The Grange advance., 1873-12-31
SPKECH or HON. IGNATIUS D0NNsLLY
Before the State Grange at Faribault,
Minn., Dec. 18th, 1873. s 5sS

but have failed to do 80, and can therefore,
only give IN imperfect outline Of what ne
said. Ed. GRANGE ADVANCE. at.s t.-ss
Mr.. Donnelly thanked tho Grange for the
honor they had done him in inviting him
To address them. He would not attempt
any flowers of oratory, out would try to
make few practical suggestions for the
good of the Order" ~ = : .a%-s #s~s
The history Of the Order for the past
two years had furnished most striking ex-
ample Of the value Of organization and the
power of numbers. They commenced amid
contempt and ridicule; they had compelled
their enemies to fear and respect them.
All men were now bowling and cringing be-
fore them, but it would be we'll to remem-
Der the past. He would read to them set
of resolutions.adopted> one year ago by the
Senate Of our neighboring State Of Iowa
q State almost exclusively agricultural:
WHEREAS, There has been constantly in
attendance on the Senate and House of this
General Assembly, from the commencement
of the session to the present time, four
gentlemen protesting to represent the great
agricultural interests Of the State Of Iowa,
known as the Grange; and
WHEREAS, These gentlemen appear to be
entirely destitute Of uny visible means Of sup
port therefore be it
Reso!ved, BY the Senate, the House con-
ourring, that the janitor permit aforesaid
gentlemen, in gathering up all the waste
papers, old newspapers, ETC., from under
the desks Of the members, and they be al
lowed one postuye stqmp each, the american
4griculturis!, What Greedy Knows About
Farming, and that they be permitted to
take with them to their homes, If they have
any, all the rejected railroad tariff bills, in
Guiding Richards and O'Donnelrs tariff
commission bills, Buncombe's speech on
railroad tariffs, Beardsley's speech on fe-
male suffrage, Claussen's reply, Kasson's
speech on Barnacles, Blakely's dog bill,
Teales liquor bill, and be given pass
over the Des Moines Valley Railroad,
svith the earnest hope that they .ciU never re-
turn to Des Homes.
Observe the ineffable contempt with
which. the representatives Of the Grange
are referred to, as - men who having no
visible means Of support" they are told to
ego to their homes if they have any :"
they are given lone postage stamp each" :"
and all the "waste paper" Then mark
the sneer with which the bills to regulate
the railro ads are alluded to, for, it will be
remembered, every bill OF that kind was lie
featcd last winter by the Iowa Legislat..rc
1t was time for the Oranges to organize
It was time for them to- take the control of
the affairs of that Stale in their own hands.
And they did 50. The men without any
visible means Of support" now control both
branches Of the Iowa Legislature, and will
monopoly who last year spat in their faces,
and sent them away with "the waste pa
per. { Applause.
Nothing is respectable in the political
world but power If you would have your
wishes respected you must make your pow
er felt.
Resolutions amount to nothing, lenunci-
ations amount to nothing, your wrath
amounts to nothing, your numbers, your
wealth, your intelligence amount to moth
ing, if you de- not WELD the irresistible
power Of the ballot. This alone speaks
louder than the thunder. This voice will
penetrate through the ten fold plates Of rid
icule and contempt and melt the heart Of
hatred and unncrvc the arm Of power.
(Applause.) ~..s. T..
This is the substitute for revolution: the
preventative Of violence. The poet of an
oppressed country sang,
"What rights the bravc? o.
g. The sword! -. ,. ..-
What frees the slave?
The sword!
What strikes the crown
OF tyrants down,
And answers with flash their frown, g.
= %.r The sword!'' ~ "' -
But praise be to God the founders of our
great nation gave US y substitute for the
sword-the ballot. This is the sword turned
into a tongue : and as one of our American
poets has beautifully said:
@z3s' +" There is 4 weapon st,rer set,
And better than the bayonet; .-.
Z weapon that comes down as st II g5H.
z., u. As snow flakes fall upon the sod, 't'
r.,.a, But executes the freeman's will !, r...
As lightnings do the will of Code
.o .,,s,..ss Applause.
One word as to another point .s.sssg
There has been considerable discussion
as to the true intent and meaning Of that
clause (Article x11 in our Constitution
which reads as follows: a~.. 5sl :5f.,s q
!" Religious or political questions will
not be tolerated as subjects of discussion
IN the work Of the Order, and no political