Combination.
OOMBntATWN.
All combinations for legitimate purpos
es arc both proper ami wise. Wo make
o exception to any trade or profession ;
combination will secure advantages in
overy department, when single individual
ellbrts would be entirely abortive. It has
been well said: "Association is tiie genius
of the age," and owing to the tendency of
industries and professions to consolidate
their respective forces for the better pro
teclion or advancement of their interests,
those, callings which are not organized
and disciplined, are unavoidably weak
ened and become impotent when arrayed
against a formidable combination of an
tagonistic interests. The unpracliced
and the unorganized must always yield
before discipline and organization. The
history of the "Dark Ages'; will allord an
ample illustration of the feeble condition
of humanity when disunited; when not
bound together for promotion of interests,
but are separated, as it were, by wide
gulfs.
Civilization made no advancement when
all the elements of civilization and classes
of society were jumbled together, diversi
fied and stormy. The governments and
society were in a lamentable state of cha
os, the inevitable result of radical disor
ganization. But as the rays of modern
light illumined the gloom, the dillerent
elements and diverse interests commenced
to centralize; to become united and make
progress on the highway of civilization.
The fifteenth century witnessed the birth
of diplomat. This was the time in the
history of Europe, when governments be
gan to have frequent intercourse with each
other, and formed relations which led to
powerful combinations for warlike pur
poses"; for the aggrandizement of political
schemes; and which linally resulted in
that system called the "Balance of power."
By investigation in the history of this
dark blot u the career of mankind, it will
be found that it was by the combined ef
forts of the more intellectual and advanced
elements of society that civilization was
linally enabled to take an advance step,
and society to break away from the vale
of darkness. Combination seems to be
an inherent attribute of human nature.
It is a beautiful attribute; il is tiie means
of bringing nations and individuals into
closer union and friendship; and "friend,
ship combines the hearts of men."
The various societies which wo see
around us, called into being by mutual in
terests and protection ; the various trade
unions; the grange, and other worthy or
ganizations, arc all a blessing to mankind.
'Tis true that evil results sometimes follow
the combinations of certain classes of
people. Evil consequences may How
from the very best conditions. Trade un
ions and workingmen's associations some
times go astray and exercise illegitimate
functions, but tho main object for which
they are instituted protection against
the unjust eiicioachments of capital is
a laudable one. What would lie the state
of the laboring classes, admitting that
considerations of a pecuniary nature need
not call them together, if they simply per
formed the general routine of daily life,
without at times coining together to dis.
cuss various subjects which draw from
the fund of knowledge much that g xis to
edify and enlighten themV The more
that men come in contact with each oth
er, the more their horizon of ideas ex
pands; their minds enlarge, and their
judgment is made clearer.
Never in the history of agriculture did
there occur a movement which electrified
and stirred the farming community as did
the " Orange movement." Before this the
farmers of our country had been living
not entirely unlike the feudal lords of
old. There seemed to be but little socia
bility existing among litem. Each farm
cr, with his family and hired help, lived
too much isolated from his neighbor.
Then, too, tlmy did not take that interest
in political affairs which they should, but
remained, as it were, nonentities in the
political world. Tho Grange movement