The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1874-10-16
Patrons of Husbandry at the Fair
Grounds

The Patrons of Husbandry in Maury
county number "A Oranges, with a mem
bership of 1900. There is not neighbor-
hood, to our knowledge, in which there
is not a grange. The mem bers are among
the most intelligent of our citizens,
and the interest they manifest in the
success of the order evinces the correct
ness of its principles. We know there are
farmers, men of intellect, men of wealth,
the very best citizens of the county, who
if the order was half as odious, as some
would have us believe, would sever their
connection with it, and proclaim to the
world its faults and bad teachings. But,
its principles are such as to be admired
by every one when fully understood and
it is unfortunate that every man and wo-
man in the county could not have been
present, at the Fair Grounds last Satur-
day, and heard the able exposition of its
principles, by the Worthy Master of the
State Grange, DIR. Maxwell, of Humboldt.
There were about 1000 persons present,
mostly Patrons, representing every pOr-
ton of the county, from the cedar glades
of the East, to the Bigbys and Cathey's
creeks of the w est. After putting on
their regaEa and marching from the Floral
Hall to the seats, where had been prepar-
ed a stand from which the speaker was to
address the crowd the Rev jeff Dixon
assembled the stand, and offered to the
throne of Grace, beautiful prayer, ap.
propriate to the occasion. Capt. Ben
Rogers, in a few suitable remarks then
introduced Dr. Maxwell to the audience.
After expressing himself happy at the
privilege of addressing q portion of the
people of Maury, people noted for their
hospitality, intelligence and wealth, he
then alluded to the warm welcome they
had given the chief Executive of the
State, that he felt proud that it was the
old men of this county that had taken
that distinguished citizen, when a boy, by
the hand and urged him on in the acquire
ment of that knowledge, which has SO
eminently fitted him to the discharge OF
those duties assigned him by the people of
the State. The speaker then addressed
himself to the objects and views of the
order of Patrons of Husbandry, and for
two hours the large audience, composed
of judges, lawyers, mechanics, and far
mers, who had with them their wives and
beautiful daughters, gave him that atten-
ton due one advocating a cause so
fraught with the very life of the nation.
Dr. Maxwell is a very plain speaker, easy
to be heard and understood. He said
that there was no antagOnism on the part
of the Patrons, against any other class Of
the community, and when they were fully
understood every body would admit it
they made war on no one, but sought 10
gain what the physician, the lawyer, and
commercial men, had gained by combina-
ton. The lawyer and physician have as
sociations, as did every other profession,
! ! L. II Il fAI
other than those interested, and why not
the farmer also have an association in
like manner And forsooth, because they
do not admit those not engaged in agricul-
ture, it is no reason that they are inimical
to the rights of the professionalism at all
he wished them God speed, it was right
for the lawyer, physician, etc, to form
associations to put prices upon their
services, and the farmer should do the
same, and in proportion to what he has
to pay for that he has to buy, he ought to
have for his prOduce-nO farmer could,
however, know how much to charge for
the produce Of his farm unless he makes
correct estimate of the cost of its produc-
ton, and he urged upon the farmers, to
read, and write, their experience, that
their children may know how to cultivate
after them, without spending a lifetime
in experimenting to find out the correct
way The order was invested with some
degree OF secresy, it is true. but there was
only enough of that to prevent the outer
world from knowing their business move
ments for the best business men were those
who keep their plans to themselves. The
speaker then gave instance of how money
had been saved the farmer by buying
direct from the manufacturer. The
Patrons are not only learning how to
make money, but how to spend it in a
more sensible manner. Egsrv
calls his fellow 8 =. patron who
haf-- .drmer brother must
ore going to law, go to his Grange,
and there try to settle amicably with his
brother. No man has moral right for a
trivial grievance to cause the State the
expense of protracted lawsuit, and there