The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1882-02-18
-
PENNSYLVANIA.
STATE GRANGE, P. OF HI
OFFICE OF MASTER,

CENTRE HALL, February 6.
There are no public means so
| potent in advancing the interests of
any cause as the public press. 1t
is through. it that we draw from the
richest fountains of knowledge that
brings US into direct communication
with brightest minds of the coun-
try into our homes.
/ fear that Patrons too much over
look its usefulness, and not unfre7
quently lose their interest in the
Order of Patrons of Husbandry by
not taking a Grange paper, thus
hlockading the way of information
and knowledge of the movements
and purposes of the Order to their
families.
Patrons, we can not longer cope
with the classes that employ all the
talent at their command that wealth
can buy to promote their interests,
without we use the same powers
and influences. 1t is true that it
will cost something to do this; but
can we afford to lose our homes,
our honor, our honor, our influence
and be reduced to the condition OF
the tenantry of Ireland and Eng
land, which the present tendencies
of our country point to, by the cen
tralization of wealth and political
power in the hands of corpora
tons? Even already, under the
guise of Civil Service Reform"
giving office for long term of
years, and then to be retired on
pension roll for life, is paving the
way for life tenure for President
of the United States.
How are the people to counteract
these influences. By the organiza-
ton of the industrial and laboring
classes, who are the liberty loving
and conservative element OF this
country, upon whom devolves the
duty of maintaining the democratic
institutions of America.
Farmers, we can not be too care
full from whence we secure our
knowledge of political economy.
We must draw it from purer foun-
tains than a subsidized press, like
the New York Tribune. and the
New York World, owned by Jay
Gould; and the EOenfne- Express
and New York EDening Mail,
owned by Cyrus w. Field; who
style every movement they can not
dictate through their papers as com
munistic, and denounee such men
as Judge Black, Senator Window
and others who assume the cause of
the sovereignty of the people, as
Red Men and Socialists. and refuse
their utteranees place in their
papers, fearing the influence of free
speech and free press.
We have just cause for alarm
"when we see these wealthy men,
who could not count their money
dollar by dollar in lifetime, throw
away millions obtained from Gov
eminent subsidies to get control of
the channels of thought, and then
attempt to subsidize the public
press-one of the Nations strongest
bulwarks-we can but affirm that
it concerns the people to know
what this is all for"
1t therefore becomes the more
important that we should support
and patronize the papers of our
country that are devoted to the in
terests of republican institutions
and the development of the indus
trial resources of our country.
Patrons, let us strive to scatter
far and wide Grange literature till
every farmer in the land may be-
come enlisted in our Order. Let
US take up the circulation of the
Grange press in our Subordinate
Oranges and use every endeavor to
place it in the hands of every far
mer's family throughout the land.
Fraternally, LEONARD RHoNE.