THE FARMER'S WAR AGAINST MONOPOLIES. 505 



CHAPTER XXX. 



THE FUTURE OF THE GRANGE. 



Retrospective Future of the Order What it will accomplish for {he Farmer 

 ana for the Country The Grange pledged to a Just and Liberal Course of 

 Action The Grange not a Destructive Order Its Stake in the Community 

 Elements of Opposition Distrust of Politicians Political Views of the 

 Granges Platforms of the Farmers of Illinois, Minnesota, and Iowa 

 Necessity for the Order to confine itself to its Proper Work. 



WE have now examined the organization, traced the 

 history and growth, and discussed the prospects of the 

 Order of Patrons of Husbandry. It is a remarkable 

 order, and has a renrarkble history. Its growth is un- 

 precedented. Not even the old Know Nothing party 

 spread with such rapidity. Although organized as far 

 back as 1867, the growth of the Order has been con- 

 fined almost exclusively to the past year, in which it 

 has spread with a swiftness which has exceeded even 

 the wildest hopes of its most sanguine friends. But a 

 mere handful at the beginning of 1873, it is now a vast 

 army, stretching over the entire Republic, with a well 

 arranged and satisfactorily working system of govern- 

 ment, with definite and honestly avowed aims, and 

 ample means of attaining its ends; and it is increasing 

 by many thousands every week. 



No man can predict its future ; but it seems safe to 

 assert that at no very distant day it will embrace the 

 entire farming community. Certainly those who have 

 the farmers' interests at heart should strive for such an 



