The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1881-09-24
FROM TEXAS.
williamson Comfy,

an organization Of more exalted pur-
poses, or higher, patriotic motives
and aims that has been SO bitterly
opposed, and its leaders so willfulIy
misrepresented, as the Grange?
Witness the attacks of some Of the
political papers of Mississippi on
Worthy Master Darden, as pub
!ished in your issue of August 18TH.
They well know that they cannot
refute his arguments, hence their
resort to low pettifogery of misrep-
resentation in their charges of com
munism, attempts to sow class
prejudices, dissensions, ETC., made
against him. You, Mr.. Editor, ask,
"Will the members Of the Grange
in Mississippi tamely submit to it?''
Ought not you to have asked, will
the Order of Patrons of Husbandry
throughout this broad land submit
10 it. Worthy Master Darden is
not only Master of the State Grange
of Mississippi, but his sound Grange
principles and his acknowledged
ability elected him to the next high
est office in the National Grange
He also, by request of Worthy Mas
ter Woodman, delivered the ad-
dress of welcome to the original
founders of the Order at the last
meeting of the National Grange,
and is, we believe, the acknowledged
author of the new Declaration of
Purposes; and such charges against
one of the ablest and most devoted
of Grange leaders concerns every
member of the Order. And l, for
one, (and, | think, | voice the feel
ings of every true Patron challenge
the defamers of worthy cham pion
of noble cause to produce some
thing in evidence of these asser-
tions, or stand before the world as
convicted of the violation of the
9th Commandment. So used are
these political sycophants to inter
preting the motives and acts of their
demigods, and responding to their
every beck and nod, that they can
see nothing in Worthy Master Oar
den's efforts to redeem the farmers
of Mississippi from party thraldom.
which is the indirect cause of their
oppressed condition, but entering
wedges for political ends; or to
open the gates for deluge of com
munisrn. What glittering helmets
the Aberdeen Examiner waves
over the heads of Lamar andMoney? ?
and what warm sympathy they have
for the farmers. But as freedom of
thought is one of the few things
that has been left to the farmer. and
thanks to Grange teaching he is
fast learning to propel his thoughts
in the right direction, we think he
will claim the right ere long to
Judge for himself "whose heart is
in sympathy with his yearnings and
aspirations" One would suppose
from the "shivered lances'' and the
"wild and scattering shots" that
Worthy Master Darden has wasted
good deal OF ammunition. but
when we hear SO much futtcrine
we are satisfied that he brought
down some game.
Loving the Grange as I do and
believing not only in the "possibili-
tiles" but the certainty for good to
grow out of the right appreciation
and application OF its principles, ]
rejoice TO know that the Order has
such able and fearless defenders as
Worthy Master Darden and THE
PATRON OF HUsBANDRY, and ]
wish to say to all who are interested
in the prosperity of the Grange ir
Mississippi and the South generally
that we must sustain THE PATRON
OF HUsBANDRY. We can not afforc
to let it be cramped in its efforts
for the want of support. Let every
| one do what he can to extend 1T
circulation, and if necessary let the
subscription price be increased.
had rather pay double the presen
price. and would willingly pay i
rather than see it embarrassed fo
the want of sufficient means. l
Fidelity is the prominent distinction
of a.good Patron, it certainly merit
it. Let us 'scling to those VIII
cling to US, at the risk Of bein;
called Communists, Nihilists, O
what not. Fraternally,
D. D. THOMSON,
Florence, Sept. II.