The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1888-09-14
THE GRANGE.

teaching him to take proper interest
in the politics Of the country. To dis
cuss and inform himself upon all ques.
tions of political economy, specially in
their bearings upon his class and inter.
ests. Hence as supply follows demand
our Grange and best agricultural papers
are discussing the same questions that
are being discussed in Grange halls,
and it is right. Says the loua Home
stead in late issue: The outcry
against agricultural papers taking a
hand in discussions of public abuses,
and particularly of the abuses growing
out of the practices of the railroads
and insurance companies, is only Gun
ming way Of protesting against investi-
cation and discussion of these matters
by the farmer, and in favor of leaving
the solution of all these problems in
oAS uaAuo VI mcH VIM u1ho polltlcS
their trade. Disguise it as they may,
it means this and no more. It means
that the class that has the most vital
pscuniary interest in this matter shall
take it's cue and be directed by those
that not only have the least legitimate
interest, but are most liable to have
an illegitimate and wrongful interest
in it in the way Of "courtesies," which
is the courteous way of saying "passses,"
or in concessions, rebates, and discrim.
nations in favor of business with
which they may be connected. If the
farmer is to have the farmward side
OF these questions presented any
where it must be by paper whose
supreme interest is in the farm, that
lives by it and from it, and that views
all public questions from that stand
point. What paper is qualified to do
this but the agricultural paper. The
railroads have some of the ablest jour
nails in the land devoted wholly to their
interests. They mould and shape leg
islation. Where the interests of the
farmers and the present managers OF
railroads clash, what papers can pre-.
sent his side of the question but the
agricultural papers? We are glad to
see many agricultural papers taking
their proper position in this matter, a
position of peculiar power and inAu-
ence.
The State Grange of Alabama held
its regular session July II, Is, and 10,
1888. Extracts, from the annual
address of State Master H. H. Hawkin
are here given:
"In all our deliberations we should
not lose sight of the fact that the
Grange is great national organization
of Patrons of Husbandry, supported
by force of Subordinate and Pomona
Oranges, all harmoniously working to-
gether under the same ritual, constitu-
tion and laws of the order; and bound
together by the strong and iudissolu-
BILE ties of fraternal union as brothers
and sisters in a noble and glorious
cause. The increased prosperity of
the order in Alabama is cause for con-
graduation. We assemble nnder more
favorable auspices to day than in any
year in decade of the past. Many
new Oranges have been organized;
others reorganized and large accessions
made to the Oranges already establish
ed. So that we are more than a
thousand members stronger than
twelve months ago"
1t is no idle compliment to say that
the Grange possesses more power and
influence than in any former period Of
its history. 1t has accomplished more
for the tillers of the soil than all other
organizations and associations combin-
ed.
1t has made its impress upon the
legislation of the country, both State
and National; and stands to day the
most compact, symmetrical and power
ful farmers organization that the
world has ever known.
Non-partisan in political sense,
being made up of the best elements of
all parties, it rises above party, the hOFe