The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1879-12-27
Mississippi State Grange,
Ninth Annual Session, held at Forest, Dec. g
II, 1879.
ADDRESS OF
WORTHY MASTER DARDEN.

us for these annual meetings Without confer
ence and association, we must continue TO suTer
grievances as a class. The time arrived when the
Grange became necessity. The chaotic state OF
the Order has past; principles are now clearly
defined; our leaders are determined, and our MEM
bers are fast being disciplined for their own pro-
lection and the advancement Oh their interests.
The education and discipline afforded oy the
Grange have not failed to impress those outside
| the Order and are establishing unanimlty OF
feeling and independence of action among farmers
whether Changers or not. Better than all, these
ties are not confined to any section, for over the
billowy sea of strife bitterness and sectional ami
mostly have cast the electric cord OF fraternl-
| ty and the Changers heart in Maine beats IN
sympathy with that of his brothers and sisters IN
| Mississippi How impressive is this noble work
| that the Order has already done! and every "a
iron should often call to remembrance that, while
every element was at work to disunite and divide
u.s. it remained for farmers, in simplicity and SIM
cerity, to discover and proclaim that we are one
people, that interests are the same, and tnat,
as patriots desiring the development OF the re-
sources of great country to their fullest extent
| and the advancement of our civilization to the
highest plane, nothing should be permitted to ar
| ray one section against another.
1t is this identity of interest and cohesion
/ among farmers that must work out for them
their social and political status in this country.
| Scattered and divided, they prey for the
| shrewd and designing; but organized and educa-
| ted they have nothing to fear from any quarter.
| L o this END, ChaL Is the Oi
in their own organization, we should lend our pest
efforts. We should never rest satisfied until we
make the Grange sufficiently powerful to protect
us from the encroachments OF any evil ln1luence.
Constituting large majority OF the people OF our
State and producing all the wealth, yet we are to-
day without representation in the legislative halls
| of the nation, nor have the representation In
the Legislature and offices of our State to which
| our numbers and influence Justly entitle The
responsibility of this situation upon the far
lrr1er hem elyya We no N
eyes to the fact that legislation is dictated in
the interest of capital By the application of i'm
proved methods of culture, increase
| our productions annually, thus adding more and
more to the wealth of the State, yet we as class
are growing poorer, and it is quite evident that
| unless the present systems changed our far
mers viii soon become tenants and mere laborers
| If we would posterity from position
| of degradation similar to that OF the poor IRISH
we must apply ourselves actively to the work OF
organization. Our only hope is in organization
and the only organization ever devised for the
amelioration of the condition of the farmer is the
Grange.
Let us strive earnestly to make the Grange, as
it is intended to be, instrumental in suppressing
pre- judice, whether personal, local. sectional or
national, as the first step towards the accomplish
ment of aims Remember, the founders OF
our Order were moved by the broken and disor
gained condition of Southern farmers to form a
roeCt for the amelioraton of their condition, and
out of this project grew the Order of Patrons of
Husbandry. We owe to them debt of lasting
gratitude, and we owe moreover our confidence
and support to those brothers and sisters of the
| North who are laboring for the same objects for
which we are striving. There is worther OBJ
ject of pursuit than the erasement of these
| tional prejudices, which unworthy of great
people, and damag ing and destructive to our best
interests, especially to the South There are bet
ter thoughts to engage minds than RETROSPECT
ton and replning over the past, and prudence and
| should IL a
IN the future as shall engender harmony and una
nimity throughout the land. A more favorable
| opportunity never presented itself for the
healing of all difficulties and frmer &C.
menting OF our Fraternity than the pres
ent. The members of the National Grange were
emphatlc IN their declarations OF peace and good
| Will. An harmonious spirit pervaded The entire
| body, and strong determination was manifested
to bury dead issus and reach forward in the future
| to the real and genuine objects of our Order
| prominent among which is the destruction of the
desPotism of partisan politics, that may dis
charge the duties of American citizenship indie
pendently and intelligently.
OUR OBJECTS.
No one who sincerely desires the ultimate good
of the country object to the Grange We
wage warfare against any class of our citizens
we are simply organizing our class in order to
| secure and protect our rights and interests. And
| to this end we show the unjust burdens we bear
and the reasons why we not prospecting, and
attach the blame to our own indifference and want
OF organization. We are seeking to obtain all oul
rights, social and political, a class, and to 1e
velop the science of Agriculture to its fullest ex
: tent We would not if we could, prescribe any
class or abridge any of their rights individual
and national prosperity depends upon the pros
= perity of Agriculture, and as our object is to Sc
cure the greatest prosperity to the country, We
should have the encouragement of all classes
Y ct 1t is obvious to the most careless observe,
, that the Grange has not met with the encourage
ment it deserves. Every fact which would argue
decay, dsintegratlon or confusion, is sought fol-
with avidity and published broadcast Throughout,
/ the land. Every charge against the Order, OF
attack upon its organs and leaders, is published
abroad, while the same channel is closed agaips
them in which to make their defense. And We
we are told that "the Grangeis good thing" lie
us not be deceived by such expressions, but like
! men and women appreciating our true condition
zealousy strive for the accomplishment of GU,
objects. So long we simply discuss co-opera
ton in business will of capital saw 9Th,
/ Grange is good thing" But when we begin t.
practice operation in business, then the oppo
sltlon RACES. So long content to dis
cuss want of representation in the Legislation
OF the country, and continue to vote for the poll
tcian who uses party for partisan purposes HI
will say "the Grange is good thing" But a
} soon as we cooperate to secure the services n
those who would use party to further the Interests
OF the entire country. then the CT goes out tina
the Grange has gone into politics and is dead
Let US be assured that the unjust burdens that WI
I now bear will never be removed except b,
our own efforts. There are, however, some in
/ stances where we, an Order, have received tn,
strongest evidences of good will and much encour
agement. Two years ago at Holly Springs ane
one year ago at Okoiona we were entertained II
2 the most hospitable manner without expense tt
t the Grange, and to-day we have been received If
the most cordial manner by the good citizens O
, Forest and rendered the hospitality of theil
, homes. We receive this evidence of a bette,
understanding between the classes of our State
and feel assured that it will work to our mutual
| advantage.
OUR POLICY.
As the representatives of the Order and the ag
rlcuiture OF the State, should strive to estab
llsh public sentiment and line of action which
Will develop our material resources and advance
our civilization. The unnecessary agitation Of
sectional and race issues has unsettled our labor
Many OF our fields lying idle and much of our