The Caucasian. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1874-1875, 1874-07-11
ADDRESS o.
FREDERICK SELF, Esq.

FREDERlCk SELF, Esq.
DCliypesdu 1s&ozs the Aax Grange,
Moaday,Juiy 9, 1874.
Notwithstanding the publicity,
which has recently been obtained
by the Patrons of Husbandry, not
a little confusion and misaRprehen-
sion exists not only in the public
generally, but even among Patrons
themselves, IS to the precise objects
and purposes Of the order. and the
means by which their aims are ex-
ecuted. The sudden rise Of the Or
der, the secrecy which seemed to
envelope III movements, and the
astonishing results which have fol-
lowed it's organisation, throughout
the West especially -have excited
in an unusual degree the interest
of the Agricultural population in
other sections Of the country-and
in 90 doing have created in some
respects a mistaken and exaggera-
ted idea of the objects Of the order,
and Of its capacity to execute the
reformatory measures, which 1t as.
signs as its special and peculiar
task. Many have supposed that
the order possessed some secret, or
special power, and that its simple
presence, or introduction in any
community would actas a sovereign
panacea for all the ills, from which
its members suffered. The simple
establishment of the Grange, aud a
knowledge of its practical workings
must Of course, efectua1fy remove
all such erroneous impressions-but
according to a natural action of the
human mind-the reaction, when
the interest, and expectation has
been 80 great, must be as unfavor-
able as the first Impressions were
exaggerated and erroneous.
Disappointment at first ensues,
and then doubt and suspicion as to
the possession of any merit or abil-
ity to belp you, begins to creep in
to, and take possession of your
mind. The sturdy.planter battling
with all tho real difficulties of his
situation, carrying a load of care
and annoyance that would be too
much for the patience Of historic
Job-reluctantly leaves his work
to attend the meetings of his
Grange. He goes with the hope Of
discovering some means by which
the real practical difficulties Of his
situation may he overcome or ale
waited. He finds formal and
complicated ceremonial, containing
may beautiful and we'll expressed
th0ughts-and intoxicating a high
moral code. But. what good does
this do hint What relief does it
afford him from his many and'pres-
sing difficulties. Is it not nonsense,
is it not tritling-for a ma1(0strug
CLING for an existence to neglect his
work to he present simply at so
idle ceremony? Such sentiments,
il must be confessed, might not ap-
pear unreasonable to superficial
observer. But let us have patience,
and look further ahead. 1t would
be we'll to recOllect that some of
the grandest agencies for the anne
Iteration of the condition of man
kind have originated in very hum
bic and insignificant way.
About a hundred years ago,
boy, James Watt by name, sat one
day looking at q kettle of boiling
water, and holding a spoon before
the steam that rushed out of its
spout. He was reproached by his
Aunt for his idleness. Isn't it a
shame for you to waste your time
sof And yet the apparently tri-
fling action OF this poor Scottish
lad, resulted in a discovery, which
in the magnitude and Importance
of the changes which it has wrought
in the movements of the civilized
world, has surpassed the widest
farcies of the Arabian Nights-and
today the splendid Cunarder,
breasting the waves Of the Atlantic,
and throbbing with the movements
of its Titantic Compound Engine,
and the powerful locomotive rush.
ing across a continent with more
than the speed Of the wind, testify
ing in tones more emphatic than
any words that man can utter, to
the wonderful results which may
follow from causes and actions ap-
parently the most insignificant.
And SO it may be with this order
of the Patrons of Husbandry, triv-
ial as it's forms and ceremonies may