The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1881-07-09
From the Virginia Granger.
The Grange and the Anti.NO-
KOpOIy League.


The credit of calling the attention
of the public to the gross abuses of
railway monopolles belongs to the
farmers of this country, who
through their organization known
as the Grange, were the first to
make any open attack upon the mi
quitious determinations and unjust
burdens imposed by the railway
kings.
1t was asserted in the very begin
ming that they were not enemies to
railroads, or to capital, but that
they were for justice and fair play.
So far from receiving any aid or en-
enlargement ssfrom manufacturers
or those engaged in commercial
pursuits, they were left to carry on
the fight single handed, and were
most roundiy abused by the press,
vilified by the trade, and in some in
stances ridiculed from the pulpit.
Conscious, however of the justice
and integrity of their cause, they
went boldly forward and for years
warned the people against the dan
ger which threatened them.
At length the boards of trade saw
the danger too, and they formed as
sociations to defend themselves
from the fate which had been said
would surely be melted out to them.
Anti monopoly Leagues were form
ed, and the efficient aid of able and
wise men has been enlisted. Not,
however, until the farmers had to
certain degree effected great things
for themselves and the country at
large Not until the celebrated
Grange cases had been acted upon
by the Supreme Court of the Uni
ted States, and decided in favor of
the people and against the railroads.
Now since that descision has been
promulgated, the efforts has been
made by the railroads TO get posses
sion of the courts, as they already
had the possession OF the Congress
of the United States.
The great issue before the Amer
lean people day is that of monop-
oily. 1t is no longer a question con-
fined to the farmers of the country
or their organization, the Grange.
1t must in the future be one in the
politics of the country.
If it shall be made a party ques-
ton the farmers will not be to blame
for it, and it will be incumbent upon
them to stand by the principles
which they have time and again
enunciated, and are part and par
eel of their organization.
Below will be found a communi-
cation which we clip from the New
York Sun, which bears immedi-
ately on the question under consid-
Grafton, and will repay perusal.
To the Editor of the S,sn-Sir:
1t is probable that the Anti Monop-
oily League, whose branches are be-
ing rapidly formed in New York,
New Jersey and elsewhere, will be
powerfully aided in this work by
the Patrons of Husbandry. That
order has recently attracted less at
tention than its members and earn
estness deserved. But, far from be
| ing moribund, it is stronger to day
than at any time since its institution,
and its affairs are managed upon a
better system and with more intelli-
gence than heretofore. Earl mis-
takes have been repaired, the ma
| chinery of business between the
| Oranges and the out side world has
been perfected, and true and trained
men have come into the lead.
Two leading causes have opera
ted, it appears to us, to retard the
| growth of the order and limit its
| usefulness. The rude, ill-considcred
attacts upon the railroads in the
Western Legislatures, while not re-
ally the work of the Oranges, were
universally attributed to them, and
were supposed to be a fair measure
of their political capacity, and Just
exposition of their political prlnci-
/ pies. But this was not true in point
of fact The legislation which failed
so signally was not devised in the
/ Oranges or by their authority.
That a majority of the members
were in favor of it there can be no
doubt. But it was brought forward
in its crude form and hastily enac-
ted by class of demagogues who
were. in most instances, not only
not Patrons, but were ineligible for
membership. They seized the OPP
portunity to make fair weather with
the farmers, and in their zeal to
serve their own political purposes
well-nigh ruined the movement,
upon which they had laid hold as
mere makewe;ght to their own.
But the order itself is not political;
It does not nominate candidates for
office, and it does not, and, constitu-
tionally, it cannot lend its organiza,
! ton to partisan uses