The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1881-07-09

1t is difficult to determine which
has been the greatest obstacle in the
way of the Grange, which has done
most to prevent its healthful growth
and progress:-its real enemies who
gained admittance to destroy it, the
ignorance of the great mass of far
mers in regard to the necessity of
organization, or the do-nothing
Oranges that, while meeting regu-
larly, have opposed all steps to carry
Grange principles and measures into
practical operation.
The politicians and other town
classes that slipped into the Grange
drove thousands of true Patrons
out, simply because the latter felt
themselves unable to cope with the
former who had experience and as
surance to help them in their pur-
pose either to destroy the Order or
to shape it to suit their peculiar
views and interests. When we look
back at the large number of politi-
cFSns, merchants. etc, who gained
admittance and controlled so many
Oranges, it seems almost miraculous
that the organization was held to-
gether in a single State.
The ingorance of the great body
of farmers in regard to the power
and necessity of organization for the
protection and building up of their
class and personal interests, is simply
appalling. Notwithstanding the
Grange was organized over ten
years ago and has held a prominent
position in the public eye during
that time, and Subordinate Oranges
have been holding meetings regu-
larly in perhaps ma ajority of coun-
ties in nearly all the States, there are
to- day tens of thousands of farmers
that know absolutely nothing Of the
present status of the Order or even
of the ends it seeks to accomplish.
There are doubtless farmers in al
most every neighborhood that give
no thought whatever to the progress
of events outside of their farms, and
who plod along in ignorance of the
great work which the Grange is &C
complishing and the steadily grow
ing power that it is welding in the
business, industrial and political af-
fairs of the country. In this county,
it is said, there are many farmers
who take no interest whatever in
the cause, and do not even know
that this journal, which has circu
lation that extends from Florida to
Texas, is published within twenty
miles of their homes.
The power and influence of the
above elements of opposition were
very great, but the opposition that
came from them was natural and to
have been expected; but that of the
do-nothing Oranges, especially such
as are made up entirely of farmers,
is unnatural, and doubtless for long
time its true character was not un-
derstood and appreciated, however
much its baneful effects have
been felt. Most if not all of these
Oranges have done nothing because
some of their influential members
have business or personal relations
in the town or city, and their inter
ests were to be promoted by keep
ing the farmers under the power o
the merchants. 1t is not to be won
dered at that there are SO many inf1u
entail farmers directly interested IL
the business prosperity of the towns
since merchandising has so lons
been the leading and controlling
business system of the country am
they have their money invested il
the stores on which they draw larg
interest, or have relatives engage
in merchandising. Such farmers un
derstand exactly how to hold thei
Oranges back when co-operativ
enterprise is proposed, and general
defeat the efforts of those member
who see that they have everything t
: gain by getting out of the slatehe