Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-01-12
The Oranges as Schools for the Farmer


cultural newspapers published in cities and
managed by men whose associations and in
terests are only indirectly agricultural, was
very cool towards the grange movement in
its beginning. Our friend, Mr.. Eaton, then
of the New England Farmer, followed the
same course, and, as we believe, ruined him
self and lost his paper by it. But the Maine
Farmer has gradually warmed to the
grangers, and is now very friendly to them,
In a recent issue the editor, in reporting the
proceedings of the state grange, writes as
follows; "This was our first attendance
upon the state grange, and we never saw
the business of anv deliherative body ,traqs-
acted with greater intelligence, better de-
spatch and more perfect harmony. The de-
bates were sometimes sharp and spirited,
but were invariably conducted with courtesy
and with a proper regard to the feelings
and views of others. We have been in at
tendance upon more than twenty sessions
of the state legislature, and the debating
and administrative ability shown by the
members of the state grange at their late
session, in our judgment, was fully equal to
that by any Maine legislature during that
period. The fact is thus demonstrated
that farmers, with the training which the
grange gives, are as well qualified to fill i'm
DOIbdub pOolblOHS, ClbuCi III tlC COuuCll5 VI
the state or nation, as those of any other pro-
fession. We do not mean to say that the
grange is the only training school where the
farmer can obtain the requisite knowledge
for the transaction of public business, but
of all the farmers organizations at the pres
ent time we believe it to be the best
adapted to that end"
Elsewhere the same paper, remarking
upon the increase of mental power and ac-
quirements among the farmers, says: ave
witnessed the fruits Of this intellectual cul-
ture at the state grange at Waterville. Here
were men from all parts of the state born
upon the farm, brought up to hard labor and
with few advantages of education in their
younger days, discussing questions of polit-
ical economy and public policy in manner
to do credit to member of any of the So
called learned professions. And the only in
tellectual training these men have had has
been in the grange Beginning in the sub
ordinate body, where none but acquaintance
were present, to express their ideas, they
have gained strength and confidence by
practice, until they are able to discuss ques-
tions in which they are interested with that
ease, and many of them with clearness
and force, that surprised as well as gratified
us. 1t is Of immense Importance TO the
great farming interest to have farmers that
can speak in its behalf, and nothing can do
more to place husbandry in the first posi-
tion where it properly belongs than to have
its claims ably advocated by the tillers of
the soil"
There are still many papers that are very
unfriendly to the granges and some will not
allow even an allusion to them in their col
umns. Why is it ? 1t cannot be merely
because the grange is called "secret soci-
ety." The secrets which any reputable cit
izen, male or female, can be admitted to
share for two or three dollars cannot be very
dangerous and these same papers who ig-
more the grange manifest no such feeling to-
ward the Masons, Odd Fellows, and other Or
CARNATIONS, really much more secret than
the farmers society. Can it be that they
are jealous of this very intellectual growth
which the grange fosters We have our
self been sternly rebuked by men whom we
personally esteem for treating public ques-
tions in these columns and elsewhere from
the farmers point of view, and have been
contemptuously informed that we had better
stick TO the discussion of "rohan potatoes" :"
We have no doubt that much of our work
has been deficient in knowledge and breadth
of view, Notwithstanding the fact that we
devote many hours to the study of writers
upon all sides (and especially upon the OPP
posite side) of these subjects. We are one
OF those farmers who are striving for light,
with a sincere desire, we hope, to come at
the truth and to do good, not to the farmers
alone, but to all who, in our small circle, we
may reach. We heartily wish that our
scornful critics would come down from the
scorner's seat, enter the arena, and show us
our errors The farming interest is big