THE FARMER'S WAR AGAINST MONOPOLIES. 447 



over the same line, and. in its exercise of the right 

 of eminent domain, to appoint a commission to appraise 

 and condemn the property belonging to the old com- 

 pany. Nowhere are violent or illegal measures pro- 

 posed. No tracks have' been torn up, no buildings 

 burned; the motto of the Grange is, equal Justice to 

 all; and as the farmers have the power, by united 

 action, to carry any measure they propose, they feel 

 confident of ultimate success. 



" The Grange is not a political organization ; politics 

 and religion are forbidden topics of discussion in the 

 Grange-room. But it strives to educate men to think 

 for themselves and not to follow the dictates of party 

 leaders and packed caucuses unless their own judgment 

 approves. A majority of the people in the West, as is 

 well known, have been Republicans, and a majority of 

 the Grangers voted for General Grant last year. The 

 Democracy has been their bete noir, and though the 

 faith of many of them may have been shaken in the 

 infallibility of the Republican party, they would never 

 go into any other of which the Democrats formed an 

 influential part. But the Grange makes the farmers a 

 power within themselves and outside of any political 

 party, and now, in the States where they are strongest, 

 should they step out of the ranks of the party with 

 which they have hertofore acted, it would not be neces- 

 sary for them to seek shelter in the camp of their long 

 time political enemy. They might leave the old ship 

 that served them so long and bore them safely through 

 so many a glorious fight, but which is now strained and 

 worm-eaten, not to go on board the Democratic ship, 

 but to launch a new one of their own. How wisely 

 they may build remains yet to be seen. Just now, the 



