Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-12-22

its true meaning, however politics, the
| science of government, is a matter in
which farmers. above all citizens should
be deeply and personally Interested 1t is
a fact WHICH is to be regretted and one
which the grange is trying to amend
that in the past farmers have paid too
little attention to their duties as citizens
and have taken too little part in politica!
matters. -
1t is not enough that we go to the polls
at each election and deposit our ballots
for the candidates of the party to which
We belong. The farmer who has invest
ed his all in the soil he tills and in the
home which shelters himself and family
has too much interest in the enactment
of wise and impartial laws and in their
honest and faithful administration to
shirk any part of his political duty
In our republic, where the government
is administered by political parties. which
are but organizations of citizens who
think alike on the important questions OF
the day, it is the duty of every good cit
iZen to ally himself with some one of
these political organizations and to make
| his influence felt therein in the selection
of honest men for office and in the en-
actment of wholesome laws
We, as patrons. may shout ourselves
hoarSe in favor of reform and may pass
resolutions denouncing inequalities in
our laws and corrupt practices on the
part of those who administer them. but
unless we attend the primary meetings of
! our several parties and endeavor to Sc
cure the nomination of honest men for
office our EXAMINATIONS will have no more
/ effect than did the Pope's bull against the
| comet. Party fealty is necessary and
commendable and every citizen should re-
main SteadfaSt and true to the party of
! his choice so long as its principles COM
mend themselves to his conscience. But.
while true and loyal we should use every
endeavor to have the candidates and
practices of the party to which we be-
| long such as will be for the best interest
of the man who tolls and therefore for
the best interest of the State. The
grange is teaching its members this les
son and farmers are becoming educated
more and more each year in their polit-
zeal duties as citizens of the State and
nation. The innue2ce of the grange upon
| the legislation of our State is increasing
and this comes from the fact that farm
erS are spending less time than for
merly in complaining of the ills that be-
set them in the body polite and are de-
voting more time an attention to study
| ing how best to remedy those ills
| The grange is teaching them the most
important Oh all lessons that if their con-
dition is to be Improved and if legislation
is to be enacted to remove the burden
some inequalities at present existing,
they themselves must do the work
| While teaching them this truth it is at
the same time by the organiza ton effect
ed and the education received affording
| them the means of ultimately bringing
about the desired reform.
Honest. persistent effort, complete or
ganiZation and dgnified firmness in de-
handing necessary and proper measures
of reform will, in the end, result in COM
/ plete success.
The farmers of Maine are as a class,
conservative men and men of cool and
careful Judgment. They seek to bring
about the reforms believed by them to be
needed by no spasmodic effort and by no
disruption of present political associa-
| lions.
Their total lack of organization in the
past has made them weak where they
should be strong and their want of edu-
cation along political lines has made them
the easy prey of designing men.
l would here repeat what | have said
elsewhere that there should be no con-
fiict of interest between the farmers and
the business men of the State
| If rightly considered and appreciated
the interests of the producer of agricultu-
raj products and of those who handle and
distribute these products and care for the
finances which render agricultural Oper-
atoms possible are strictly identical. Any
measures or conditions which operate
against the success of agriculture must
be disastrously felt by all the business in
terests of the State.
| | repeat that the oranges and the sew
eral boards of trade throughout the
State should work together to bring
about a closer community of interest. so
that we should not be arrayed like hostile
camps. each trying to obtain the advan-
tage of the other, but should combine our
efforts and our influence for mutual ben
eft and for the best good Of our beloved
i State.
i In this connection | would recommend