The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1880-10-30
Essay


Read before Woodland Grange, Sept. IS,
1850, by Mrs. Matte Edrnondson.
BrotheyS and Sisters: Why is it
that there is SO much prejudice dis
played against the Grange organize
ton, when it is the 0niy organiza-
ton ever gotten up to protect the
farmers interest? We find this feel
ing prevalent even in our own class.
This should teach us an impo1 tant
lesson and impress us with the fact
that we have yet great battle to
fight. The minds of the agricultu-
rist must be rid of the poison infused
into it by those classes that are ar
rayed in opposition to our interest
Certainly if the principles upon
which our Order is founded were
properly understood, all feeling of
malice and mistrust among farmers
would be swept away, ridicule 81
fenced, and the sheer die unuttered
before the beauty and purity of its
teachings. To, day there are mil
lions of honest people toiling their
lives away, ignorant of what is go
ing with their labor, that the profits
of their toll go to support specula-
tors who make their living by chi
canery and rascality, instead OF
honest work, and who find a ready
instrument in the unsuspecting and
prejudiced farmer.
All admit that agriculture is the
great lever to wealth and prosperity
All classes, PROFESSIONALISM interests
are directly and indirectly depend
ent upon it. The question then nat
urally arises, why is the farmer so
uniformly wronged and oppressed?
1t is because he won't demand and
enforce his rights; he won't compel
his public servants to respect his in
terests. If the farmers ask anything
of public servants and their demands
are ignored or trampled upon, they
(the farmers) are duped into the
support of the same knaves again
How often do we see farmers who
will entrust their interests to a pro-
fessional man rather than with one
of their own class. when perhaps
the latter is far superior in point of
| ability and fitness. This is for the
want of confidence and the proper
| respect for his own calling. We
have men right here among us that
would rather be a door keeper or
even boot-black in the house of a
merchant, than to reign supreme in
the pleasant cottage of the husband
man. The greatest enemy of the
agricultural class and of agricultural
prosperity are those classes that prey
upon the products of farm labor and
fitch from the farmer the rich
profits of his TOLL and the next
greatest foe to agricultural prosper
ity are those farmers who allow
themselves to be made tools of by
the merchants and other classes.
Then why should our farmers fear
their own organization? It is his
school. 1t teaches him to think for
himself, to take care of his own in
terests without encroaching upon
the rights of others and at the same
time not to submit to any invasion
of his rights. Brothers and sisters,
who will hold up strong arm for
US, if we hold back and patiently sub
nit to wrong and oppressions God
has promised to help those VINO
help themselves.
We should look more closely and
jealousy TO the teachings and edu-
cation of our children. Let their
minds be SO trained and nurtured
that they will glide smoothly along
the pathway of duty and justice to
all mankind, and rise high above the
bogs of prejudice and degradation.
We believe the Grange to be one of
the great beverages for the Danish
ment of the prejudices of the young
and the old, and for the elevation of
the agriculturist to the position he
ought to occupy. We know he is
now ranked far below the position
to which he is entitled. Then our
work in upbuilding our noble Order
is patriotic and exalting.