VI. AGRARIAN MOVEMENTS IN THE 

 UNITED STATES 



THE RISE OF THE GRANGER MOVEMENT 



By Charles W. Pierson 



(From the Popular Science Monthly, December, 1887. Reprinted by 

 permission of D. Appleton and Company) 



SOME wise men of the press are saying that the Knights of 

 Labor are like the Grangers. As the exact points of resem- 

 blance are not stated, the assertion serves merely to call up a 

 recollection of the unique secret society, which, a dozen years 

 ago, seemed far more powerful than ever the Knights of Labor 

 were. The Grange still lives, but its glory is departed, and its 

 history is recorded only in the distorted statements of partisans 

 and of misinformed review-writers. 



In the latter part of 1868 certain Minnesota farmers received 

 a printed sheet which began as follows : 



In response to numerous inquiries in regard to our order, this circular is 

 issued. The order was organized by a number of distinguished agriculturists 

 of various states of the Union at Washington in December, 1867, and since 

 then has met with most encouraging success, giving assurances that it will soon 

 become one of the most useful and powerful organizations in the United States. 

 Its grand object is not only general improvement in husbandry, but to increase 

 the general happiness, wealth, and prosperity of the country. 



As an aid in accomplishing its author's design, this circular was 

 certainly a success. As a statement of truth it was a conspicuous 

 failure. Instead of having " met with most encouraging success," 

 the order had scarcely been heard of ; while the " distinguished 

 agriculturists " who had " organized " it comprised one fruit-grower 

 and six government clerks, equally distributed among the Post- 

 Office, Treasury, and Agricultural departments. Of these seven 



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