Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1891-11-19
The Alliance Dies, but the Grange Live
to do Good.
(Belfast. ,Jourual1

10 the Editor of the Journal: If any one
fact was settled by the recent elections it
Is that the Farmers Alliance received its
death blow, and in way too that shows
the solid character and reliable good sense
OF the farmers. 1t was the sober second
thought of the farmers themselves So
Der second thought which would perhaps
never have come to less conservative and
more mercurial people-that caused the
abandonment of the Alliance, with its
monstrous sub-treasury plan, involving
principles that would have undermined
the Republic and made paternal instead
of Democratic government.
No one is more interested in good gov
eminent than the farmer. His posses
sions are fixed. He cannot pocket them
and depart with them to another country
If his own government does not treat him
justly. Hence in all emergencies that
threaten the existence of wholesome gov
eminent he has been found reliable ele
ment of national strength-while no one
has been more to be relied upon to take a
brave and determined part against oppres-
sion and unjust laws.
The Alliance presented an attractive
face and many were captured by its plsus-
ible appearance. But no sooner was its
true character known and its agraran ten
denotes developed than the farmers them
selves gave it the cold shoulder.
But there is nothing in this which ar
CUES against combination of farmers
for the Improvement of their condition
and the promotion in proper way of
their interests. Such an organization is
the Grange. 1t has been the means of
nothing but good. The amount of in
formation it has disseminated has been
very great and has produced good results,
leading to improved methods of farming,
to better knowledge of soils and the use
OF manures, to Improvement in the treat
ment of stock, and in tightening the la
bors of the farmers wives as well as the
labor of the farmer himself. While the
Grange has wisely avoided ENHANCEMENT
in partisan politics, thus escaping the rock
on which many reforms have broken into
fragments or been seriously injured, it mas
still exercised a wholesome Influence upon
the legislature of the State and nation.
But for its influence in Congress it is quite
doubtful if we could have passed the ole
omargarlne bill, measure to protect not
only the farmer in an honest and useful
industry. but to protect also the millions
OF consumers of butter against having i'm
posed upon them deleteriouS counterfeit.
The same influence was very sensbly felt
III the contest to secure pure lard, a con
test which has not ended and will not end
until the cotton seed oil manufacturers
have been constrained to mark their pro-
duct IN the same manner as oleomargariue
Is branded, SO that the consumer will know
what he Is buying, and the producers OF
pure lard will not be Obliged TO meet in
the market fraudulent competitor in dis
guise.
Whoever will carefully read the Mckn-
ley tarIff law VIII at once see that the in
terests OF the farmer were not neglected
in the formulation of that act. Every
product of the farm that can be protected
by law is there sufficiently protected to en-
sure it against damaging foreign compe-
utlon. This is a. it should be. The gov
eminent can do nothing better for all the
people tnan TO foster the chief sources of
It's wealth. prosperity and independence.
How much the organized efforts of the
Grange have done towards securing this
wise and patriotic legislation | will not at
tempt 10 say, but that it has had large
and good influence is potent to the most
casual observer.
The conservative character of farmers
gives an assurance OF safety to the public
from any organization they may make. 1t
is rare if ever that they threaten the good
order of society. They do not combine
to destroy property, to arrest traffic, to
cripple the business of the country nor to
do acts of violence. We never fear riot
of farmers. Whatever of lawlessness we
have IN our land comes from elements OF
the community other thar those who till
the soil. Because the Alliance vas com
munistic in its character and tendencies
it could have but a brief DAYS life among
conservative farmers. The Grange is of
very different and solid structure 1t is
progressive within the lines of conserva-
tism and safety. and is quietly but contin-
uously doing good work. Its stable char
acter, its patriotic purposes, its prudent
foresight and its usefulness give assur.
ance OF long and prosperous career for
1t. S. l.. MIILIkEN.