Year: 1874

by any subordinate power within the
Order, when we know it to be opposed
to the spirit and letter Of the organic
law of the National Grange. To dwarf
the intellect, to reduce the Granger to
mental skeleton, with no freedom to
advance to higher state of intellectual
existence and enjoyment; and without
power to resist the eeucroachments of evil,
foruls no part Of the theory of Grange
life, but exactly to the contrary extreme
to that set forth as the fundamental ba-
sis Of the organization.


If those who are united by the bonds
of brotherhood cannot discuss subjects
dispassionately, who can. If there must
be, and there always has been, and al
ways will be conflicts of opinion, let it
come. In the multiplicity of counsel
there is wisdom. Why should Grange
be quaker meeting where each one
husbands his thoughts lest he disturb
the awful silence, or temple of Isis
where he worships an imaginary and
uninteligible mystery. The Grange
was not organized for negative but
positive line Of line; for the investiga-
ton Of all subjects efecting the com.
mon welfare of the state or nation.


1t is the enemies, not the friends of
the Order who dread these discussions.
They fancy they already discover new
order Of men rising out Of the ground,
who. like Banquo's ghost, will not down
at their bidding, but move forward and
push them from their seats of power
and profit. They apprehend that the
Grange will be turned into a school,
house where men will learn more than
it is profitable, for politicians, they should
know. We say let mind act upon
mind, thought upon thought, opinion
clash against opinion in atemperate and
sensible way, and only good will be the
result. Galilelo expressed the opinion
that the world turned about the sun.
The ignorant fools Of the day set up
the hugh and cry that he had violated
the organic law Of the ecclesiastical or
der, and put him to death. They could
murder;;G ;;Galilelo, but truth de6es malice,
and lives on to bless generations in all
future ages.


1t would be far more glorious for the
Grange to perish amid volcanic explo-
sions, than to linger and crumble away
peace meal, dying from starvation
and inaction for want of wholesome
food. Some of our good brethern, with
the best heart and intentions in the
world, are nervously timid about shar-
ing the cohesive force of the fraternal
tie. Let US assure them there is no
danger. To speak the plain truth,
Grangers dare not disband. The Grange
is not fancy piece of machinery, but
the offspring of necessity. 1t was the
dread Of danger and the necessity of
mutual protection that first brought
men together. This new element of
power which now enumerates millions,
is the last bow anchor to the nation
found to throw out and steady the Re-
public. If this cable should part or
give way, the ship of State wanders
over unknown seas without pilot or
helm. Then would follow, first contu.
siou: civil war, chaos, dictoship, aristoc-
racy and plebianism.


| Rome had republic and it perished;
Vienna mad a republic and it perishcd
France had IA republic and it perished
England had republic and it perished
lleloetia had a republic and it perish
ed. All gone down, and why? The
people counted for nothing. The form
er slept in security while traitors forged
charges for her enslavement. Sampson
the great power Of the country, laid his


head and slept on Delilah's lar
and woke in servitude.


The man who would restrain til.