The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1871-08-10

Vol. %, No. II.
Lsctdrs Delivered by =. M. Randel, be-
fore the Orange" At ottumwa, July
/ Worthy Master, sisters and broth
e,s: In accepting the position you
have conferred upon me, allow me
Il thank you for the honor, and in
entering upon the duties, | must say
that | realize the responsibilities, as
veil as my inability to meet the de-
r,ands of the Office. Yet, feeling,
from o sense of duty, that owe
what little of influence have for
| the advancement of or building up
Of society, this stimulates me to
sceept, as well as prompts me to
Throw in my little mite in behalf of
this order, I am frank TO admit
that l was favorably impressed with
this organization, before its mystic
ries were revealed, but, upon receiv-
ing full light as to it's object, | must
say that | am exultant. Methinks
see, in the future, better state
fer US, not only pecuniarily, but in
higher aud nobler sphere that OF
elevating and building up our social
relations. My first impressions were
that the objects of the order were
directed mainly to the pecuniary in
terests of the agriculturist, which l
believed to be laudable and just, for
| have long since been convinced of
the fact, that we, as individuals wero
not sufficiently guarded to contend
with the combinations that are op-
Grating against US, and, in conse-
quence of that fact, | have matured
we'll in my own mind the necessity
OF concert of action for selfdefense,
aud must say that | am proud to
acknowledge that the Patrons of
Husbandry is the nucleus around
which we may rally for self-protec-
ton. And claim that we are justi-
fable in etfeeting said organization
upon the grounds: first, that it is an
admissible fact, that, as a class, we
are the bone and sinew of the coun-
try, and that the prosperity of all
branches of business depends upon
the prosperity of the farmer; yet,
with this tact, we are looked upon
as the dupes and tools of others, and
We have gone along quietly and ac-
knowledged the same, by our many
submissions. But l am delighted to
say that the time has come when
we can meet the erroneous idea that
is generally believed: that Agricul.
turists are ignoramuses, for we do
not only hold the wealth of the
country, but reasonable proportion
of the brains, which we propose to
use to the extent, at least, of placing
ourselves upon an equal footing with
all other branches of business.-
When we scan our past history and
see the disadvantages we have labor
ed under, and the many impositions
that We have suffered to be palmed
upon US, are we not astohished at
ourselves that we have not ere this
devised way and means for self
defense !? We have been cognisant
of the fact that all other branches of
business have been guarded by their
Unions, and that they have been eff
fective for we have, and are still
realizing their strength, through
their monopolies, and the truth of
the adage, ''in union there is
strength" has been fully established
by said organizations, in their CO.
operation against us as class. The
machinery Of said Unions have been
brought to bear upon US SO effectual-
ly as to place US entirely at their
mercy, making us IN fact their
obedient servants. 10 establish the
truth of the above, l will cite you to
the long established custom among
them, of fixing the price for the
product of the farm, as well as for
the demand Of the same. If we
carry buahel Of wheat to market
the price is fixed for us, and if we
buy . yard OF cloth we have TO sub
nit to the same, and in many in
stances we have sustained heavy
losses by reason of extrayagant
prices, and particularly in the pur-
chase of machinery tor the farm
-whero it passes through the
hands of SO many middle men,
each taking such u part as his con-
science will aliow-(and Of the above
article, you will find but little, for it
has long since been lost, for want Of
space in which to stretch it.) There
are two classes Of men that / have
often thought l would like to dis
pensc with, for have looked upon
them as being both burdensome and
intolerable. First the middle men,
between the producer aud the con-
sumer, second, the middle men, be-
tween the manufacturer and the con-
sumer. In tho first, it would allow
the product OF the farm to pass diroct
from the hands of the producer, into
tho hands ofthe consumer, thereby
bettering the financial condition OF
oth,-and in the second the result
wo'd be the same, manufactures pass
ing from the hands of manufacturer
to consumer, and through our order
l feel assured we can accomplish it
by establishing our commission
houses at the head of the market, and
shipping direct, thereby bringing our
home market up TO a level with the
foreign, minus transportation, thus
we can avail ourselves of two in lieu
of one market, and the second class
we can dispense with by becoming
Agents ourselves.
Much more might be said in re
gard to the pecuniary objects of our
order, but the second, and most I'M
portant object, claims our attentions
that of elevating and building up oul
social relations. 1t is too true tha'
we are, as . mass, too distant anc
formal, and in consequence of tn,
same We have become selfish, ther
by losing site of the design Deit,
had IN view in our creation. Fo
selfishness begets envy--envy, ,hatre'
hatred, malice-malice, war-an'
war, devastation, all of which dc
tracts from our happiness, and re
tards tho wheels OF progress. W
ara said fo be livinu in an aya !,