The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1874-12-10

address OF Col. N. L. Norton, Lecturer OF
the Texas state Grange, delivered az
BastrOp, Texas, December 4, 1874, and
Published By Request OF the Grange
Of BastrOP County.
Ladies and Gentlemsa-Upon the receipt
Of the invitation Of your committee to speak
on this occasion, it seemed impossible, I'M
der the circumstances of serious family
affections and pressing business engage
ments, for me to comply; and hencs felt
constrained to suggest the propriety of
other arrangements, including other and
more competent speakers, that your demon
stration might be more entertaining and
more fruitful Of good results. Finding 1t
possible to leave, and ANXIOUS to crafty 3
long cherished desire to see the good people
Of your justly celebrated county, am here,
not to make speech, but to join with you
IN joyous approval of that popular uprising
which bids fair to secure new appreciation
of the dignity of labor, and to re-establish
the standard for the estimation Of men
upon the old bases of social worth and
moral manhood, Hence the few thoughts
which have been hastily lmproTisSd, with
special desire not to trench upon the grounds
which would naturally be occupied by yeur
regular speakers, must necessarily be meagre
and measurably void of interest. am not
persuaded that simple cleaner in the ranks
of toll, wholly unskilled in oratory and I'M
familiar with the zelda of literature, should
even attempt to address an assemblage so
proverbially intelligent as the citizens of
| Bastrop. t f--a
am not vain enough to believe that my
humble perceptions could discern a single
new attraction along the fowery paths
Where our patron giants have trod and scat
tered beauty and gaFlands around their
way. Nor is it any part of my purpose to
attempt to instruct farmers and Patrons in
calling where they have grown gray with
years in accommodating rich stores of expe-
rience and wisdom. Such would be not
unlike the presumption of the rustic pro-
fessor of an obscure military school, who
proposed, to teach the ''art of war; to a
renowned Carthagenisn general Just re-
turned with his victorious legions, laden
with the spoils and glory Of foreign con-
quest. ,,.,,,.-..r
No retrospect Of the rise and progress of
eur Order, or Of the causes which seemed
to necessitate It's organization, need be
taken. ! leave to the distinguished brother,
Ex-Governor Crockett, on my right, these
and other kindred subjects, so appropriate
to the celebration of our natal day. Neither
will we stop to dwell with approving en-
phasis upon the grand social and CONNER
cial revolutions 1t has already accomplished.
A watchful press and legion of ready
>rhetOricians will not allow US to lose sight
of the Runnymedes and Bunker Hills where
we have met Credit Mobihers and colossal
rings, as Samson met the Phllistines.
The true mission of the order-its moral
results upon the future policy and interests
of our country and people, and the means
of most successfully applying its great
principIes-are questions which most con-
Germ the thoughtful Patron, and to which
his most serious attention should be di-
rected. COL L -
The Order is yet in its infancy, and,
! though constitutionally healthy, its Vigor is
often impaired by the well designed minis
trations of empiricism. Astrological horo-
scopes are calculated and prospective ma
larias diagnosed. The various prognOstica-
tons of disease are no more diverse than the
remedial agents proposed. Paregoric, rhu-
barb and aouafortis are freely administered,
and the only wonder among the medicine
men" is that the patients stomach con-
tinues unsettled.
The fact is the Augean stable is yet to be
cleansed. Only the excellence Of. the
] Orders principles has assured the triumphs
of the past amid the conflicting views of its
champions. The integrity, confidence and
purity that existed in the palmy days of eur
history are yet to be restored. And every
Patron must FURNISH his armor and prepare
for battle, not only against the debasing
corruptions of the times, but against the
united oligarchies, which will now concen-
trate for final deadly conflict. Our present
influence is due more to disorganized oppo-
sition than to perfect combinations among
ourselves.
The desire for concert of action seems
general. The conviction that the great les
son of the moment is cooperate effort il
settled one, but many different opinions
prevail in as many different sections as
to the legitimate sphere and the prudential
operations of the fraternity. - s@eg--
It is possible that in the general zeal for
ritualstic organization and the mere accre-
ton of numerical strength, important les
sons affecting the practical efficiency of the
Order have been neglected OF overlooked.
There is q seeming inconsistency in the
practical working and natural tendencies Of
the Order as compared with its fundamsn-
tai requirements and prohibitions, which it
is to be hoped an early action of the Ma
tionsl Grange may remedy or explain. Re
| ligious and political discussions are spec
tally deprecated in the work of the Grange,
yet the principle and purposes" promul-
gated by authority and by unanimous Sane
ton of the national Representatives, after
clearly indicating many specific objects and
policies, exhorts and pledges Us to ''return
to- the political purity Of eur forefathers."
How now is it practicable as an organize
ton for us to even successfully approximate
a condition which, a. local bodies, We are
not allowed to investigate. Should any
ambiguity exist in this or any other relation
Of the Order, the full measure Of our use
fulness viii be best assured by an early and
authoritative exposition.
Mr.. Webster, whose authorityin Affairs Of
photography Is geneTaliy acknowledged,
after defining politics to mean the science
Of government, proceeds to annex two sew
eral signifcatlons to the word which, consid-
cred in separate connection, are justly sus-
ceptible Of very different constructions.
The first import is---ssThat part Of ethics
which affects the government Of State or
nation; the preservation Of it's existence
and rights against foreign control or con-
quest; the augmentation Of its strength
and resources; the protection of its citi-
zens in their rghts-With the preservation
and improvement Of their morals T"
Now 1t can hardly be denied that the
whole Of this first meaning Of the word Is
in literal accord with cur views and pur-
poses.
The second definition reads thus-'Srhe
management Of = political party. The adj
vancement Of candidates to ohce. Artful
or dishonest management to secure the sue
cess Of political measures or party schemes.
Political trickery." Than which nothing II
more spbyesive Of our hopes, or more cSn-
ducive to the general confusion and ienonain-
iont failure Of our dssignE While there
fore the subject in this second point o.
view has been wisely excluded hom our
councils, it Il b 10 means cortain that
quettions involving lessons Of sound polit-
ical' economy and practical stetssmanship
were Intended to Be OF should Be similarly
tabooed- Indeed the csnclusion 4 almost