The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-11-21
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rt,sstlre forever. tateyeT IlessS. ~ 49,, - y
iieS eat, he devised by the n staonai. slabse
win reference to our members ~ ,, shsss
nlaeue,stricken localities trust VII YIN p 70
done during this session.
In regard 70 S
FOREIGN coRREspo spEScE,
( 40 Master saws IL is presumed that the
WORTHY Re;,resentatlye OF the National
!. Grange 10 the Dominion Grange OF Canada
{ win 9Sc able 10 give 1iattering account OF
The. order there It may be questionable
whether American Grange seed can DC uli,-
ICED and made TO bring forth hnnareu-
. fold I'm foreign countries, and wnetner Tue
character OF the seed will not be sue.i tnal
the climate, soil, and atmosphere VIII os
urfayorable to its Introduction anu pIsi a',
CATION wherever attenptetl. me ,tlnie may :.s
come, however, II the Grange Is true 70 ~, Us
,n;ssion In this country--if edueatton is dis-
Z een,inafed. and religious intolerance dlssi-
na,ed in Europe--if absolute monarchtes
h become more liberal in form and in iact--if
fine internal spirit oil communism Is over
whetned and snnihilated by noble, ra-
fiopai pafr,otisn,, that our peaceful! society
NAV rain nermanent foothold, and spread
lite benign influences over lands now be-
nirhted With superstition, bigotry, serfuom,
and despetism.
sECRETARY's OFFICE.
The adoption of the recommendation OF
tba Executive Committee by the Natlona!
Grange at the last session simply making
the Secretary responsible for the archives
OF The National Grange, and allowing him
To locate his office at such place as will be
most convenient for him." was, in my judy.
ment, grave error. The word "archives"
can be construed to mean only the records,
and hence by the action above reclteds.ne
secretary was no longer the custodiau OF OF
/ accountable for the other properly :Delong-
ing to the National Grange. IL matters not
that the merchandise was OF lttie OF no
value. or that supplies nowadays are FUR
nisbed almost entirely by State secretaries
II, many States, the factis, nevertheless, that
co long rs there is National Grange there
always will be'applications made to the Sec
retary for information and for needed artl-
cles. and he should be able to answer him.
tied demands or to impart such knowledge
where appliances may be had, that the num-
biest member residing in the most remote
part OF our country may be reasonably sat
isf;e6. To-day we have an incubus binding
and weighing upon the National Grange
till January J., 1882. in the shape OF lease
Of building: in Louisville. and we nave
contracted to pay rent according to the terms
Of the agreement, amounting to nearly three
thousand dollars, for which no benefit is re-
ceived--and yet we have no headquarters,
no home. The secretary's Office should be
located at some central point, accessible to
the Muster, Executive Committee. and the
members OF the order generally. Exigen-
cies might arise when the records should
be examined by proper authority-when.
changes and corrections in the management
OF his Office should be made-and how, |
ask, can these things be done if the secre-
tary should happen perchance to select
residence upon some enchanted Island amid
the fegs and mists OF obscurity's ocean?
IL the order is dead, it would seem fitting
TO dig its grave, deposit its remains, and
permit some kind friend to erect suitable
monument to mark its resting-place; II
living, then itishould certainly have local
habitation, home, . be it ever so humble"
Former Masters all along have felt the ne
cessity Of urging this important matter upon
the attention OF the National Grange. and
they did not fail to do their duty. Some
thing more than desire '.to follow in the
steps OF my illustrious predecessors i'm
pels me to repeat their requests, for deem
it matter OF paramount consequence.
Wisdom demands that our steps be re-
traced, the present condition OF affairs be
rectiied, and such legislation be bad in this
respect as shall tend to solidify and perpet-
uate the organization.
THE FUNDS.
Much has been said from time to time
relative to the disposition made OF the funds
OF the National Grange. Curiosity bias
prompted me to examine somewhat intothls
matter, and I find there has been paid back
to the several States about $4,000 in the
form Of transformations, and for the adjust
ment of dues and charitable purposes about
$4,000 more, making in all 100000 which
has been returned to the States from the
treasury OF the National Grange.
The secretary and the treasurer will lay
before you in due season their respective
reports, from which may be learned the
present condition OF the order, and the re-
ceipts and disbursements during the past
year. From these reports it will also be
discerned that the plan inaugurated at the
last session to return one-bali of the fees for
new oranges formed has not been attended
with the degree OF success predicted. 1t
really seems to me, if we would hope for
deeper root and more permanent growth,
we must water better and tend more faith
fully the plants we already have.
COOPERATION.
What shall be said upon the subject OF
co6peration? One thing is certain, that
without correct knowledge Of and strict
adherence to its principles the fate, Of our
Grange stores the efficiency and reliability
OF our State agencies, and the prospect OF
international associations are all easily con-
jectured and determined. The capabilities
Of the so-called businessman " Of the
order have not been over-estimated, but the
probabilities are there will be no great real
izations until greater comprehension, and
c'oser cohesion shall be developed through
the education and experience Of the men,
bers Mt large. There must be creeping TO-
gether before there is much 'twalking to-
gether." There should be posted in every
Grange in the country, in living characters,
this motto =" United zoe stand divided zee
fall"
There will be no sure and practical intel
leetual progress without an understanding
and observance of the principles OF CO.
operation. Thage will be no social deyel-
opment without s. we meet together and
talk together The legislation of the
country is to-day discriminating largely in
favor of capital and corporations, and hence
the burdens Of government are thrust upon
the backs OF the poorer classes.
The direct and uumistakable tendency is
to. make the rich richer, and the poor
poorer.
How shall any remedy he reached except
through cooperation
When transportation companies impose,l
rates exceeding q fair remuneration for
money invested and labor employed, the |
excess is nothing more or less than direct
tax levied upon the producer and collected |