, 1874-04-06


orably received; and, In ncoordanco with d vote
publications should you deem It worthy. Yours
truly, II. 8. HlToucocK.
ADDRESS.
Wor,Ap Mdster and Patrons:
In tho organization Of tho Grange, mr. Ordor
Of Patrons Of Husbandry, and in the develop
mont Of tho Tnrno1s' Movement, undoubtedly
We Witness tho Inauguration of o
NEW ERA IN HUMAN pRoanEss.
Through all history wo learn that the onslavo-
mont or oppression Of tho maaBes Of those who
labor precados and produces revolution; that
revolution Is followed by emancipation; and
that in tho uphcaval Of the Bubatratum Of society
thus produced, lie the olemonts OF all aocial
progross.
Ever ainco tho Almighty commanded man to
eat his bread by tho swoat Of his brow, there llaa
boon robe]lton and every doyice that human in
gonuity could invent has boon brought iu to as-
siat Ia evading tho Divine law. Most Of tho mis-
cry md bloodshcd TINT tho race havo suffered
have had thoir origin In this causo ;~aud tho
evils that the American farnor suffers to-day re-
suit from the Same fruitful Hourco; aud It Ia tho
same rebellion ngafnst Divine authority which
impels ono class horo to live upon the sweat and
toll of anothor. But, boforo no consider tho
mission OF tho Grange, or tho way OF oscape
from the difficulties Tint surround tho farmer,
wo will look at tho condition of tho farmer De re
now find him, md to some of the Immediate
causes Of that condition.
OF all claaBos among civilized nations, farmers
havo over boon the most humorous, yet Of al
classes tho tillor of the soil
IS TIE 1,EAsr KNowH.
History records tho exploits OF Kings and ho-
roes; tho inspiration Of the prophet, tho orator,
and tho poot. is transmitted in words that burn,
from generation to generation; the story Of
their loves and hates, their joys and SORROWS,
has descended to us, and Is known to oyery
achoolboy in the land ulilo tho architectural
pile, the oliselod marble, and tho glowing can-
vas immorta1izo tho nauao Of tho artist aud tho
artisan. But what docs history toll us Of tho
farmor7 Where ia tho record Of his aohfeye-
monts7 Who cares to tell tho story Of his Joys
and sorroWs? Where aro tho monuments OF Lis
handiworls? Echo answerB whore!
Tho position Of tho farracr in all agcH Of the
world has boon one Of aoryitude; ho Inns beon
bought aud sold with tho soil ho tills, consti-
tuting an inaliennble part OF tho real oatnto OF
hia ownor: ha hna hnan bought and nold, you
would buy aud sell cnttlo or horaes and, whom
having tho name Of freeman, DO lsaa boon SO
governing clasEes that Ills caso has boon
-. MORE nAnABs1Na AND UNPLEASANT
than that Of tho avowcd slave.
Many cont1lriea ago. tho inspired Apostle de-
clared that God hath uado OF one blood all
NATIONS that dwcll On tho faco OF tho Garth ]"
TINT truth became like the particle of 1eayen TINT
the woman hid in threo measures Of meal. For
century after century, and age after age, that
little truth worked eud -; formontod in the
human mind and henrt, till auothor prophet
nrose, md, in ot|1or words, reiterated tho same
truth; he said, 'Wo hold these truths to bo solf-
evident: TINT h! men aro created equal, aud arc
endowed BY thhtr Creator with certain ina1iou.
able rights, am - which arc life. liberty, mud
tho pursuit OF hapi!neas." This was,tho 6aptis-
mal formula OF o new nation, tho conservation
Of q now government to tho ends and purposes
for winch God designed ali human governments.
But, as ia often tie case, tho so1emn truths thus
solemnly uttered wero anheodcd and, though
thoy proclaimed liborty to tho enslnvod tho slave
felt Ills Chains riyotod all tho tighter, mud ,aor-
yitude continued to be tie lot Of tho tier Of the
tlea proclaimed it through Tic land. fho farinor
Of the North saw tho tlllor Of tho soil at the
South, that his chains wore moro CALLING, his
yoke moro oppressive, tllan his own and,
Ghrfatia'l.liko, he forget his own elfferlngs III
brother. 30 he demanded Of the opprcsHor that
he should break every yoke and let the op-
pressed 60 freo.'' The mandate waB heard
And opEYED;
farmer; moro than anything olBo, that raisad tho
question Of tho abolition Of Slavery, and it was
tue strong arm Of the Northern farmer that
achieved tho victory.
fow years Of rest to restore tho wasted energies,
md tho farmer is again soon preparing for batto.
Oppression, hydra-lleadel, bailleain ono direction
aud apparently H!nin, has turned upon his
destroyer, aud, with its wounds all healod. ro-
news the contest; aud now tho farmcr must
fight for his own lborty, and for tho libertios Of
his own BonB and daughters. Eyor Biuco the
Puritan farmers aot up thair standard on this
contlnent, this has been the grolt battle-ground
betwoen Freedom md Slavery. Campaign after
campaign has been prosecuted, and many md
great victories have boon won for Freedom. Tho
pulpit, tho roBtrum, nnd the tented fields, by
turns, havo been tho arenas OF combat; tho pen
and tho sword have been alternate woapous OF
warfare.
But, in tho struggle now impending, NO hopo
to hoar no roll Of drum or catlnon'a roar, for no
foreign tyrant hna invaded our soil. noithor do
trodlon OF other lands, for all this las boon
done former years but, while wo hayo driven
back tho invader, and while We llnve loosed tho
chains from enslayel millions, silently our own
tettors haye been fto;ged aseathlly lneoualy
WE ARE ENaLAvEp.
When this Government Was organized, 1t waa
4 fasmor'B Government. The signors of tho
Declaration Of eI,'dteponaens,e enc, wore wore mostly 't
woro farmorB; our donoralB, III we'll
aa our private soldiers, came from
the farm; consequently, economy and honesty
characterized the earlier administration OF our
Government. But, as tho nation grew older,
other influences bocamo predominant.
When tho purltana establiahod themselves on
tho bleak shores Of New England, tboir great
purpose was to be FREQ to worship God according
to tho diotatoB Of their own oonsoioncei and NO
enjoy to-day the.ffuit OF their tolls and suffer-
ings. But, while wo aro lroe from priestoraft
aud lingoraft, wo arc bound hand aud foot by
IAWYEh-oRArT AND 1ERolANT~cnAFT;
ind, unlesa we oan rid ourselves OF those now
rhurpors, wo shall fluid our 1attor state to bo
worHo than tho former.
From time imtnomorial, tho lawyer has boon
considered to bo . kind of lligl,-priest OF tile
Devil We tAyo admired him for Lis goui1lB, and
Tor his eallolness, nra huye often mistaken tho
lRttor for the formor. 1t Las boon tho rood old
Puritan custom to make ministers OF pious boy5,
and educate tho roprobates for lawyers and II
thoro was ono In THO family that was too lazy to
work or study, OF him was nude a merchant,
Aud we aro to-day reaping tho bittorfruits Of tis
mistaken system; for. aa q nation, NO haYe