Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 October 1874 — Why Join the Grange ? [ARTICLE]

Why Join the Grange ?

We often hear queries of this kind; to answer them would he to fully set forth the work which the Order contemplates. We may say that it is founded to benefit the farmers, but how can it benefit the farmers? Will it enhance their riches? Can the farmer make money and save money more readily in the Grange than out of it? We might say yes and no at the same time. The Order is established to benefit agriculture, to improve the condition of farmers as a class, and, in a measure, it helps financially the individual who belongs to it; but it is far from our purpose to urge any argument of this kind to induce farmers to connect themselves with the Order. Those men who can get ncr broader views of the work which the Grange contemplates than the bringing to the individual certain trade advantages is certainly too narrow minded to be of any advantage to the Order. The Grange may, on the other hand, prove advantage to him, though he may not to the Grange, by bringing him in contact with more liberal minds and developing him into a broader, better, more.. useful citizen. This view may seem visionary. But for a moment call to mind many of the hard-working farmers among your acquaintances, who have isolated themselves from the salutary influences oi society —men who have amassed wealth, not so much by making as by saving money. Stem necessity compelled them at first to their habits of economy, and their constant applicatiou of physical force from early morn till late at night, day after day, and year after year, without giving time to thought; in fact ignoring entirely mental and social culture. Is it strange that the sensibilities of these men become blunted? They often make of themselves and their families slaves to the . constant drudgery of the farm, even after they have iaid by wealth sufficient for a comfortable and generous living. Will anyone pretend to say that an institution which will furnish social enjoyment and intellectual food for the mentally emaciated farmery is working in vain? Is it not then a praiseworthy undertaking to attempt to lift our farmers up, to exalt the power of the mind, to induce them to think more and carry on the operations of their farms intelligently, and to save wisely instead of meanly, to work industriously and intelligently instead of incessantly and slavishly?

The means which is likely to work immediate gain to the individual is a reduction of prices for cash. The system of long credit is a curse to the farmer. It enables men who are better schooled in business affairs, sharpers and schemers, to beat the farmer, both in selling to him and buying of him. The Grange then would encourage the cash system of purchases. It would do away with store accounts and petty debts. As a means of bringing about such a desirable change, it provides that its members have pecuniary inducements provided for paying cash down. This is perfectly legitimate, and cannot fail to do good; for the policy of contracting petty debts is a bad one for the farmer or anyone else. If a man must owe money let him owe it in a lump, with a definite understanding as to when it is to be paid. In that way he knows what is expected of him and he can maintain an untarnished credit. Then we say the lesson of cash payment, which the Grange teaches, is a good lesson and must accomplish much good. But many say the Grange is a political organization. It cannot be considered in .any sense partisan, nor even political, Except so far as it serves to enlighten the farmer, furnish him with the means and education and awaken him to his own interests. The secrecy which is such a bug-bear in the minds of many good people only serves as a means of harmony and makes it possible to hold together and in working shape the farmers of the North, the South, the East and the West. It furthermore enables them to keep out of the Order designing politicians and corrupt schemers who otherwise might gain admittance and control and bring into disrepute their honest efforts for reform. The secrecy of the Order gives it strength, homogeneousness, effectiveness, and makes it possible for the Order to perpetuate itself by keeping out corrupt and discordant elements. We would not have any one imply from what we have said about the parsimony of the farmer that there are but few large-minded, noble men who are farmers. The origin of our noble Order anfi its unparalleled growth prove, beyond peradventure, that there are very many large, liberal-minded farmers, who are ready to work for the good of their calling and in the interest of tlieir brother farmers. And that our farmers see, as wo do, an absolute necessity for their availing themselves of all means offered to enlighten themselves in matters pertaining to their business, to their homes, as well as to the questions of public interest concerning which they are quite too ignorant and careless. The Grange is destined to become a great power for good in our land, not through political machinations, or trade combinations, but by the healthful stimulus which it will give the industrious farmer in every good work; by encouraging education among our agricultural classes, by teaching farmers the advantages oT society, of mutual helping one* another, by creating harmony and good ' feeling.— The Husbandman.