The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-06-22
COL. smEpLEY,s LECTURE.

COL. SMEDLEY's LECTURE.
The address of Col. A. B. Smedley, Of
Iowa, Lecturer of the National Grange, was
delivered in the Court House on Tuesday
last, before small audience Of farmers and
business men, with few ladies to grace the
occasion. It is matter of regret that the
farmers were too busy with their crops and
repairing the damage caused by the late
rains to give him an audience worthy of his
effort. which was q plain, practical and con-
servative talk upon the aims, objects and
purposes of the Patrons of Hnsbandry. We
will not attempt a synopsis of his address,
and will only glance at the salient points.
He said that Ibis organization was founded
in truth, justice and the necessities of the
human family. Other callings long since
learned the importance of organization, but
the farmer was the Last to perceive the ne
cessity, which he attributed to their. isola-
ton. In enumerating the necessities which
brought about this effort to organize among
the farmers, he adverted to the tendency of
all things to Capitalization, and cited as an
example the mighty power concentrated in
the railway system of the country, by which
it was made possible for an aggregation of
immense capital to oppress and tyrannize
over the producers, which power was
virtually welded by six or eight persons,
who were kings and princes among men.
The education of young men was necessary
to enable them to keep pace with the ad-
vanced Improvements of the world, and the
education of farmers sons most essential in
this calculation. In q moral aspect, it was
a necessity to put down corruption in gov
erpmental affairs and set aside trading poll
ticians who made politics business. He
then alluded to the power of the press in its
bearing upon this point, and said that the
local press every where was the friend Of the
order, because it was owned and edited by
those who were in hourly contact with the
farmers, while the great metropolitan dailies,
in the habit of debating to conventions and
manipulating politicians, never looked with
favor upon an organization which would
make itself felt among the people. The
Grange received the sneers' an Il jibes .of
those not c6fnpnehending II; mission at the
outset, but there siwere none who could
reasonably object to the declaration Of pur-
poses put forth by the National Grange,
which was grand document, full of wis.,
dom, and deserved to rank with the Declara-
ton of Independence. It is not reyolu-
tionary in its character and seeks not to de-
stroy, but to foster and build up every in
terest-the basis 210f all being agriculture.
Differing from AL :others in this respect, it
seeks to bring woman to her proper sphere
of usefulness and adornment in society, and
its triumphant success must bethat the male
members walk hand in hand with their
wives, mothers, sisters and daughters.
The practical results to be achieved are
three-fold. 1.isocial; 2. Educational; 8.
Business, which is an outgrowth or an Incl
dent following the others. These points
were elaborated by the speaker, and pro-
duced fine impression amongst his hearers.
He said that the farmer needs social eleya-
ton and enjoyment, and received too little
social culture, which deficiency the Grange
sought to supply. and that any life purely
material was a sad failure. The educational
feature deserved to be magnified; it is wide,
broad and deep in its meaning. More than
any other class the farmers need education
to qualify them for the discharge of duties
as citizens, and as they are most numerous
in this country, they need to be taught their
relations to government. As an organiza-
ton, the Grange can never mix in partisan
politics. but there are questions of political
economy which rightfully merit place in
its discussions, in order to create public SEN
timent, which was more powerful than the
aggregation of capital or its corrupting in
fluences.
In regard to the business feature of the
Grange, Col. smedley said that he imagined
no one has made the mistake to suppose
that this organization was intended to make
money. If any one conceived such an idea,
it would be better for him to direct his at
tention to making money outside of the
order, for it was never designed that his
wishes were to be gratifed within the Or
ganization. The saving of money in buy
ing and selling was only an incident of the
fraternity, which was neither new or origi-
nal with its founders. Cooperation is the
foundation of all successful movements,
and every great and important movement in
its general bearing could not thrive without
cooperative effort. This system had been
in operation more than forty years in Eng
land, and was spreading all over France,
Germany and Switzerland, without injuri-
Gus effect upon any class of business, among
the producers of those countries. Intelli-
gent and vigorous cooperation among
farmers would not antagonize any other
class, and the objects of the Grange are not
comprebended when such an impression
was produced. He closed with On eloquent
appeal to the members to preserve their
organization, and persevere in all that per-
tains to its welfare, progress and improve
ment.
TO CANDIDATES AND THEIR FRIENDS.
We desire to remind candidates and their
friends that all nominations for office are