Rensselaer Union, Volume 5, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 June 1873 — “Patrons of Husbandry.” [ARTICLE]

“Patrons of Husbandry.”

LETTER FROM THE GENERAL OF THE NATIONAL GRANGE. Gouvernetr, N. Y., May 33! To the Editor of the Utica Morning Herald! Having seen an editorial in the 1 braid opposing the Order of Patrons of Husbandly as Wicked or tyrannical, and many times having had my attention called to the fact that others Of lika, im--port had appeared, I write you. It is evident that you are not aware wliat our border is. The discussion of partisan politics is forbidden by our constitution, yet we believe that we,.as men, (not as Patrons of Husbandry) should, as a duty, scan very closely the acts of our public servants; that we, as producers, while we furnish the food for the millions, fight our nation’s battles; defend its liberties in time of danger; should, of a right, have an equal share as such in the making of those laws by which all are governed; that we have a right to demand that in all things, whether political or otherwise, the principles of common honesty shall not be wholly ignored, and to place ourselves in a position to enforce that demand. We acknowledge the fact that mind will always triumph over matter, and that an active mind whose whole thought is to gain the profits of our toil will always be successful so long as we, like the ox, depend only on our muscular power; but we find that the Great Ruler has given us brains also, and if He has given us them, it was that we might use them; true, we have men of active minds and of great wealth arrayed against ns. be we begin to realize the fact that they cannot eat their money, and hope that ere many years pass away we will be able to show the great kings of monopoly that there Is in our order a most noble conception, that a principle is about to be born that to him or to her who labors belongs the pay. Yes, even farmers are beginning to believe that they can, in a measure fly their own kite, ana perhaps soar as high and continue as long on the Wing as though we should continue to bang at the tail of kites of others. We see a vast river of wealth continually flowing from the hands of the needy into the bands of the few who already possess their millions. Now, we mean to stop those „ waters by legislation if we can; if not, by ' some other honorable means. We know no party; but we consider it the dutjr of all connected with us to, outside of toe grange, see to it that the candidates

of all parties be men of Integrity, whose interest is the w elfare of the people, and not political ring-masters. Men profit from knowledge gained from others ; the steam engine was not brought to perfection by one man, but each of its Inventors took hold the former left off. So, too, with rascality ; each has token hold where the former left off, until it seems to have outstripped in perfection the steam engine; but single-handed, man could not have made rascality such a science but they have combined —combined to fleece those who earn their bread ; and there remains no safety for the producer but to combine also, and, too, as thoroughly as those arrayed against him. Yet our society is not for the farmer<nlonc, but for all whose interest is with us. In the Grange also we are taught to advance the interests of education. In short, the Grange of Patrons of Husbandry is for the elevation of the masses socially, mentally, morally and financially,• and we hope that the press of no political party will so oppose us that we. shall be compelled to regard them as our enemies.

C. D. BEEMAN,

General National Grange P. of H.