The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1879-07-26
FROM THE MASTER OF THE
MISSISSIPPI STATE GRANGE.
FAYErrE, Miss. Iuly X. 1870.

Essa. FAYETTE, Miss, July IS, 1879.
Bro. WoRTHINGToN: In his recent able ad-
dress before the Literary Societies of the Univer-
slty of Mississippi, the Hon. Wiley P. Harris,
while urging upon the young gentleman of that
institution true patriotism, pointed out to them
the most effective channels in which to direct their
efforts. This energsing public spirit he says,
sometimes displays itselfin individual effort. 'But
it mainly takes body from nourishment and
growth in associated effort" sit is my desire,
young gentlemen" he says, "to impress you with
this truth. These societies bring out the resources
and energies of country and. direct them
'There have been at work some causes to diinin-
ish our reliance on this great machinery, of which
shall speak after awhile;n and near his concu-
sion states, Il am confronted in my plea for soc-
ETY. work by the failure of the Grange. That Or
ganization failed everywhere from the same
causes. 1t had naught to do with the methods of
agriculture. 1t separated our great interest from
all others, and was in spirit militant. 1t made
war upon those engaged in trade and transporta-
ton, and in attempting to break down monopoly,
menaced free competition. 1t did rot propose TO
teach, but to govern, and fell from its inherent
defects. The Societies which recommend, pro-
they promote flourish most when those which sur
round them flourish most" 5Hf ss
The speaker states without qualification that the
Grange has failed. His judgment in the case must
proceed from a preconceived idea of what the
Grange should be or should have been. That it
may have fallen short of what his conception of
what an agricultural society should be, we are
free to admit Those who organized the Order
of Patrons of Husbandry, published to the world
a declaration of the objects they had in view. 1t
would be we'll for both those who favor and those
who oppose the Grange to examine this Declara-
ton. -.f.tt. - Is.
In it, it will be found that one of our specific
objects is to improve the methods of agriculture
and we leave it for careful observers to say wheth
er the teachings of the Grange are not bringing
''out the energies of the people in the develop
ment of those industries and branches of agricul-
ture which do not require SO many laborers, and
which will attract different class of laborers-
sheep husbandry, fruit culture, stock raising, the
production of grain and forage, the dairy" 1t
will also be found that besides the development
ofagrculture there are methods proposed which
had in view the alleviation of unjust burdens inn
posed upon this industry. The two may go along
together, but development can never proceed un-
til the locks and hindrances removed.
The Declaration says: "For our business inter
ests desire to bring producers and consumers,
farmers and manufacturers, into the most direct
and friendly relations possible. Hence must
dispense with surplus ofmiddlemen, not that we
are unfriendly to them, but we do not need them.
Their surplus and their exactions diminish our
profits" Here comes in ''war' with trade
and the wise observer must long since have re-
marked that unless some agency should intervene,
the producer of this country must at no distant
day cease to have any voice in the disposition OF
his productions. The Glange is this agency, and
by bringing to light, through its educational de-
partmen- the impositions practiced upon agricul-
tursts, in moving and exchanging their prodnc-
tions, the vast sums expended unnecessarily, by
descountenancing ''the credit system, the mort
gage system, the fashion system, and every other
system tending to prodigality and bankruptcy
has saved its members much money, but more
than all, it has inaugurated better system among
those who have come under its influence, than
could possibly have been attained without its
useful teachings.
To still farther husband our resources, we now
recommend the cooperative plan of doing busi
ness which has succeeded SO admirably in Eng
land. In this attitude towards ''trade" we moi
actuated by spirit of aggression, but of self pro
| lection. While we are free to admit that we have
not accomplished all that we desired, or all tina
we yet hope to accomplish in correcting the er
rors of the present system of trade, yet we woule
ask of those most intrusted, if the GRANGE HA: