Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1873-12-18
Patrons Of Husbandry.
Address Delivered TO yellow
River Grange, Ne. I55,
Dec. 4ti, 1878,
BY v. CAILLOT, DEPUTY.

Brptters md Sisters, Ladies and Gentlemen
IN taking the chair to-day L am over
whelmed with the sentiment OF my inca
pacity. Worthy Brothers here present
are possessed of talents, besides having
the advantage of speaking in their native
tongue; 5ut it would be lack OF my duty
ii on day like this, did not address you
in behalf end for the honor OF the Order
Though not plainly speaking the language
OF this country, the most OF yoa are used
20 my peculiar pronunciation, aud | ash
your indulgence just forty minutes foi
the expression OF few thoughts that
have arranged tor your Information ano
consideration.
Brothers ana Sisters, Ladies and Gen
tlemen, Article 1st OF the Bylaws Of the
National Grange reads rs follows: The
4th of December, the birthday of the
Patrons of Husbandry, shall be celebrated
as the Anniversary of the Order. 1t i
this Anniversary chat has brought Us here
together and that We propose to celebrate
though meeting for the first time upon
such an occasion, it is the sixth Anniyer-
sary OF the Order
Two years, or about that time. after ths
close OF the war, gentleman in the ser.
vice OF the Agricultural Department al
Washington, was travelling through the
Southern States. Wherever lie went
wherever lie called, be, one OF those hated
Northerners was received as an old rela-
tive, the friendly grip was extended to
and the family circle was opened as to an
absentee aud returned member CT the
family and Yet at every step he male il
bis wanderings through that sunny land
he witnessed the fearful devastation made
by his own countrymen, and the extreme
misery brought on the people. The rural
class OF course had sustaided the heaviest
losses, everywhere his eyes met with
farms desOated and farmers gloomy with
DESPAIR. Worst of all, the once prevail
Ing friendship and socia0ili.y Of neighbor-
boocs had been utterly destroyed, and the
terrible demon of hatred had taken the
place OF the virtues of Lore and Ckarify.
sIch contrast OF the real condition and
sentiments cfthe people with his reception
mace that gentlemen appreciate the pryi-
IL Sc ui be longing 10 an Order that bound
us members To a practice of love and
charliy towards each other, irres pective
oi religious or political opinions, or of
country That gentleman was Free
mason, and his name .. I. C. Kelley,
ssiual secretary of the National Grange.
" nen IL Mobile, deeply imp,essioned by
"hSf he had witnessed, be resolved 10
found an Order that would retrieve socis
biilty among the farmers of the South,
and heighteu the intellect OF the Yves ern
tanners. Then, in the preceding winter
OF 1865, assisted by VIM. Saunders. a gen
tleman of English birth. who had already
taken part in the movement of the gar
deners OF his native country, I. A.
Thompson, farmer of Minnesota. present
Lecturer OF The National Grange, whom
We had the pleasure TO meet at our State
grange lew days ago; A. II. Grosh, and
lew others, the basis of the Order of
Patrons OF Husbandry was definitely ar
rested. a Constitution and BYLAWS were
formed, and the 4th day of December 1856,
witnessed Its final formation and estab-
lishment There is Brothers and Sisters
the true origin of our honorable Order.
Ihe trst Grange was organized at
itasc MIMI, In the beginning of 1868.
ln short time another Grange was or
P"ulzed IN Jasper county. Iowa. A third
Ufange soon Came into existence al Nan
kon, Aimakee county, in the same State.
a few Oranges were also soon organized
I'D the StateSof Wisconsin, Illinois and
Missouri; but before following IN the
progress Of the Order, as we know now
who were irs founders, let Us see what
was the condition of the first Granreys of
that class 1t intends TO reform, and the
means put forward for that object. Those
men We're farmers cf the South and great
West. The dull monotony of their lives
hsu only broken in upon by an occasional
wedding, or funeral "A shooting match or
township election. They had plodded on
year after year, working from sunrise to
sunset, and often at moonlight, taking
but few holidays, or bat little pass,irne in
an occasional spare OF haifa day's hunting
or nshing. They never met their neigh
Dors except at the cross roads store,
enurcn or town meeting; reading, never |;
but toiiing hard and doing their best to
transform themselves into corn and wheat
producing machines. Using lots OF mus.
cular power in their business, but very
httle brains. Of farming improvements,
OF scientific culture they knew nothing.
And OF the cost to make bushel of wheat
or OF corn, to make a pound of beef. of
pork or OF butter, they were utterly igno-
rant. The conditions of their wives we're
worse. Their work began earlier and
ended later than that of their husbands
Their lives were almost slavish with no
variety but that of quilting or wool
picking bee. The haggard looks and the
weary sighs Of those farmers wives in the
West were telling the story of their hard
lot in this world.
Brothers and Sisters, Ladies and Gen
tlemen, do you think that anne xaggerat-
ing the conditions of he farmers life in
the West, or will you say that l have
madea vivid picture? Was this condition
OF affairs not the same in our own county
20 years ago, and to be true ought not /
say that it is the same in many Of its
districts yet?
1t is this sad condition of the farmers
life that the Order proposes to reform. 1t
wants to Tighten the toll. increase the
knowledge, cultivate the fraternal feelings
and advance the material interests of cur
class.
For this purpose it brings us together,
old and young, men and women, every
week or two, at least once q month.
There, in the hall, we exchangs ideas on
topics OF special interests to our every
DAVIS labor. We hear the lectures Of