258 HISTORICAL AND POLITICAL. 



lie its action if it shall perpetuate itself as a permanent factor in the 

 development of this great nation. An examination of the past purposes 

 of the order will show that the earliest record we have of a fixed pur- 

 pose, was that of banding men together to resist the encroachments of 

 land thieves. This seems to have. been, at that time, the sole purpose 

 of the order, and was united in with all the vigor possible by the entire 

 membership. In a very shout time the whole object seems to have 

 changed, and all the energy of the order was directed towards co-opera- 

 tion to secure lower prices in the purchase of commodities from mer- 

 chants, and to this end all the lecturers were teaching the policy of 

 concentrating their trade into channels, which by increasing the amount 

 of trade given to special firms or individuals would decrease the profits, 

 and thereby save money for themselves as purchasers. It should be 

 noticed that, accompanying this change of purpose, there was no dimi- 

 nution in the growth or strength of the order. In another year, the 

 object seems to have undergone almost as great a change, for that sys- 

 tem of contracts with merchants was entirely discarded, and the whole 

 energy of the order was directed towards establishing a strong business 

 head, conducting its buying and selling, not for profit, but as an auxiliary 

 to the farming effort. Orators, lecturers, and writers were all advocating 

 this with as much zeal as the former object, and the people with one 

 accord were co-operating to secure a new end. And even this change, 

 as shown by the history of the time, was attended with a greater growth 

 than in any preceding period ; a growth at that time without a parallel, 

 and an enthusiasm that was all the most ardent advocates could desire. 



The history progresses, and in a year or two more this, the most im- 

 portant object, seems in turn to have been set aside, and public atten- 

 tion seems to have crystallized upon the belief that the greatest benefits 

 of the order can only be secured by co-operating to secure the enact- 

 ment of laws that will stop discrimination against agriculturists as a class. 

 This new departure in the objects of the order, as it is sometimes called, 

 but really this higher development of our conception of the objects of 

 the order, was also attended with the most remarkable growth, far 

 excelling any growth of a like period prior to that time. The conclu- 

 sion to be drawn from this change in the public conception of the 

 purposes of the order, without any abatement in the growth and devel- 

 opment of the movement, must inevitably be, that the growth of the 

 order does not depend upon the conception of those who are filling the 

 offices and acting as leaders in the effort. It does not depend upon 

 the wisdom of any man or set of men ; it does not depend, in turn, on 

 the constitution ; the peculiar provisions pf the organic or statutory laws. 



