Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1875-08-14

y
am, with assurances of kind c9n
sideration for Macona Grange aa.d
yourselves individually,
Very Respectfully Yours,
+. IL. u. TAYLOR:
THE ADDRESS.
Brothers and Sisters Of Nacoao
Grdnge-Ladies and Gentlemen:
TO the members of the Grange
tender my sincere Acknowledgements for
the consideration they have manifes.
ted towards me, in the cordial invita-.
tion which they have given me to al.
dress them on the present occasion.
1 assure you that the compliment Is
all the more gratifying, inasmuch as
it proceeds from many whom | have
known, and with whom | have asso-
ciated, in the prosperous days of the
past, before the dread tempest of war
had swept over and desolated our once
fair and beautiful land.
l appear before you with no inteb-
tion Of attempting rhetorical display
or of endeavoring to captivate your
fancy, with gracefully rounded periods
and elaborately finished sentences,
tut simply to give you plain, practi-
cal talk upon the subject of agricul-
iure and 1.-The Grange" !
Agriculture lies at the foundation
of every pursuit in life. We would
but feebly express its Importance,
were we TO say that without it al!
other avocations would dwindle and
die. We might with perfect proprie,
ty affirm that, without it, they could
really have no existence. They are
founded upon, exist by and derive
their vitality from it.
The stamp Of his approval was
placed by the Almighty himself upor
agricultural or horticultural labor in
asmuch as We are led to infer from
the teachings Of the Book of Inspira
tion that the material design of man
creation was 10 It'll the ground.
Labor was not imposed upon him al
q punishment for his transgressiun
1t was assigned to him while be wa
pure; but after he sinned and fell, th
ground, we are told, was cursed fu
bis sake, aud made to bring fort
thorns and tbistles and noxiou
weeds-and. as a consequence, w
presume, IN later years. striped potat
bugs and cotton worus.
Individual and national wealth
ave, We may say, individual and IA
tional life-are upheld and sustaine
by the labor of the huSbandman. Il
sunshine and in storm, through hea
and through cold, he tolls, in obed
ence to the stern command of hi
Creator, In the sweat of thy fac
shalt thou eat bread" and upon th
aggregated results eulauating fron
this great fountain depends the vital
ty of the nations of the earth.
Since. then, agriculture is SO essen
tial to the suslenance Of the human
family, we might very reasOnabl
conclude that it would not only occu
py preeninent position in the est
nation Of mankind, but that th
material results of his labor woul
be, to the farmer. commensurate wit
the magnitude of his calling. But d
we find such to be the case? Doe
the faithful follower Of the plow rea
thet rich pecuniary reward whic
atteuds the lab0rs 0f those engage
in the other avocaiions Of lifey Ho,
painful aud huniilisiing soever 1t ma,
be, we are forced 10 answer this inter
rOgatory in the negative. This i
more particularly the case in thi
country. In Great Britain, where th
law Of Primogeuiture invests certain
individuals with larger landed estate.
aud the same law gives them positio
in the higher branch Of the legislatur
Of the kingdom, and where the otbe
House of Parliament is compose,
mainly of country gentlemen. who's
property consists largely of res
estate, this great interest has eve
been more literally encouraged an
more jealously guarded than with u
But how anomalous and how unre,
sonable is the condition of thing
which We find to-day existing through
out this country. Agriculture lal
guishes, and agi cultural pursuits d
not yield that rich reward whic