The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1881-09-24
The Grange and Farmers.
BY DIR. w. II. ELLIS, COOPEl
COUNTY, MISSOURI.
Journal of A oricnlture.

COUNTY, MISSOURI.
Journal of Agriculture.
GLOW can we induce farmers, not
members of the Grange, to unite
with our Order?"
This is the first theme for this
month, and we again feel our ina
bility to do the subject justice. The
Order of Patrons of Husbandry was
organized for a noble pu pose, and
it needs nothing mole to secure the
assistance of all free farmers than a
full understanding Of its aim. 1t is
true that selfish man can not be
Granger and enjoy himself fully.
He can not tear himself from bust
ness at home to attend the meetings
Of the Grange regularly. 1t seems
like sacrificing too much for the
benefit or others. He can not wish
farmers to be the mere tools of other
classes No; he wishes they were
on a plane with the highest, and
would be glad to see them rise to
their height, but he can not make
the sacrifice himself to assist much
in raising them, because there are
Others that will do it. He thinks
more of his little affairs than ne
does Of the interests of 5000, 900 of
farmers in the United States. O
that we could Undue all men in the
country with a desire to take part
in the edusation Of farmers, and
who would be willing to devote all
of their abilities to that end! if all
were teachers, the object would
sooner be accomplished; and then
all could claim the credit of help
ing. Then all could say, Il did not
think so much of my own affairs,
as to neglect the teachings of my
fellownfan."
Are we willing, brothers and sis
tiers, to see our children left in the
same condition that we were2 There
are hundreds of children about leav
ing school, or who have done so,
who are without the means of bet
tering their condition, and many of
them the children of Patrons. Shall
these children increase in knowl-
edge, or like their forefathers retro
grade? Can father place himself
i'll a position to be educated. and
deny his child the same privilege?
1t is here where the solicitation of
individual members will be most
appreciated. Let them describe the
beauties and importance of the
Grange to their children and to
their neighbors' children, that they
may go or increasing in knowledge
as long as there is a Grange. Bat,
how are we to obtain the blessing
without combination? If there
were ten men In the country, COM
bined for particular purpose, they
might obtain slight notice, but if
it were hundred it would deserve
respect But, W hen it is increased
to thousand, it deserves counting.
When it became universal it would
be overwhelming. We know that
farmers are taved 70 or So per cent
of the whole taxation, while ther,
are billions of bonds and green
backs excluded from taxation. Ask
any farmer if it is right, and he will
answer with empasis-No Ask him
if he is "a Patron, and he will say he
is not, and that he has so little in.
f1uence he could do no good by be
coming one. Then ask him if ali
the farmers of the United States,
each with much or little influence.
would combine and demand Justice.
then his answer would be-Y es,
Had / told this man he had so little
influence that we did not want him
for Granger, might have gotten
myself into a fight y eft men will
plead this excuse that they would
have no other person to think of.
Now, this man, by his own admis-
sion as to what combination can do,
is living without the line of his
duty SO long as he remains without
} the Grange. And because he can
not spare the time from his laborq
to attend the Grange, he is made
one of the number who have to paw
70 or 80 per cent of the taxes. To
avoid little loss of time for the
farmers benefit makes him lose ten
times as much for the benefit of the
monopolist,
Capitalists buy UP the bonds OF
the Government, deposit them at
Washington and draw interest on
, them, enjoying all the benefits from
them, even as. much as if kept al
home. At the same time, the Gov
eminent makes them a present OF
90 per cent of the amount deposit
ed of notes circulated as money, on
which they draw another supply oil
interest, while neither farmers no1
any other class is allowed the priv
i ilege of depositing the right of their
: property in lieu of notes to circulate
as money. Thus one class is given