The Grange advance., 1874-08-19
Speech Of Grand Master D. W. Adams

In view Of the call tor mass con-
vention Of the farmers aud producers
Of Goodhue County to meet at the town
hall in Featherstone, on the Sd Of next
month, we have thought it would be
well to give our readers the speech of
Dudley W. Adams, Grand Master of
the National Grange, delivered at Au-
burn, Iowa, on the 18th day Of July last.
But as our space will not permit the re-
producing of the whole speech we have
extracted some of the leading points of
the speech, and give them below. We
earnestly commend them to the attention
of our readers.
in 1875 such thing as a millionaire was
unknown and unheard of. The mode Of
transacting business at that time precluded
the possibility Of one man gathering to-
gether, under the sanction of law, an
amount of property which it would take
the life labors Of 10000 men to produce
by any productive industry. The men
who made the great declaration were
many Of them-of moderate means, and
many of them were members of the pro-
ducing classes. The men Of that day,
who framed laws. were largely Of the pro-
ducing classes, and knew by personal
knowledge the value of dollar.
X x X
But, in the course of time, some of the
men selected to do public work, ceased to
remember whence they came; forgot the
modes by which they had formerly obtained
livlihood. and became professional politi-
clans, whose chief object Of life seemed to
be to get into Office as soon as possible, stay
in as long as possible, and make as much as
possible out Of it. This class of beings has
increased with rapidity out of all proper
ton to the increase Of our population, and
in order to support this increasing horde
of of6cehslders it has been necessary, from
time to time, for them to create hosts of new
Offices; and frequently increase the COM
pensation of those already in existence.
x X K
Thus gradually the solid, substantial,
producing classes Of our country, have
ceased to have any controlling influence on
our government, till, to-day, it is entirely
under the control Of professional politicians
and lawyers.
1t follows, as matter Of course, in obedi.
ence to the laws Of human nature. that our
laws are strongly tinctured with the pecu.
liar views of their makers, and that they
are especially adapted to advance their pe :
'cuniary and political fortunes. As the rep.
resentatives Of the industrial and produc-
ing classes have gradually disappeared from
the halls Of legislation, 50 has class lenis-
lation and corruption crept in, till TODAY
they are absolutely stencil in the nostriis
of the people, "| s*
New Offices have been created, salaries
have been increased, extravaganza Of all
kinds multiplied, till the producers Of the
land are taxed almost to the point of actual
confsca,ion. Patrons, the liberties Of our
people,: the life of our nation, even is in
imminent danger from this Legislation by a
class, and the injustice and corruption re-
sul1ing theretrom. ,;,~.
Their minds are unable to comprehend
the fact that the producing classes are ca
pable Of self elf-government-tha they know
their own wants, and have sense enough t,
provide for them by suitable code of laws
They look upon US asa class Of men emf
nently qualified rlvoting them into ia
places, and digging from the soil and tn,
mines the means to pay their salaries Blu
that tillers Of the soil. miners and mer
chants, have minds equalt toeelf-
is fact which has rot penetrated thei,
sintsllects. t'rs#s5ie r.; ss2E ,sdg %g4t,r s}5
Brothers and sisters among the dutie