The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1881-05-28
The Grange Press.

" PHCAiS oIIlAlOl mas q
vast and incalculable influence on
the progress of our institutions.
Whether eXerted for honest or dis
honest purposes its power is almost
without limit, and institutions or
corporations that are backed up by
vigorous, liberally supported press
are pretty sure to be prosperous.
But the press will be powerful in
exact proportion to the support it
receives from the class it seeks to
benefit. This assertion is abun-
dainty verified by the many combi-
nations, monopolies and corpora
tions that have attained to such i'm
mense proportions as the result Of
an aggressive. we'll paid press.
Witness, for instance, the rail
roads and transportation companies
how they are prospecting; and we'll
they may, for by the liberal use of
money they have enlisted in their
support an extensive, powerful
press which vigorously repels every
assault made upon their ''riights'-
self-constituted though they are.
There is a numerous and very
very powerful class of newspapers,
powerful because so extensively
circulated-the secular" press we
mig style them-which purport
to be the peoples advocates, friends
of the farmer, but which are in fact
the muzzled hirelings of rings and
monopolies, covertly catering to the
interests of their unscrupulous en-
ployers while pro(es ing to be
champions of justice and the rights
of the people.
This class of newspapers is, to a
great extent, indebted for its exis
tance and support to the patronage
of agriCulturists who, while failing
TO give substantial aid to the press
specially devoted to their interests,
are assisting to perpetuate system
that ultimately tends to their op-
preston.
It is the duty of farmers-and
more especially PatronS--to support
such papers as are friendly and de
voted to their interests; not merely
to the elementary essentials of their
avocation, but 10 the bold and fear
less advocacy of their rights, civil
and political.
Farmers, as a class, are sadly too
slow in evincing substantial appre-
citation of the efforts exerted in their
behalf.
Like other organizations, the
Grange has been benefited by its
press; but this benefit is small when
compared with what it might be
did our Grange papers receive the
encouragement and support they
deserve.
The very best index to the mate
rial makeup of the Grange is the
support it gives to our Grange press.
1t has been the experience of our
leaders that where there is a gen
eral circulation of Grange literature
the progress of the Order is very
manifest, and "dormant'' Oranges a
non entity.
1t could not be otherwise.
Reading Patrons are thinking
Patrons, and, generally speaking,
thinking Patrons are acting ones.
All will admit that there is an alb
solute necessity for Grange press.
tits the Patrons organ and theIcham-
pion of the rights of agriculturists.
Patrons are we'll aware that the
political press has in the past ignor-
ed the existence of our order, and,
with few exceptions, it does so yet
at least to the extent of rarely re-
ferring to it.
The reason is simple enough:
they are subsidized, their influence
is bought by the monopohsts, the
tyrannical, grasping extortioners,
whose interests are inimical to the
rights of farmers; and if their infu-
ence p is not sold presumably be
cause they have none their silence S
bartered tor paltry railway "passes. q
To counteract this state of affairs
we must build up a vigorous, az
gressive, pow erful press which will
fearlessly battle for our rights and
work for the advancement Of our
| interests.
The Grange press of our country,
by the united support of Patrons,
can be made such medium.
It has already accomplished 4
great deal in this direction, notwith
standing the bitter opposition it has
met with and the meager sup
port it has received. Every Patron
should be re gular reader Of one o.
more Grange papers.