Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-10-02

till they appear like ocean waves and
storms petriiied ! welcome you from
the valley of the West Branch ! wei
come YOU from the valleys Of the Juni.
alta and the Kishacoquillas welcome
YOU from the mountains and from the
rivers and from the streams, who have
come up hither to celebrate our annual
autumnal gathering and "IIarve,t
Home" invite you all to freely par.
ticipate in the rich and unalloyed en-
joyment of the day.
We have met together to-day from
all parts of our county and from adj
joining counties for the purpose OF ex.
tending to one another friendly greet.
ings, and if possible TO more firmly
unite and fraternize the elements OF
agricultural life to foster and cement
more strongly by mutual understand.
ing the great principles OF the order of
Patrons of HuSbandry.
A more fitting time for the Patrons
reunion could not have been chosen, it
being at the closing days of summer,
days of comparative leisure to the far.
mer, and il is but natural for him to
join his fellow laborers with their fami.
lies for day of festivities and general
enjoyment.
A rural gathering for pleasure like
this, away from the decorations of
artistic splendor in the city hall, or the
fashionable places of tho rich, sheltered
only by the green foliage OF the forests
OF the surrounding hills which are
turning into the scar leaf the fresh
odors of an entire landscape coming to
us on every passing breeze, and above
all as far as the eye can reach, well
built homes and cultivated fields, the
rewards of rural industry; such plain.
ness, such natural and unfeigned sim
plicity-such gushing impulses OF rural
friendship while partaking Of their
bounteous repast are in harmony with
the best IMPULSES of our nature; who
could here refrain from participating or
sharing in the refreshing influences of
such gathering or reunion OF the
people OF the rural districts.
What scene more dignifed or de
lightful than to see as we have here
hundreds of happy, intelligent farmers
collected from all parts Of our county
and adjoining counties, not to engage
in political and party strife, but to meet
together for their country's good, con.
sulting how best TO promote and fra.
ternize in bonds of union the once dis.
tracted and divided agricultural class
OF our country, with no warning Gle.
ments, no htart.burnings OF any sort,
but peace and good will animating
every bosom; bringing into social and
profitable intercourse those who would
otherwise have remained strangers and
to one another. Mr. Presi.
dent, should not such scenes be we'll
TO gladden. the heart Of every
wise and good citizen of our govern.
mentl But if you please go back with
me only twelve years to the time be-
fore the establishment Of the order
Of Patrons OF Husbandry in the county
what 9 contrast you will find between
the agricultural class then and now
The farmers were divided and indifIer.
ent TO one another. and had no such
gatherings a. the Patrons have held in
'ur county for the last FIVE or six years
md as we find here to-day; they were
hen divided and under the entire con.
rol of politicians and demagogues who
Lamp~like travelled the
ountry in tAe interest Of political
arties to stir Up strife in the rural dis.
nets upon isstf fes that were merely par.
san IN character and ruinous to the
sricultural classs and to the country.
1t was PARTISAN politics that plunged
ar country into Niyil war; it is partisan
'lities that PreveN pts the return of
ace. prosperity s.'Aconiidence 10 our
untry. II is Ian nolitics that
cps up the usPr, ,blo os;,s,ion -
so'erelsnT and eh is OF no interest
sene iaf,n. =, ~ parts the industrial
% 4 e,r,
injury OF the farHIaz ing
classes. II is partisan hat
wants an unlimited pap noy
which would be Of no lasti kt to
the farming and indust Ies of
our country. II was paS plitics
that prevented the farmiI q - from
organizing in the past, to tn&r almost
injury and ruin. Gentle.
men, we understand the issues that are
kept before the people for partisan pur.
poses. they are OF no interest TO the ag.
ricultural class or for the good Of our
You can continue to trot out
all the hoodlums of the drinking saloons
and gambling hells to the primary elec.
tions for the sole purpose of keeping
out the intelligent farmers, mechanics
and laborers but, sirs, you cannot bind
us by your actions at the polls. We
give you fair warning that the intelli.
gent farmer will not vote with any party
that will not recognize and honor the
farming class, which forms oue.half Of
our country. We ask no special favor.
excepting those that our numbers aud
enutle us to. We want
the agricultural class, that composes
q. 100000 Of the people OF our country,
we want an economical
and just administration Of the laws we
want peace and prosperity for our