The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1880-05-29
FARMERS, PROTECT YOUR.
SELVES.
Ry Worthy Lecturer Eshbaugh,
nf the National Grange.

ne NdLlOIldt OAdAS0, a. AeS al
nusl session in November last, un-
animously adopted the following as
the report of the committee, to
whom was referred the Condition
of American agriculture, !" viz:
agriculture has never been more
rapid than within the last decade.
The modes of Agriculture have
been vastly improved. It that period
the increase of raw production has
been augmented. The appliances
and facilities for profitable farming
are in the hands of every farmer,
and the highest degree of agricul-
tural progress is exhibited in the
marvellous abundance of the har-
vests. The tendency is toward the
increase of raw production, and the
new methods of cultivation upon
all farming lands give additional
and enlarged powers of production.
From these additional resources, ag-
riculture yields larger annual
wealth, and, taking general view
of its progress, it might be accepted
as evidence of general prosperity
among those who are engaged in its
fields; but when applied to the ind
vidual farmer the reverse is present
ed"
American farming is growing less
profitable and less encouraging In
a country possessing SO may faclli-
ties of cheap production, this dis
couraging aspect of agriculture
must be, and is, the result OF other
than natural causes. The annual
additions of wealth under the en-
lightened system of agriculture are
enormous, buttrom the unequal di
vision of the profits of labor, and
the unjust determinations made
against it, the enlistment of property
shows that the farmers of the Uni
ted States are not prosperlng.
While it is rapidly extinguishing all
debts and restoring an equilibrium
to some degree in the currency OF
the country, its votaries are deprlv-
ed of Just share of the rewards OF
their toll Capitalists concentrate to
make "corners," and form "rings"
to fix prices. Transportation COM
panies to make and unmake
prices at will, by their unjust and
discriminating tariffs and freights.
Subsidies and tariffs are created to
protect other industries, to the pre-
iudice of agriculture. Agricultural
property is made to bear an unequal
and undue proportion of taxation,
to afford exemptions and privileges
to other industries.
In view of the well established
fact, that the productive industries
must bear the burdens of society,
chief among which is agriculture,
the natural nursing mother of all
other occupations, trades, and pro-
LESSONS of our people, it is found
thatit is over-taxed and overbur-
dened with unnecessary, unjust, I'M
equal, and fragrant impositions, that
Just sense of right would transfer
to whom they justly belong. The
farmers of America nave, on all oc-
casions, shown themselves to be a
patient and enduring people. Fur
Their submission to wrong and injus-
tice will be sacrifice of manhood
and an exhibition of cowardice."
From these facts the National
Grange demands that the tariffs of
freights and fare over railroads and
all transportation companies be pro-
perIy regulated; and all unjust dis
ordinations be prohibited by law;
that taxations shall be equal and
uniform, and all values made to
contribute their just proportion to
the support of the government, that
the revenue laws shall be SO adjusted
as to bear equally upon all classes
of property, to the end that agricul-
shall be relived of the disproportion
of burdens it now bears; that sys-
tenn of elementary agricultural edu-
cation shall be adopted in the COM
mon schools of this country; that we
are entitled to and should have a
fair representation in the Legislative
halls of this country chosen from
the ranks of the farmers.
All will readily admit that these
are facts, and that the claims made
are reasonable, and the demands
Just. But it must be also admitted,
that to regulate these affairs requires
legislative action, and that the
affairs of government must be
directed to this end. 1t is well
remembered how long we have
trusted those who make politics a
profession, and scheming a study.
We have long and often been disap
pointed. Have we any reason now
to hope for anything better from
the hands of these same profession
al partisans? If these have become
the men of the people, instead of
sel6shism, then it may do to have
| them continue to rule conventions,
control elections and shape legisla-
ton. But if they have not changed,
and you are satisfied that there is no
more to be expected or hoped for at
present then in the past, then it
would be well for all farmers to
take an interest III the matter of
selecting the right kind of men to
legislate and to manage the affairs
of government, local, States and
National. Select none b ut men of
sound integrity, and tried honesty;
men that can neither be bon ght nor
sold, in official capacities or in leg
islatlve halls; men that will serve