The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1881-12-24
The National Grange.
R.ports of the Committees.

S...iaI Report Of Committee on
the Good Of the Order on the
notation OF "POlIfics i'm the
Grange.
Worthy Master and Members of
u, National Grange. Your Com
r 49, on Good of the Order, to
,rhom was referred the reso-
lntion of Bro. Vaughn, has care
t,Iv considered the same, and ask
Leave to present the following re-
port:
"ResolUed, That the National
Grange at its present session con
strue the Declaration of Purposes
On the subject of Politics in the
Grange and by series of resolu
tions give clear and unequivocal
EXPRESSION on that subject"
Your committee has carefully
considered that section of the De
c,aration of Purposes, relating to
tbe subject matter of the resolution.
and can hardly conceive how bet
ter explanation can be given than
anpears in the same connection.
The founders of oar Order and the
authors of our Declarations" evil
IDENTIFY supposed that its admins
traitors would be men and women
Of prudence and discretion. Hence
we find upon the subject of politics
apparent contradictions, for in
stance: 1--WE emphatically and
sincerely assert the oft-repeated
truth, taught in our Organic Law,
that the Grange, National, State or
Subordinate, is not a political or
party organization" That is plain,
clear, unequivocal. The sensitive
Democrat, the thin skinned RePub-
Iican, or the cooperative Read
ulster can safely hide behind that,
and when the honest, large-hearted,
progressive Patron presumes to
make the final charge upon, not
only legalized monopolies, but upon
Iegalizers of monopolies as we'll,
these careful guardians of the inter
ests of the Order at once throw up
their hands IN pious horror and cry
"bOliticS! P5liticsI/" And why?
Because the safety, yea, the very
salvation of rings and ring masters
depends upon the fealty of the peo-
pie to the party of their choice, and
free consideration and discussion
Of those issues which most vitality
concern the people, is always dan
gerous to the "bosses," who desire
nothing SO much as to be let alone.
But then there comes along one
of our honest old Patrons, whose
mini has been expanded and whose
manhood has been developed by
the influence of our grand princi-
piles, and he quotes from the "Dec-
larations" little further down the
column, and it reads as follows: Il
is his duty to do all he can in his
party to put down bribery, corrup-
ton and trickery; to see that none
but honest men, who will unfinch-
lngly stand by our interests, are
nominated for all positions of trust"
There, Mr.. Democrat, Mr. Repub-
hcan, Mr.. Greenbacker, is the rule
and the Interpretation of the law
We frank y admit that we can make
II no palmer. Now, please allow a
word as to its application. And
here we come to our first PROPOSE
ton, that the law is to be admins
tered with discretion. Some things
which are lawful may not be ex-
Pedlent The law tells us our
duty Then, do the work Dis
charge the duty. Work to put
Down bribery. Expose and punish
corruption. Hold up political trick
STEERS and political trickery to public
contempt Drive the buyers and
sellers of the peoples rights and
me depolIers of the Nations honor
rom every position of public trust.
10 the work by such means as you
may think best suited to your hand,
or the best calculated to achieve
success. The National Grange set
Inc example by its action at the
session of 1880. Let the State
oranges, the Subordinate Oranges
ana the individual Patrons follow
me example. To-day no single
issue divides the great po. al par
lie, save which shall control the
Patronage of the Government and
divide the plumber. And when the
one party or the other succeeds, the
nSht is as bitter and as sharp be-
tween It's various wings and rings
as between the principal antago-
hlsts themselves.
W., where shall these things end?
what shall the end be? Who shall
deliver US, if not the farmers? Vino
snail stand boldly and aggressively
Gut IN behalf of farmers, if not the
Iatrons of Husbandrys We are to
,e' alone party politics as such, but
nose great subjects of civil service
a. anu protection to our industries,
nose matters Of National economy
winch so intimately concern us as
me producers of So large a proper
uOn OF the country's wealth, and
VINO bear so great a proportion of
.ne country's burdens, are legiti-
mate topics for discussion by Pa
irons everywhere.
While it is necessary that we raise
Tur revenue from some source, yet