The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1879-09-13
THE GRANGERS' PICNIC AT
GRANVILLE, MICHIGAN.
MIR. wHITEHFAD'S 8

Mn. w HIIEHEAD > rSREECH.
Mortimer Whitehead, Lecturer of the
National Grange, said he was glad to see
SO many farmers, patrons aad friends
present on this location; he thanked all
present tor his kind and cordial welcome;
his reception throughout the State had
been one grand ovation, for all of which
| take this occasion to thank our friends.
Our great Order is going forward, never
progressing as much as at present. The
advance of this great Order, unlike that
of an army to battle, in its onward march
leaves behind no widows tears nor or
phan's cries; its numbers are rather in
creased than diminished. 1t is we'll for
us to meet, and to meet often in such
pleasant places, amid fruits and flowers,
after the labors of our harvest. I am glad
to say the Order is being more and more
respected as it adds years to its organiza-
ton. This respect is attaching to the
Grange all over the country, and since it
is becoming known that the Grange came
not to tear down but to build up all re-
spectacle trade and profession of every
class and kind that depends upon this
greatest of all interests-Ag
The Grange seeks the general prosper
ity of the people, and is gradually gaining
the respect of those outside the gate The
Grange in its infancy met with most siren
uous opposition. This was not strange
All great reforms have their opposition.
Farmers have even fought against build
ing railroads, but were i'll favor of build
ing canals, for canals would run by horses
and make a market for the farmers feed,
while railroads would soon drive all the
horses out of the country. Sewing ma
chimes had their opposers for the reason
that they would work an injury to the
seamstress and drive them into idleness.
Experience has taught that they are Of
greater benefit to the sewing girl than to
any other class of our people.
SO there was an objection to the fam
ming mill at the time of their introduction.
Preachers actually preached against their
use, and one minister addressed his audi
encc with these words: 1t is sacrilege for
men to thus attempt to manufacture what
God Almighty freely makes for our use.
Do you not believe that when the Al,
mighty wants us to winnow our grain he
will still furnish the wind as he has here
tofore done? repeat it, this wind ma
king scheme is sacrilege, yea worse than
sacrilege, and [ warn you all against it
and its instgators" Christianity had its
opposers till it was found its results would
save the people of earth.
Formerly every man we met-not pa
tron-was ridiculing the Order; now we
cannot find them, each one lays it upon
the other man, and each man says he was
always favorably disposed toward the
Grange. Prejudice and objections are
passing away.
When he was Master of the State
Grange of New Jersey he wrote to the
Agricultural Department, at Washington
to have them distribute documents, etc.
received the insulting reply: This De
partment does not recognize the Grange
In referring to the Grange reception al
the White House, spoken of by Mr.
Wocdman, he said: 81 don't think the
patron felt any more highly honored by
these attentions of the President than he
did with them; they certainly had no rea-
son to; for if there is any class of our peo-
pie that realize that the President is, and
should be, only a SerUaHt of the people
and our people felt on that occasion that
if there was any yielding of dignity it was
in patrons consenting to give their arm!
to, and taking the arms of their servant:
the President and his wife"
Manifestly that departments now glad
to recognize the Grange. We are here
gathered in the grove of Day & Taylor
the battle ground of the great plaster war
here is where the Grange achieved I
grand victory over the powerful anc
wealthy plaster monopoly, which brough
plaster down $3.50 per ton, placing The
| great fertilizer within the reach of all. Al
! honor to those patrons who stood by Their
friend and would not sell their heritag,
| for a mess of pottage, but who would pay
their friend the So per ton, rather thar
| their conquered enemies one and halt
The plaster monopoly is dead, and tina
department now recognizes the Granger
At the Paris Exposition, when Hon. ] ]
| Woodman was chosen delegate to rep
resent the Grange interest; other depart
ments reconized this Grange. The Ok
State House at Lansing was formerly t.
good for the Grange; last year the New
State House was not good enough, AM
we were again recognized. am pleased
to find that farmers and railroad compa
nies in this State have good understand
ing; truly in Michigan the railroads rec
ognize the Grange.
The Grange has bound the farmers il
one grand fraternity. They have demon
strated the truth of yonder motto
strength, united, is more powerful" /
has taught the farmer how to make grea
saving in insurance, and in many place
are insuring themselves. In Californi
the Grange broke the great grain mon
opoly by selling their own grain. W
have made great saving to States and tn
nation. The great sewing machine mon
opoly was broken by the Grange, an
their patents were not renewed. In tn
sale of wool the Grange has made vas
saving. We have no quarrels with cor
porations, but we have some rights Whlc
they must respect. The controllers, Q
the great railroad lines in one day, recent