Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-01-23
Vermont Dairymen's Association.
TIE MILTON MEETING.

an excellent attendance, Willcn Ill tue al
ternoon increased to between two and
three hundred dairymen and dairywomen,
including gentlemen from all the towns
in this county, and from Franklin, Grand
Isle, Lamolle, Windsor and other coun-
ties.
The meeting was called to order by
Hon. E. D. Mason, president of the asso'
citation, and opened with prayer by Rev.
j. II. Woodward.
C. w. Writer'S, Esq, of Milton, then
welcomed the association, in very hand
some manner.
President Mason then addressed the AS
sociation rs follows:
PRESIDENT MASoN's ADDRESS.
Ladies and Gentlemen Of the Dairy
mems Associations Allow me to congratu-
late you on the bountiful production of
the farm and dairy.
Whence comes this tide of gold now
sitting towards us from the old World?
Whence comes this morning light-ths
faint glimmering sign of daybreak to our
business prosperity? The answer is writ
ten on every railroad train, on every ele
valor and storchouse of trade, on every
custom.housr, on every ship and steamer
loaded at the dock The farmer, and
danymeB Of Amerjca hurc produced q
surplus which the world wants in cX-
change for gold. If we would keep up
this flow Of gold to our shores, we must
make such goods rs our neighbors want
and are willing to pay for. And LIT Us all
strive at these meetings, to So teach that
we may reap rich reward not only fin IL
cially but morally and intellectually.
While may not have contributed any
appreciable amount of personal service in
the great work this association has been
instituted to conserve, | have watched the
progress our dail ying has been achieving
through your eXertions and Investigations
with an increasing interest; and have
never failed to honor and support the
worthy men who have devoted so much of
time and talent to So glorious a work
How much of pure, unmiXed satisfaction
| have lost by not takingn part in your
discussions, no man in all your number
knows better than | do.
The moral influence of this convention
is unmpeachable. BY no possibility can
your discussions result in anything in de-
rogation of the truthfulness, the material
interests, OF the kindly relations of men.
Your every purpose is upright, and has in
it the true essence of human charity. You
intend to bring forth by your labors what
was not here before. No indirection, no
circumventing lodges, no reaping where
you have not sown, no prospering at the
sacrifice or over the downfall Of others,
can ever mark the history of these meet
ings.
For nine years l have from this seat
been IN instructed and interested observer
of your deliberations, and taxing my
memory am unable to recall one word
one act, one suggestion, approved by your
body, which meant i'll to any interest OF
any man.
How much of sterling good do sec
that in this time you have accomplished
Beginning in circumscribed sphere,
with restricted notions of what the dairy
men and farmers of Vermont really need
ed, and feeble conceptions Of the possibi
ites of the agencies you were in the fu
ture destined to evoke, we see to-day, in
the Vermont Dairymen's Association, Il
power and influence that are felt through.
out every neighborhood in the State
The best professional talent and the
most weighty political influence had utter
ly failed in imprcssing upon the public
mind the importance of certain needed re
forms. In the agricultural and dairyine
states these reforms were ut last to be left
to and sustained by the dairymen and til.
lers of the soil
Until this association had mustered its
members and generated certain force,
which it seemed no Other power could, all
plans for any broad and sympathetic com
munication between the intelligent reform
er and the masses, in a great measure fail
ed. But how is it now? Go back in voul
memories twenty years and see how fal
behind us we have left old and hurtful no
tons. With what wonder do you now
look upon the farmer or dairyman who
still keeps on trying to demonstrate tho
fact that something may be made from
nothing, and that his lands may be made
to feed him without his reciprocally feed
ing his lands! | might enumerate in de-
tail very many results we have accom-
plished, all tending directly TO a glorious
future for Vermont dairy husbandry. We
have still much to accomplish, And we
must have the means of more extensive
communication with the public through
larger representations in this association
The people who cannot come TO your meet
ings must have the benefit of what is done
and taught in these sessions, and at thei
homes reduce to practical effect what the
leading spirits of your body have practc
ed and enjoyed. Your plan of forma
lectures on allotted subjects meets my en-
tire approval, and bespeak for the system
increased support and wider range o
effort.
When these outgivings from the bcs
thought and most carefully garnered eX
perlence of the leading inleleets of th
body shall be the common property of oul
dairymen, we shall see results of cultur,
of all sorts that will cheer and gladder
the hearts of many who have labored il
great detection heretofore,
Ladies and gentlemen Of the association
vast us the material interests are of whicl
you, more than any other class, are mad
the conservators, they do not equal til,
moral and social interests which you AZ,
called on to uphold.
The erection of the home and the life
long care of its best interest is the hes
training for the patriot. And we win
know all about the labor and pains takin!
of establishing home IN the countr,
must be allowed to be the best Judges O
the delights and value of such rcstin!
place.
The farmer, | have always thought
should be the best of man and citizen
His dealings are with nature, that nursin!
mother of us all His minstering angel
are the blessed dews and showers and sun
shine. The tree, under whose maiesti
form he grows up from the earliest child
hood the bountiiul soil he has subdued
the scenes and landmarks of his neighbor
hood, should fix him to the spot and max
him willing and ready to defend HON
and its blessings to the last. These be
nign influences should also teach him tina
unless they are sustained by moral and GO
cial virtues, it is in vain that the wilder
ness blossoms as the rose"
What is it to one of noble type {
manhood that his material wants are sur
piled, if all else is ignored or lostp Wha
if the soil gives out its fairness, when tn
soul is leanp What boots it if peopl
abound and super-abound in wealth, if tn
lack of moral qualities makes propert