The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1875-09-11
THE CHANGERS PICNIC.

Vi ABOUT TWO lnOuSdnu, dSscHulcu 1T HUE
Grove, in South Ottawa, and had their annu
al picnic. About two thousand people wer
present at one o'clock when the speaking
began, the picnic dinners having been prev
ously discussed.
At one o'clock the asscnblage was caile'
to order by w. III. II. Holdridge, of Tonica
chairman Of the day. The Ottawa bras
band having dlscoursed some pretty goo(
music, prayer was offered ny Bro, 5. J.
Bangs, and an address of ten minutes il
length was delivered by J. S. Armstrong
ESQ, of Mission, State Treasurer Of the Or
der. we took full notes of this and the 9th
er speeches, but as we were just going t.
press when the proceedings were not ye
closed, we are obliged to content ourself Will
the brefest mcntion.) lie gave the origin OF
the grange as coming from Scotchman
named Saunders, who on coming to this
country, discovered that all branches of in
dustry except the farmer had societies or
guilds, and that the agriculturalist had none
and as everything else depends upon the til.
Ter Of the soil, and he seemed the prey OF
every other trade, he, too, should have so
ciety, hence the grange.
lie rebuked the farmer for one serious
fault He does not honestly and promptly
pay his small debts. He allows himself TO
owe the merchant when he can well afford to
pay. They let them run and the merchant
knowing this to be custom of the farmer,
gets even by either charging interest or add
ing TO the price. He alluded to the resolu-
ton of the national grange excluding men
from holding the offices OF Ceres, Pomona
and Flora in the grange. He advised The
grange to avoid politics.
MR.. HOLDRIGE
also did very we'll in brief speech. His
topic was "'The grange as a social and moral
educator" He showed how in old times the
pioneers of this county frequently met at log
raisings and "bees" of various kinds, in
which there was free comminglng of all
Then there was mutual dependence upon
one another and every one was honest. But
times changed and avarice came among the
people. Selfshness grew up and the social
feeling died away. Neighbor strifcs began
to occur, and lawyers came to encourage or
create litigation Now, however, the grange
is destined to restore the old happy condition
Of affairs.
REV. s. L. BANGS
spoke briefly. He thought no business what.
,ver requires more general knowledge than
If a carpenter, blacksmith, tailor, shoe
maker, printer, sc. His education should be
many sided, but as it is he thinks he only
reeds to know how to handle the pillow, milk
lis cows, and drive his grain to market and
igure what it comes to. We must educate the
armer, He must study how to keep interest
lown and make taxes low. He must study
he relationship between labor and capital
should find just how much taxes are nccessa
y to be paid to run the government honestly
md economically, ard pay it promptly and
lot one penny more.
Vocal music was given by the Rutland
range club, Mr.. @. Thompson, leader. The
Tub consists of tour ladies and three gentle.
nen. They did most admirably.
DAVID WARD WOOD, ESQ.
# the Western Rural, at Chicago the orator
# the day, followed in an eloquent-a flow.
ry, pOetical effort of an hours length. We
i've an idea of his style by the opening sen.
,nce. Nearly one hundred years have left
leir impress upon this our nation and gilded
with its splendid grandeur" He drew
lcture between a vast wilderness Of prairie
nd forest as compared with fields of golden
rain, and towns and cities, the result of pro.
ress All this change came from the mighty
esources of our soil. Our railroads, canals,
umerous cities and improvements every,
here come from the soil-the $4,000 miles
railroad, 10000 miles of telegraph, the 49,.
10000 of people have increased from a mere
hip load and subsequent immigration all at,
acted here and supported by our rich fields
nd gardens. The 100000 of farms, the s..
OO,OOO,O6O of acres of ground in cultivation,
ave made our nation what it Is. Acricul.
Ire is tho worlds greatest necessity and
lessing, and everything borrows its strength
nj beauty from the labor Of the farmer. He
aced the rapid development made in new .
lachinery for the farmer in the last thirty
ears He pointed out every danger as com.
Il from class legislation and enormorous
interest as well as corrupt official conduct. 4
lie depicted the enormous power oft
ordinations in rings by railroads and other ,
and gave figures to show how {
Enormously people are taxed, each per
on In the country paying tax of 1897 an. 1
ually and each producer $50 per year. which {
ddng together all public and private debt 9
he sum comes up TO the enormous figure {
f S433 per year TO every one in the land 4!
Ills conclusion was an eloquent tribute to
ne usefulness and character of the grange
pom the members and society in general.
He WAS followed by Mr. Thos pnrtar ,vhnl