The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1873-02-15
THE FARMERS UNION.



At the installation Of OaHoe's d ROck Greek Grange
Saturday ESsnns, January I'm, Ie73.
The patrons of husbandry, on occasions
like this, rake it the duty Of the newly
installed Master to deliver an address.
Rock Greek Grange, No. 63, having ele-
waited me to that honorable position, il
devolves upon me to perform that duty.
And in coming before you on this occasion,
4 shall not ask criticisms, but your torbedr.
dnce. You all well know that it is my
vocation to be tiller Of the soil, and that
it cannot be expected that farmer should
make q display Of eloquence, oratory, OF
rhetoric. If l shall be medium through
which an exchange Of ideas shall enlist
your cooperation, to promote the best
interests Of the laboring classes, then my
object will be attained.
We come together, my friends, to-day,
to aid each other in the calling in which
we are engaged, to seek to promote the
Interests of the great art which underlies
all others, which feeds, clothes, and shell
ters US the occupation upon which all
trades, commerce, manufactures, and even
the fine arts, must 20 back and lean upon
as a support. Even learning, music, and
poetry will take their tone, in a great
measure, from the success which attends
this employment. 1t would not be too
much to say that the morals and religion
Of any community are greatly affected by
the estimation in which agricultural en-
ployment Is held. 1t Is its nature to lead
the mind to social and amiable habits, and
high and holy purposes, surrounded as the
farmer is by the glowing manifestations Of
Deity, his calling has an elevating influence
scarcely to be expected in the marts of
commerce, or in the harrassing pursuits of
mercantile life.
These and all indoor employments are
Indispensable as parts of the whole The
carpenter the cabinetmaker, the saddler,
the shoemaker, the miner, the cooper, and
the plow-maker, each form an important
part in the web Of life connecting link
IN the great cham Of human pursuits
Drop out one Of them and the wool Of
society is broken the chain is dlsmem-
bered, and like hive Of queenless bees.
we must pause and repair the loss before
the work Of the world can 20 on.
\ A high degree Of civilization requires a
great diversity in the trades and arts to
meet its demands The bow, the spear.
v hiAA thC win a lCN SiuiIit
utensils followed from the rocks or formed
from the bark of a tree, answered all the
wants Of generations who occupied these
beautiful prairies of the West They
lighted their prairie fires, and woke the
solemn stiffness with human tones They
lived their day, fulfilled their mission, and
passed on. Other generations followed,
and prepared the way for us. But still
the finger of God points onward no
degree of perfection attained should
1 prompt us to pause. The Old World is
overtowing with human population, with
men and women whose hearts beat with
emotions as lively as our own, and to whom
comes the momentOus question Of StbSist-
ence, with a power which we cannot feel
because they have stood face with starva-
tion and death
Other generations have subdued savage
men and beasts, and the bOundless prairies /:
they we're the pioneers to your far fields /:
your teeming hills and wales your spires
pointing to heaven your beautiful and
peaceful homes where domestic love ripens
into bliss
Our hands are not necessarily filled with
the means Of self defence. nor our hearts
with anxious care lest a lurking foe shall
surprise us, OF the rigors of winter find Us
without the means of comfortable support
The dangers and hardships incident to
early settlement have been endured by
others, and we have entered upon the pos
session of the fairest and most prolific land
in the world. 1t Is with us, then, a high
duty to progress, and make such use Of 1t
as shall meet the approbution Of our own
sense Of right, and Of those who are to sue
ceed us
It may be profitable to inquire whether
We are
FAITHFULLY DIsCHARGINe OUR DUTY.
Does the soil which we first broke, and
which then poured forth its fruitful stores,
continue to yield an equal amount And
if not, what will be the result Of such prac-
tice if continued through a few genera
tIons The reply is plain. In the distance
will be seen neglected and forsakeu hells.
delapIdated homes, wandering families
decayIng commerce, PROSTATE mansfac-
lures, and wretched populatlon-hter
the sciences and arts, music, painting. and
poetry, and all that goes to ennoblo
nation, together with the kind amenities
OF life, would follow IN the dismal tram
Patriotism and love of country would soon
die out from the hearts of the people. and
this fair fabric become prey to the rapac-
ity Of other nations. But such is not the
fact with you-your presence here declares
that the
ART or DRESSING AND KEEPING The LASD.
and the increase Of her products shall pro
gress among you. ] have thus Imperfrctly
shown that the farmers Of the West AZ the
present day live under the most favorable
circumstances for making great advances III
the art Of cultivating the earth Peace
pervades the land. leaving commerce tn
seek new sources Of demand for agricultural
products, while the increased attention 10
manufacturing pursuits creates new mar
kets at our doors. Facilities for transpor-
tation have multiplied to a wonderful
extent in our State during the past few
years, giving agricultural productions
speedy transit to all the principal markets
Of the world. Individual effort Is the first
in agricultural progress. The next must Ice
ASSOCIATED EFFORT,
beginning with Oranges and town clubs
then the county and State exhibitions
These are in progress among you, ami
should be cherished as the moving cause
y y n prosperity RTc"'ig ucsHeh
and which may be attained through their
influence. No other means of spreading
improvements among the people are 80
direct and applicable a. those flowing from
discussions in those organizations and pub
lac exhibitions. They bring men, women,
and children to feel an immediate and
home interest in the matter; their pride
and skill are alike interested by the general
competition, and an ambition is awakened
rarely felt by those outside those associa-
tlOns.
COOPERATION.
No word in the English language to-day
expresses 50 much Of the American farm
er's necessity as does this. This it is and
this alone, which will enable them to derive
from their vocation that remuneration
- m