Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 21, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 February 1875 — The National Grange. [ARTICLE]

The National Grange.

Charleston, S. C.,Feb. 3. The National Grange, Patrons of Husbandry, met in thik city at noon to-day, Worthy Master Adams, of lowa, in the chair. About sixty officers and members were present. Master Taylor, of the South Carolina Grange, delivered an address of welcome, which was responded to by Smedley, of lowa. Worthy Master Adams then delivered his annual address. He said Maine aud Montana have joined our ranks in the past year, and the few remaining States still unorganized are joyfully on the way. This uprising and organization of a great and scattered interest has not a parallel in the history of the world. The movement has surprised its friends and astonished and alarmed its foes. It found the agriculturists of the nation unrecognized, weak, plodding and unheard; today they are United, strong, thoughtful and duly respected as one of the great powers that be. We have just caught a glimpse of the “promised land,” but ere we can reach the goal a wide and weary wasteris to he crossed, which will tax to the utmost our prudence, perseverance and valor. The position of honor and trust, the avenues to wealth, the molding of the institutions of the nation, have long been in the hands of members of other callings. This monopoly will not he given up withput a struggle. The Patrons of Husbandry will be met by determined and persistent warfare. So we must close our ranks and keep our powder dry. In some States the Order is passing through the ordeal which shall reveal its weakness or display its strength. To maintain what we have gained and secure further advancement we must be able to show to our members and the world that material and moral gain does and will result from our organization. We must keep our ranks full and action wise.

Prominent among the subjects to demand attention is that of transportation, in which every citizen has a direct interest. There is a deep-seated and wellfounded conviction that the present modes of carrying commodities are uselessly expensive. The people and the Government have liberally aided in the construction of railroads and canals, in the expectation that increased facilities will result in cheaper rates of transportation. We relied on the idea that by building numerous routes we would obtain the benefits of competition and secure fair rates; but sad experience has fully proved that the increase in the number and strength of transportation companies only results in more gigantic and oppressive combinations. Though we have now several powerful lines between the Northwest and Northeast, they have within a few days formed a new combination by which Westernbound freights have been advanced. To remedy this alarming and growing evil, the people, in their individual capacity, are powerless. Only by united actiou as sovereigns can they obtain redress. In some States something of this has been done, but it has been fragmentary and necessarily inoperative on through freights. It is impossible for the Slates to act iu concept through their respective Legislatures, and there Is no solution but for the people of the States, through Congress, to stretch out the strong arm between the people and these corporations. We would do no wrong to the capital nominally invested in railroads. We recognize their capacity for good, and all their just claims; but we demand justice and protection for the people. "But if railroads even do carry at fair rates the fact remains that the transportation of heavy commodities is an expansive luxury, and our true policy is ‘„o bring the producer and consumer nearer together, and so do less transportation. We of the South and should spare no pains to push ir.aiiuf a ctures, that we be not obliged to transport our raw material out and *.ne manufactured article in. The where manufactures are strong, should w Vth equal activity promote t v a e cultivation of the raw material, so-Uyat the terrible strain on transportation be lessened. No country has ever remained permanently prosperous by the production and exportation of raw material. The tendency of such is always to,dependence and poverty. How important, then, is it to have amicable rebetween all the productive industries, as only by mutual development ean we be mutually prosperous, and the body politic be maintained in vigorous health. On the subject of currency Master Adams saidthat numerous citizens are trying to devise a plan by which bits of printed paper can be changed into millions.of actual money. The country is suffering from the derangement of its finances. The cause is that the country passed through a wasting civil war, which co-t, directly and indirectly, more than 000,000,000, which sum is forever gone. Paper currency was used to disguise our poverty, and by its use our judgment of values was more and more confused. We have, in consequence, drifted farther and farther to leeward, and there |U not

a royal road out of the trouble. . Only by a return of habits of industry and economy, guided by intelligence, can we regain wealth and remove the load of debt. As an auxiliary to this we want a stable and sound currency, which shall he a reliable measure of values and rec ognized by all the world. An unredeemable currency always favors speculation aqd sharpers at the expense of those engaged in productive industry. The delegates have been cordially received here, and an enthusiistic public meeting of welcome was held to-night.