The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-03-07

Vt TIC tAt4 "AtN E-III
Alamance Leads Oh.


Or. Montgomery addressed the Cit
zens at Company Shops. by invitation.
Saturday, the 10th inst, on the present
wants and necessities of the county
de commenced by saving these sub
lects was better suited To such men as
Daniel Webster, Henry Clay and John
o. calhoun than himself.
lie said perhaps the first great wan
Of our people was a better appreciation
OF the Christian religion, also a better
appreciation of education. and If posi-
bic a better system of public instruc-
ton or Its speedy adjustment from
our statute books that subscription
schools might take their place and do
the work required.
He spoke of education as being the
ground work and main foundation of
all that was high and noble in man /:
that 1t put IN action every impulse of
the human heart and mind, and was
all that was required to set up and put
in constant and rapid motion every
principle hat tends to build up a peo-
pie IN wisdom, strength and power !:
that nothing else could do it, and with
out 1t individuals. states and govern
ments could not prosper. He said edu-
cation was one great feature in the
grange and urged cooperation of all
classes to accomplish this great work.
lie spoke OF agriculture as being the
oldest and noblest occupation OF man.
and thought it was less understood in
a scientific point of view than any
other industrial interest. He re
marked that as a body farmers ignored
everything like information or knowl-
edge in their business and went it on
I h4Il- n yr-n I,an1- y 49, .l,4I.
own poisonous bait. He argued that
schools and all other industrial enter
prises We're dependent upon the agri-
cultural products of the country for
existence and support, and again
urged cooperation Of every interest
for the mutual good of all.
He stated that manufacturers were
not opposed to the grange, that they
We're generally We'll informed and
knew their dependence on labor for
the raw material to manufacture. He
believed as a class they desired TO see
the grange prosper, because of their
efforts to build up the industrial in
terests OF ali classes, especially that of
agriculture. lie said the grange had
given the people OF North Carolina the
agricultural department, and a man of
brains at the head of it who would
soon develop the resources of the State.
He spoke OF the Importance of some
change in the mode and manner of
keeping up the pvblic roads. He be-
lieved every body was now in favor of
the next Legislature giving full and
ample protection to sheep husbandry.
He said the railroads in North Caro-
lima We're built for the accommodation,
convenience and benefit of her citi-
zens. That while almost with every
change of the moon the pay of officers
had been increased the wages Of me-
chanics and employees had been re-
duced. This same policy having been
practlced elsewhere gave rise to the
strike n year ago, resulting in the
destruction OF millions OF dollars worth
OF property to the citizens of the
United States.
During the time Of drumming up
stock for these soulless corporations
the people were promised fresh fish
for breakfast every morning at prices
so low that they could not afford to do
without them. That in olden times
when they We're hauled 80 to 200
miles by wagon Shad could be bought
for : to ID cents a piece, now with a
semI-dally communication by rail to
OuI cdSlcIU waters we Cd1 rarely eve
get them at all. and when we do they
cost US from 10 cents to $3.50 a pair.
He believed the high price was not
from any scarcity but because of the
middle men who was standing between
the producer and consume at every
depot between Company Shops and
the Atlantic coast.
The custom of constituting at
torneys, judges and members of the
legislature as dead-heads by means Of
free passes to ride over their roads is
creating IN alarm in the minds of the
people who are slow to believe it an
act OF charity. for many of them are
well to do in the world and are other
wise provided for. Now they must
have some other reason or motive for
their extreme liberality. and that mo-
tive or object very clearly and forcibly
suggests itself to the minds of the
masses.
For these evil practices and the I'M
just discrimination on local freights
and travel against the citizens of North
Carolina the people viii appeal to the
next Legislature for relief.
SHIBOLETH.