The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1882-03-11
Then and Now-The Grange the
Farmers Helper.
BY H. EsHBAUGH, LECTURER OF
THE NATIONAL GRANGE.

THE NATIONAL GRANGE. e>..
In the early days of our America,
Government, manhood was est
mated by fidelity and integrity
Wealth and pretentious claim
found but little favor, and were no
then considered as essential ele
ments in the make up of a man
character or usefulness. It wa,
not then a stepping stone to emf
nence and power. Not SO at tn,
present day. Now, in considerine
mans worth, or usefulness, fidei
itv and integrity is too little though
Of while availability, wealth. anc
sophistical pretentions are the
prominent features, which, to :
very large extent, enter into the
consideration in estimating the
worth of the man and his useful.
ness. And herein lies the first great
error of the, American people. In
our early days, too, the rights of all
men were iproperly respected, il
mattered not NShether rich or poor,
whether learned or unlearned
whether a laborer<-or a banker,
Legislation, State and National,
were in the interest of the people
and directed with a view of distrib-
uting the burdens as well as the
blessings and advantages of the
Government equitably to all men.
Courts and the administration of
the Government were all directed
upon the principles of right and
Justice and to the welfare of the
whole people.
How is it day? Are the rights
of all men respected and alike pro
tected by legislation, the courts and
government? Is it not fact, that.
through favoritism and special leg
isiation, the poor, the unlearned and
the laborers are made subservient
to the rich and the favored few?
Are not their just rights trampled
under foot, and their reasonable de-
mands ignored by legislation and
those i'll authority, to crafty the
avarice and selfishness of these ia
vored few So, in the early DAYS,
laws were made that gave to each
man the rewards of his own labor.
Wealth was then distributed among
those to whom it of right belonged.
Men with ordinary intelligence and
ambition could procure wealth in
proportion to their efforts in indus
try and economy. Agriculture and
labor produce the wealth of the
country and prosperity, and they
were then permitted to enjoy a just
share Of the profits of the indus
tries. But at the present dav it is
not so. Agriculture has more than
doubled its products within the last
twenty years, increasing the wealth
of the country largely every year.
But by schemers employed in the
legislatures the laws are made in
the interest of a favored few, and
by which the favored are permitted
to extract the entire profits on pro.
ductionS. They demand not only
& rewards for services rendered, or to
return an equivalent for what they
take, but demand the entire profits
on farm products, and are not will
ling to allow the farmers even
voice IN estimating such profits.
ASareSult, an amount much greater
than the absolute profits is often
demanded, and part of the capital
must go to make up the deficiency.
The rule adopted and in general
practice by monopolies and corpo
rat1onS seems to be to allow labor,
whether on the farm, in the shop,
or elsewhere, just enough to exc out
a meagre existence. Farmers are
thereby deprived of a Just and hon
est share of the wealth they produce
with their own hands, and by the
Practice of the strictest frugality
his statement of the case makes it
an unpleasant picture to behold.
Out, alas, is it not too true? New
erthecSs, let it be told however un
pleasant it may be.
Why this great change? How
was it brought about? BY the iso-
alton OF the farmers, and having no
organization through which they
Gould cooperate and protect their
o"n interests and defend their
lghts against the encroachments of
nJuStice and the demands Of the
ahscrupulous. While the farmers
nave been thus inactive, neglecting
Aeir own affairs, selfish and design
ng men have become more active,
nu oy fraudulent pretensions ex-
Pressed great love of country and
the people, and were loud in
Ielr cries for justice, equity and
-uHanlty, and no sooner had they
saned the confidence of the people
uan through selfish motives in their
eeu Tor wealth and power they
fSnnenced to manipulate politics,
Stchons, legislatures and every
ing else for their own aggrandize-
, ~snl, And quite we'll they have
ar.omPhshed their object, but at
H.. expense. Farmers have pro-
fteu large per cent. of the wealth
o,L 'nlS Country, much more than all
0r nS combined. But where is it?
my very small per cent, COM
.eu With the whole amount pro-
eu'remains with the farmers. I'm
md the new system of ombination