The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1882-04-08
Bell County.

Ed1tOr Pdtr0H.' L have been a
constant reader of THE PATRON
for several years, and find that it
urges the farmers to attend the pc
litical conventions and see to it that
true and honest men are nominated
for Office, and if they fail TO get
honest men nominated at the con
ventions then bring out good men
and elect them. May be this is
what is the matter with some who
criticise THE PATRGN. Perhaps
they think it is about to become
what the dear party ring masters
call "bolter." Don't fret, breth
rem, if THE PATRON does bolt |
am satisfied it will "bolt' further
from the supporters of the accursed
National banks, railroad monopo-
lies, high protective tariffs, sw;nd-
lers, &c. Don't chew your bits too
hard While the Grange is not
political organization, yet we don't
surrender our right and duty to
take proper interest in politics.
In all candor, | ask, whence comes
the great evils, the hardships, the
expressions and injustice toward
our class, of which we so much
complain? There is a cause for
these expressions. We say, and
truly, that class Legislation is one
of the fruitful sources from
whence they come. Why do we
have this class legislation? There
is but one correct answer, and that
is, we elect corrupt men to make
our laws. Why do we elect SO
many corrupt men? Because we
are choked down by the party collar
and deferred from casting a free
ballot by the party ring masters.
There is no use in trying to ignore
the fact. If we ever materially
better our condition as class, it
must be done at the ballot box
We never will, we never can, short
of that. We have a few men in
Congress that have the manliness
and patriotism to speak out in de-
fance of the rights of the oppressed
and robbed laborers and agricul-
turists, but the large majority are
sold, under bondage to shylocks,
bondholders, bankers, railroad syn
dicares, and the balance of Satan's
tools. | do.not mean this in a par
tisan sense, for | think it would be
estimating the Devils intelligence
too high to suppose he would be
able to tell hich of the two old
parties serves him best If there
is any one subject upon which our
class needs educating most at this
time, it is surely upon the political
questions and issues that concern
the American people. Now we
must study and investigate, that
we may understand better how and
where this class legislation comes
in. We are all sensible of the fact
that vast wealthy corporations are
growing up, the wealth of this
country is fast drifting into the
hands of the few, W lille the mass
of the people are struggling under
the burthen Of. taxation. There is
every strategy invented by the tools
of corporations to tax the laboring
classes, directly and indirectly,
filching from this class their hard
earnings, while much of the wealth
of these gigantic corporations go
scott free. that pay no tax. The
large majority of the people are not
conversant with the frauds and OPP
pressions that are heaped upon US
by our law, makers. The law creates
these corporations and clothes them
with the power to rob. the people,
and then turns them loose, set of
brigands to gather the wealth of
this country There is no restraint
upon them. We know agriculture
is robbed of its profits to a great
extent for the want of Just and
wholesome laws, laws that will
give equal justice to all classes.
Why do our legislators make
these unjust laws1