Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1874-03-16

of Kansas, Topeka, Jan. Is, 1874.
FELLOW CITIZENS On an occasion
like the present it is customary and ap-
propriate that We take brief survey of
the situation.
Our State organization had its origin
last March, through the action of COLI
vention of farmers held in the State
Capitol Since that time there has been
a period of uncommon discussion and
action. The proceedings of that con-
vention have been published and dis
tributed in all parts of the State, and
have commanded respectful attention
and notice in many Of the older States.
Scores of able public addresses have been
delivered and published, and some Sec
lions have been thoroughly canvassed.
The press of the State has very generally
favored our efforts, and number of
able journals have become the special
champions and organs of the cause.
AS result of these manifold labors
and agencies, the industrial men of the
State have been much awakened and en-
couraged. Tickets of candidates have
been put in the field for State and county
offices, and, in many places, have won
the elections. In most cases, in view of
their superior numbers, the farmers have
been to confident, and have loaded them
selves too heavily with local issues. In
few instances this has caused defeat.
Yet, from these defeats we may derive
useful lessons for the future, and they
have not been sufficiently numerous to
work any serious or wide spread dis
couragement
No view of our past achievements
would be complete, or even satisfactory,
should we fail TO consider the effect
which our labors have worked upon our
selves. Not only have we acquired
greater confidence in our own men as
leaders and co-workers, but we have
better learned the true nature of the
work before us.
Formerly, agriculture was treated
merely as the avocation of production,
and the farmer was deemed sufficient for
his pursuit if his muscles were strong
and well trained in the grooves followed
by his grandfathers. Latterly, agricul-
ture has become FESTIVE, unless it be also
viewed and treated as a business of f.
nancial realization. This claim on the
part OF agriculture gives new impetus to
the farmers movement, and farming
is now looked upon as financial bust
ness, as well as an hereditary avocation
1t has been discovered, too, that the
movement itself is double. So multi
tudlnous are the relations of agriculture
In It's double nature, of production and
realization, that any movement in its
behalf must have more than a single
front and a single head.
1t has political relations which must
be subserved by open political discus
Slons, and the public dissemination Of
knowledge, designed to enlighten and
convince the public mind.
The open organization, or Estate Co.
operative Association" now in session
Is designed to do service in this depart.
ment. 1t also has business and social
relations which cannot be served in this
open, exposed manner. All business
men have their own private books anG
affairs which are not, properly, matter,
Otpublic inspection or discussion. Thos,
who deal with men of business are, il
honor, bound to a certain degree of ret
lcence, and those parties who do not ac
upon this obligation seldom obtain tn
best terms in making contracts. So O
the social relations of men. The famil
circle is u secret association, where tn
intercourse of individual members take
Its most unconstrained form. Could tn
family circle be enlarged so that tn
number of individuals may be great
increased, without mourning too muc
restraint, it would be desirable. Sue
enlargement is found practicable, wit
little loss to the freedom of intercourse
by calling together the members of sew
eral families that are closely related b
the bonds of consanguinity. Similar t
this, IN nature and effect, is the Assem-
bling together of persons of the same re
hglous or political faith or the sam
pursuit of business. All men act o
the causes and impulses here indicated
Hence, we find in existence, churche,
leagues, and unions, of many names an
sorts. Agriculture is no exception
Farmers have their Oranges of the Pa
irons of Husbandry. The Oranges ca
do business with business men on bus
ness principles, obtaining the best tern
IN making contracts, and are no mo,
secret than the firms with which the
deal. Oranges are social and moral i
their nature. Their secrecy is no stric
er than that of any well-ordered famiI
circle, or. than are social and religio,
bodies when they desire to reap the flu
enjoyment and benefits which conceI
only the members of their own Order
The organization of Oranges in o,
EaaNz