80 THE GROUNDSWELL. 



and strife among themselves; but they are, at all times, 

 willing to unite and sow dissension among the farmers. The 

 latter, in this country, if united, as their enemies are, could 

 carry any measure they please, by sheer weight of metal. 



Some statisticians place the voting power of the farmers 

 at less than two-fifths of the entire vote of the country. I 

 am inclined to think that the actual power of the farmers far 

 exceeds this proportion. But even if my estimate of their 

 strength is somewhat in excess of the actual figures, it must 

 be borne in mind that there are certain classes, in small 

 towns and villages especially, whose interests are intimately 

 connected with those of the farmers, and whose votes natu 

 rally belong with theirs, and in any distinctively drawn contest 

 could be depended on by them. 



I repeat that, in future, the farmer must, as a matter of 

 self-preservation, take a more active interest in politics. 

 The concerns of the nation, State, county, and township, 

 must no longer be left to be manipulated by professional 

 politicians, whose conception of the whole duty of man con 

 sists simply in looking sharp and making the most of every 

 possible chance of advancing the interests of &quot; Number One.&quot; 

 The Clubs, Granges, and* other organizations will eventually 

 here find, perhaps, their most useful field. A scattering 

 vote of the farmers would, of course, be ineffectual. What 

 is to be done will have to be done in concert and en masse. 



The Granges, by their regulations, can not discuss politics 

 or religion at their meetings; but this does not prevent 

 individual Patrons from using their judgment in selecting 

 their candidates, nor does it preclude them from combining 

 their votes, if they see proper to do so. When the Clubs 

 and Granges have solidified their organizations (which they 

 are now actively doing), then will be an excellent time for 

 small politicians to stand frc-m under, 



