Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1878-11-16
West Virginia state Grange.


Correspondence ofthe wheellngRegister.
Pr. PLEASANT, W. Va, Nov. 8.
According to appointment, the West
Virginia State Grange met at Point Pleas
ant, on Wednesday, November 9Th,
promptly at 10 4. M, and found Master
Kitchen in the chair.
The forenoon was consumed In recelv-
ing reports of the officers and OF the Ike
cutive Committee. Some of these reports
were particularly good, and extracts can
not even be furnished at the present, but
they will, however, all be published In
the printed proceedings.
The Master In his opening address, re-
viewed the situation, took very hopeful
view, and urged upon all present TO con-
tinue the work in the organization which
was to build up the agricultural interests
of our country.
The reports Of the Treasurer and Ex-
ecutIve committee showed the financial
condition Of the order In this State to De
in first class shape, in which it has indeed
been from the beginning. The committee
made some complaint OF the members of
the order in not giving the support they
should TO the business arrangements OF
business way, we must cooperate. The
report of the Secretary showed the order
TO be about holding its own-some char
tiers revoked, some consultations, and
some new grange organized; some "dor-
mant," or uEheard from.
In the "call of the roll by counties"
every member responded in short
speech, and much enthusiasm was Gre
ated. While is some sections the interest
was not as great as formerly, yet not
gloomy or respondent feeling was ex-
pressed, rs 10 the future of the Grange,
by any member.
Some amendments were made TO the
Constitution, and much business was
done of interest only to the members Of
the order, and with which it Is unneces-
saty to burden your columns.
The chief interest Of the second day
was the election of officers for the ensu-
ing two years, and the public address Of
Judge r. l.. Brown, of Ravenswood, who
was born and raised on farm near West
Liberty, in your county, and received his
education ut Bethany College.
Portions Of Judge Browns address
were very eloquent, and all very practi-
cal. lie had read in an Iowa paper few
days since an exultant article, claiming
that the Republican party had triumped
over the Democrats, the Greenbackers,
the Know othings and the Changers.
Ina West Virginia paper he read that
the Democratic party had carried every
thing over the Radicals, the Know-Noth-
ings and the Changers.
While we are not 4 political organiza-
ton, in any sense of the word, yet we
- II L. l. hal lie lie ha in
fluence in our American form Of govern
ment, which is SIN GENERIs, one of its
own kind. Every combination, every
monopoly, the great money powers of our
country, work through the ballot. Yet
we use our influence to purify that. Let
us teach our great political parties to
nominate men who will work for our in
tereSt.
Let farmers and other laboring men
assert themselves. Let US have freedom
from caste, from prejudice and from party
lash. Our condition will be little better
than the former slaves Of the Southern
States if we do not assert ourselves. Party
leaders brought about the war, carried it
on, beggared the country and are still
carrying on their business. Look at our
country, at the Fast with its idle mills
long list of bankrupts. Look ut the South,
there she lies in all her melancholy maj
esty, scarcely better than conquered
province. Turn to the West, where the
farmer cannot raise the means to travel
over the mono policing railroads, as much
bound down to his daily toll as the his
torical galley slave.
Ny countrymen, can these things be,
are we men and suffer these things? We
the patrons of the noblest occupation on
earth? How my heart thrills at the
thought Of what we are not, but what we
should be. What greater, what more in
teresting subject than man in his connec-
ton with the earth, agriculture, the most
interesting, the greatest, the only interest
upon which all Others hinge.
Earth it is the birthplace and tomb Of
man-all for his home, occupation, use
and enjoyment. Its minerals, Its pro-
ducts, its forests, and pastures assist him
on his journey. Its mountains, hills,
rivers, old ocean and its melancholy
waste" are but adornments to the tomb
of man. All substance comes from the
tiller of the soil. 1t is the only employ
ment concerning, which command Is CIV
en- in Holy Writ, the only occupation
coming direct from nature. All else Is
subservient to agriculture.
Man is social. There is no real bappi-
ness except that derived from his social
being; government, as well as society
itself, depends upon this.
In this country each class Is engaged In
aggrandizing its own power and influence
to gain strength. The agriculturist must
do this or he will lag behind In the race
for life. We as farmers are more depen-
dent than the serfs of Russia In many re-
spects. We do not belong to any class Of
men who would be guilty Of any innova-
tion on the rights OF any man or body Of
men. But with the greatest country, tho
greatest aggregation Of brains ever known
in history, let us be up and doing.
People in society have grades Of respec-
liability, and farmers are placed down,
degraded by false notions Of society. The
young man as he grows up wants to get
into better society, and he leaves the farm.
We are sneered at by those little fellows
who are raised in the shade, who set up
our political pins and make our platform
for us, and 60 around singing, when they
want our votes,
az want to be Granger
And with the Changers stand,
With the hay-seed In my hair