The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1889-09-06
The Farm.
Farmers, Gaidners, Horticuiturists,
Dairy and Stockmen are requested to
Write for this Department.
The Grange.

The Grange.
The National Lecturer of the Grange
furnishes the following items:
The Grange is educating the Ameri-
can farmer to so understand his rights
and duties as citizen that he can, and
will stand up in the caucus, or primary
meeting, or In the convention of his
own party, and demand justice, equality,
ga fair field and no favors," but at
the same time not to be blind parti-
san, blind captive to "machine" nor,
like "dumb, driven cattlo,' to be used
under the party lash to advance men or
measures, right or wrong. The Grange
believes there are growing evils in our
country to be checked, reform legisla-
tion to be obtained, and 1t is teaching
the American farmer that it is his duty
to help in the great and patriotic work;
to do it inside his own party if he can,
outside if he must.
The position Of the Grange in politics
is often misunderstood, often misrepre-
sented. AS an organization of farmers
it does notpropose to organize Grange
party, or to use its influence to build up
any one party. Even the discussion of
partisan politics is prohibited in its
meetings. Yet its principles "underlie
all true politics." Through its great
educational advantages it is making the
farmer better citizen. 1t makes bet.
ter Democrats, better Republicans, bet
ter men in all parties. 1t is pointing
out to the farmer voter his true course
of action, that he is not only the balance
Of power, but the power itself, in all
parties, and that it is his right, his
duty, to use that power in his own
party for the good of his class aud the
good of his country.
Farmers are coming to understand
that all the evils of unjust laws, un-
equal taxation, the growing power of
corporations, "trus's," and the forms Of
monopoly under which they are labor
ing are the results of legislation, and
that the same means used to bring
about these evils must be used to cor
rect them, viz: legislation. From want
of proper interest in legislation, 9th
ers have made legislatures and con-
crosses and they in turn have made the
laws, granted the privileges that enable
them to place the burdens now bearing
so unequally and unfairly upon the
great producing classes of our land.
Our sins are those of omission, neglect
of duty. The Grange points out the
evil and the remedy. Will farmers all
soon see the light? Now is the appoint.
ed time.
This is the dull season of the year at
our National Capital and in the legis-
lative halls of the various States of the
Union; but it should not be dull sea.
son out among those upon whose actions
now depends so much in our country,
We are apt to find fault with our legis.
latures and with Congress, with our
representatives and our senators; but
whose fault is it that they do not repre-.
sent us? 1t is really the fault of the
people themselves, and "a farmers are
in the majority they are most to blame.
The people are the first great cause in
our Republic. If the spring is not
clear, and pure, and strong, how can
the stream be healthful? If the foun.
dalton stones be not we'll laid, how can
the superstructure ever stand? The
people are now making legislators, rep
resentatives and senators. In the
Caucus" the primary is the begin.
ming, Careful attention here, and ALL
we'll. Indifference, neglect here. per-
hitting wire pullers, and the agents of
corporations, monopolies and others of
their class to get in their work, and the
convention is not "of the people," the
candidates are not "of the people," the
Legislature is not ''of the people," and
it does not elect a United States Senator
"of the people OIL. "for the peole," and
our legislation is not "for the people"
Think on these things, tellow.fa farmers,
and help make good legislators, con-
gressmen and senators; then we will
have ''a government Of the people, for
the people and by the people, Now is
the appointed time.
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