440 HISTORY OF THE GRANGE MOVEMENT; OR, 



CHAPTER XXVI. 



THE GRANGE AS A MEANS OF PROTECTION. 



Advantages to the Farmers of the Grange A Means of Combination afforded 

 them Good Results of Combination Harmonious Action secured The 

 Grange intended as a Means of resisting the Farmers' Enemies How it 

 proposes to correct Abuses The War against the Railroads The Grange 

 pledged to secure Measures just to all Parties The Entire Order working 

 for the Accomplishment of One Object The Order the Protector of the 

 Farmer Plan of Action How Measures are devised and carried out 

 Position of the Grange towards the Railroads The Grange not a Political 

 Institution The Power of the Order, and how it is exerted Individual 

 Opinions respected by the Order Prospects for the Future Its Work 

 Membership confined to Agriculturalists. 



WE propose, now that we have stated the general 

 character of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry, to ex- 

 amine into some of its avowed objects, and to discuss 

 some of its claims to the confidence and favor of the 

 class to which it appeals. 



In the first place, the Grange offers to the farmers of 

 the United States a means of combination, of harmony 

 of action such as they have never before possessed. It 

 oners them the means of expressing their views and 

 wishes as a body, and of enforcing them. Its objects and 

 mode of accomplishing them are distinctly stated, and 

 are such as to commend themselves to every member 

 of the Order. The weakest local Grange pursues a 

 policy and seeks the furtherance of ideas and interests 

 that are the objects of the efforts of every Grange in 

 the Union. There is no division. Individual differ- 



