The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1882-02-25

LII all this De true, may We nv
with the earnestness of conviction,
that the American farmer deserves
no greater share of the rewards
that follow his labor until ne dis
PLAYS manhood enough to assert ms
rights in the direction of aHairsf
If his land and its products be too
much taxed, he eannot enter effec-
tive protest against the exaction ex.
cept through the proper channel
and by lawful means--the ballot.
Having surrendered to his mas
ter's use of the one, and lost intelli-
gent appreciation of the other, we
lament the conclusion that his fate
deserves no amelioration until he Is
able to summon manhood to shape
his own destiny by intelligent and
independent exercise of all politi-
cal rights and privileges. Standing
in the front rank of labor; feeding,
clothing and sustaining thousand
other industries with lavish freed
ON, he deserves for his own no more
than he gets, until he resolves to
exert decent care over his rights,
not in the field of labor alone, and
the byways and highways of com
merce, but in the making of rules
affecting the products of his labor
the laws of the land-in which
his sole part as now ordered is sub
mission.
AS the representatives of an or
ganization based on agriculture,
having no purpose hostile to any
other useful calling or profession,
we deplore the apathy of Ameri-
can farmers on the question of their
rights in the body polite, and in
woke action designed to restore
equitable balance between the va
rious interests, industries, and pro-
fe ,sions, so that no one shall domi-
nate others, but all shall have free
and equal chance in the race of ma
terial and intellectual progress. We
ask no gifts of peace, no conces-
sions from.others, no recognition or
reward, except the free and equal
opportunity too long abandoned,
but which we are inflexible re-
solved to reclaim, in the hitherto
sterile field of politics, long ago re-
linz uished to place hunters, whose
interest is to foment and perpetu
ate party strife and whose methods
have debauched the sacred privile
ges of citizens, until the ballot box
has become the repository of mer-
cenary favors, procured by the Law
ish use of money, or corrupt proml-
ses Of place, shame and reproeeh
to republican government, and a
menace to the liberties of the people.
Recognizing as we do the origin
of artificial hardships placed on ag-
riculture in the indifference of farm
ers to their civil duties which can
not be deputed to others without
certain harm, recognising also, cor
rupt party usages as the outgrowth
of such neglect, we, as the represen-
tatives of that calling which enlists
| the greatest number of laborers do
solemly declare ourselves absolved
| from all allegiance to wharevrr
political party does not invite sup
port by wisdom of purposes and
purity of method, and we declaI e
our unalterable purpose TO manifest
our independence by refusing our
votes to all candidates claiming
! them when such candidates do not
exhibit fitness in known integrity,
capability or the discharge of duties
designated and full sympathy with
the principles herein enumerated.
AS an expression of this deter
mination we submit the following
declaration, and invite thereto care
full consideration from all good cit
liens Of whatever calling or pro-
| fession.
ResoLved, That the National
Grange, representing membership
spread over the entire Union, will
exert all its force, with unflagging
zeal and persistent purpose, to en-
courage independent political action
to the end that dangers lurking in
partisan management of public af-
fairs may he eliminated; that corrupt
party strife may incur the odium it
deserves, that the elective franchise
in its exercise may become the true
expression of the desire of the citi-
zen; that the useful industries of all
our people in every calling may re-
ceive just consideration; that in
tellignce, capability and worth
may become the recognized qualifi-
cations for persons designated to
official trusts; that money shall
cease to be potent factor in deter
mining nominations and cleo
tons to office, and that the Govern
ment may return to that simplicity
that BELTS frugal and industrious
people.
BY this pledge we solemly de-
clare our purpose to abide stead
fast and resolute, and with good
will and unselfsh desire, we ask the
workers of every other calling or
industry to join us in earnest eff
fort to attain the objects named"
The mission of the Grange is
grand one. The work to be done
is worthy of the best efforts of all
the good men and women who are
engaged in agricultural pursuits,
and here in our fraternal organiza
ton we can calmly and disDaS-ion