Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1876-05-13


The domestic circle must be the seat
OF love, purity and peace-concord must
predominant so that the weary laborer
may find rest of body and of mind. Its
rays OF love should penetrate every sur
rounding, its purity of example should
lead all to cheerful discharge of duty,
its peaceful councils should interest aud
impress all who come under its intlu-
ence, the merry laugh, the innocent
amusements, the pert jests, and instruc-
tive readings, should be SO planned and
executed as to fascinate all.
If fair percentage of the same
thought, expense and device was exer-
cised and resorted to, to make life in
the country pleasant, as is done in the
towns and cities, there would be vastly
less complaint and dissatisfaction with
it. The time will come through the
ordinary mutation of things and i'm
proved thought when the hacienda will
be abandoned, and the stately mansion
and nesting cottage will adorn our
highways in such close proximity that
the gay salute of the gleeful youth will
cheer his neighbor.
With the modern improved applian-
ces with which husbandry can be sup
piled by ordinary exertion and moder-
ate outlay, much of the drudgery
and yexatious toll which our ancestors
endured in farm life is obviated.
would say to the yoang ladies and
gentlemen of the country, congratulate
yourselves that you do not live in the
crowded city, where vice, immortality
and crime, in all their. painfully hideous
detormity most abound, demoralizing
and distorting by its pestiferous atmos-
phere the purity and comeliness of I'M
contaminated character. True charac-
ter as embodied in the chaste, modest,
unpretending country lass, and the truth
full, upright, gentlemanly and persever-
ing lad, is something noble and worthy
of admiration.
Brethren; l will now introduce the
question, Why should not the Farmers
have an organization and act in concert
for their best interests Why is it that
the Grange, which is simply an organi
cation of farmers for social, intellectual
and seICprotecting purposes is so severe
ly criticised and scotfed at by the parti-
gan press and by many professional
men and tradesmen? Have not the
lawyers, doctors, merchants, manufac-
turers and mechanics their respective
organizations, and who questions their
right to do so, or their motive for hav-
ing them. Then why, | ask, this OPP
position to the farmers organizing?
Suppose it is for a purpose, and for that
purpose they choose to meet together
even by mystical signs-and discuss
them; who has any right to question
their motives or designs, so long as they
commit no overt act against the laws OF
society, their State or country. There
need be no antagonism, each class has
its specific rights, yet the laws OF soclc-
ty are SO grandly harmonized, as to
make each dependent upon the other.
| claim, however, that the HHer c}Me
soil, is the indispensable and oil impor-
iant corner stone, and as such should
under architectural law fulfil its tunc-
ton in determining the shape of the
superstructure. The agriculturists as q
class are as liberal, patriotic and intel
ligent as any other class, and the pres
ent general Investigations going on all
over our country.in town, city, country,
State and general government Trauds,ex-
hibit the gratifying fact that no farmer
has stained his hands or sullied his char
acter 10y being mixed up with wrong
doing either in Congress or State legis-
lature.
Great and cheering consolation, such
as should make US feel proud of, and
attach us to our profession. 1t should
command our highest gratitude to the
Preserver of all good. and challenge the
admiration of all other classes. The
history of the past bears the same con-
firmatory evidence, as illustrated in the
purity of our agricultural statesmen.
Washington, Jefferson, Madison and
Monroe were all tillers of the soil of
this venerable commonwealth. Would
to God we could call back upon the
stage of action those grand exemplars,
to impress the stupid with wisdom, the
corrupt with integrity, the vacillating
with stability, and the dishonest with
honesty. 1t was such men that gave
high prestige to our calling, and from
its purifying inspiration they doubtless
drew many of their noblest sentiments.
A half century ago, the farmers were
the sovereigns-and although it may
conflict with the popular sentiment Of
to-day-yet it was proper and right they
should be; for our national statistics
show that they are numerically the pre-
ponderating class, and our assessment
books show that they greatly exceed
any other class in tax paying. They
also, represent the only two natural
sources ofwealth, viz {: Land and Labor,
and it is upon these hypothesis, | claim,
they should put forth their representa-
tive men. Now DO not start, and ex-
claim that mean to plunge the Grange
into the corrupt vortex of politics! L
do mean to say, however, that the far
mers as class must protect themselves
from the utter and irretrievable ruin
into which they are fast being plunged
by the corruptions of the modern poll
ticians; they have no other alternative,
nay, they need no other than to draw
on their own rank and file. You have
men here, who are as capable of being