State
Grange.
Editor Patrou:-Some one has
said, "What we find in the world
when we are born into it, we look
upon as natural" AS truthfully NAV
it be said, what we do not find, we
look upon as an innovation or un-
natural.
We are not born co-operationists.
we are born with individualities.
This individuality oft leads to strife
and beatings, as between Baalam
and his beast. Baalam's individuali,
ty prompted him to press on, with
out regard to the hindrance or indi-
viduality of any other creature; this
errand, in the light of his individu-
ality must be accomplished; but the
co. cooperation ofthe beast upon which
he sat was necessary to his success.
Instinct reused its individuality to
self preservation, and beatings fol-
lowed, because ''anger was kindled"
as cooperation in going forward
| had ceased. And out of the ''opened
mouth the beast said, ''what have
done unto thee, that thou hast
smitten me these three times?" And
again it is said, when Baalam threat
ened what he would have done had
he a sword, even that he would Kill.
it said, cam not l thine upon
which thou hast ridden ever since |
was thine unto this day?" "Was |
| ever wont to do so unto thee?" And
he said may" Had Baalam always
been accustomed to depend upon
himself to go to and fro, it would
have seemed natural, but as he had
always been served by the beast it
seemed unnatural that he should not
serve him still.
AS it was in the days of old, so is
it unto this day. Customers to bu
siness, whether they be farmers, ar
tisans, or professional men, have
been serving business men by vol
UNFAIRLY or otherwise giving custom
to their business of whatever kind.
and thus enabling those in business
to secure not onlyfa support, but in
many instances large accumulations,
as the Stewards, Vanderbilts aud
many others. After the lapse of
many centuries of business, in what
seemed to be the natural way; nat
ural, because generation after gen
Grafton was born and found it So
The generations of the present cen
tury have found their way hedgfd
up till they had no longer the abil-
ity to go forward, no longer could
they carry the load.
Artisans began first in the old
world to turn aside. Impelled by the
same necessity, those engaged in
the productive industries on this
continent began to inquire of busi-
ness men, Have we not served thee
and our generations before us, till
thou oughtest to be satisfied? And
in, and through the Grange the plan
of Cooperation has been taught as
a relief measure, and by its agency
promulgated, and when understood
and practised, relieves customers
from the burden, take off the load,
and not only so, but enables the
bearers of the burdens to mount
upon the heights of equity, do us
tice to ALL and disprove the asser-
ton that business shows no mercy
and has no sympathy for customers;
or that corporations have no soulsn
This is upon the principle that every
customer is beneficiary in the net
income of the business to which he
gives his custom.
That the customers to all business
the world over, may get to them
selves all the income from business,
it is only necessary that all business
| be given to cooperative houses. t
actually costs less to do business
upon that plan than upon any other,
if all will become voluntary custori-
ers. In that event, all drummers
expenses and salaries are saved, and
it is no greater risk: the whole bu-
siness of the world is trusted to some
boby any way. There are men now
trusted with two hundred thousand
bales of cotton a year, the same may
be trusted to a co-operationist just
as we'll. If YOU would trust Mr.. T.
! 7. CarVer with that much, if he we, {
a commission merchant on the usual
plan, let him handle it and have I'll
the profits growing out of it, after
ne haG l.aid the expenses net
trust him as co-orerationist,le let him
make the very same charges in
Handling it that he would on the
usual pI;.n, it would amount to pre-
IL L.. ANA LET thaa exnanS1.S L..