The Chickasaw messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1880-1900, 1888-05-17
Grange Department
5. L. WILSON. Editor.

Evergreen Grange No. 56s, New
ton county, Miss.-I, Is one tyour
body, would respectfully offer the
following report on the good Of the
order. Taking into consideration
the short number Of years that the
Grange has been in existence and
the amount Of good It has done, is
IN our humble opinion the most
wonderful progress that any farm
er's organization has ever made for
the benefit Of the laboring people.
On account Of class legislation 10
power and moneyed corporations,
labor was robbed ofits Just rewards
and the millions it produced in
stead Of benefting those that il
rightly belonged TO, was transferred
to others who used it for still more
expressing, rObbing and enslsving
the producers Of all wealth, as we'll
as the necessities and comforts Of
life
Under our system Of govern
msnt there is a safe quit and ready
remedy for stopping of rascally
schemes Of legislation; it is the
combining of those that legislation
bears heavy upon for their prOteo-
ton and the saving Of the govern
ment from ruin.
The Grange was organized to
apply remedy for the many un-
Just laws that was enacted and en-
forced against the farmers especial
y; not only reducing them to de-
pendence on the will OF those who
handle their crops, but farmers
saw that they could not educate
their children, ft and qualify them
for the duties and responsibilities
Of citizens. They saw that instead
of rising to higher and nobler
elevation OF mankind and woman
hood they were really sinking
lower each year.
Although the Grange from its
first effort at lettering the con-
dition of the most useful class of
citizens the United States have, it
has had to meet the combined
power Of corrupt legislators, de-
cisions Of bought up courts, that
owed there appointment and ten
ure TO corrupt influences. Mil
lions OF money controlled and op.
perated with learning and intelli-
genoe; hundreds OF thousand of.
ofice-holders used their influence
against the Grange; about two
thirds ofthe political press, besides
nearly all merchants and their de.
pendents.
Perhaps some will begin to say
what has all this to do with the
present good ofthe order. Where
good has been done and more is
expected, some of the means used
for its accomplishment and the
kind Of means used by those OPP
posed to the farmers lettering
their condition, is good material to
write, think and talk about.
Able minds saw that a change of
those who made, executed and in
tept the laws had TO be made and it
would take a majority Of votes to
make the change. This was polit-
ical economy, notpartizan politics,
forall parties had to give votes to
change the officers. Partizan pol
itics is for the purpose Of keeping
a party in power without any re-
gard for the best interests of the
whole people. Farmers never can
rise above their present state until
they can save the Legitimate pro-
eeeds of their labor.
There has been several organiza-
tions come into existence since the
Grange was organized. Many of
them are helps to the principles |
that the Grange favors, so we
should say to them God speed in /
all Of their lauderable undertake /
ings. Combinations for the Pur-
pose Of strikes, loekouts and such /
things, always injure the masses.
Laws can be framed and executed |
that will benefit all classes.