The patron of husbandry., 1880-10-23
Address to the County Deputies
of Georgia.

COLUMNS pei hit lllC W SOhiSI Will
the Georgia State Grange Deputies,
whose cooperation, with yours, |
must have to promote the interests
of the Grange in my State, thereby
promoting the interests of agricul- |
ture, the most important industry in
which man is engaged, for it gene
rously feeds and clothes the world,
and but for it, commerce would be
paralyzed and the wheels of Govern
ment clogged. Progressive agvicul-
ture means the prosperity and hap
piness of the toiling millions, for
under its influence springs tasty and
comfortable dwellings, surrounded
with everything to make life pleas
ant. To accomplish all this, nothing
promises so much as our Order,
which makes farmers think more,
improves their minds, arouses their
moral and social natures, thereby
developing higher and better man
hood and womanhood; learns them
to:appreciate and honor their calling,
and gives them confidence and
strength to successfully combat all
invasions of their rights and interests
by other classes. With an institu-
ton having such grand purposes
and so capable of promoting the
best interests of the tillers of the soil,
is it not strange that so many of them
stand idly by, unmoved and seem
ingly disinterested spectators? And
worse even than this, many Patrons
| have become lukewarm and lag
CARDS, some probably from the erro-
neous opinion that the mission of
the Grange has been accomplished,
others wanting in faith in its perpe-
tuity, and others, l fear, from cow
ardice, apprehending that their con
nection with it might hazard their
Urodit with the merchants or at least
excite their displeasure, and others
still from a false idea of economy that
prevents them from contributing the
small pittance necessary to maintain
the organization.
| The Grange has by no means
accomplished its mission. Album
dant work remains undone and new
fields are opening that will tax to the
utmost the cooperative efforts of
the organized producing class.
Those wanting faith in the perpe-
tuity of the Grange have but to read
the proceedings of the last meeting
of the National Grange, hear the
sound of carpenters tools in the
building of Grange halls, and read
the Grange journals, the columns of
which are filled with accounts of
our progress that inspire Patrons
| with confidence and enthusiasm and
encourage them to yet greater efforts.
Those so cowardly as to fear the op-
position of other classes have but to
know that the State and National
influence of the Grange in it's de-
mands for justice have been consid-
cred by the highest courts of the
land and favorable decisions rem
dered; petitions to Congress from
our Order have been respected and
in some instances complied with
only in the last session on the eve of
adjournment a Senator said ''that the
demands of the farmers are just and
proper mast be apparent, and that
they will be complied with is just as
certain as that the Government shall
endure and the farmers of the coun-
try continue to appreciate the justice
of their claims and their undoubted
power to enforce them" Besides
this, the Grange is establishing Pa
irons cooperative stores, which
means good articles at the lowest
rates and fair dealing. These Co
operative Associations are doing
more to promote the interests of and
perpetuate the Grange than any
means yet adopted by the Order,
and should give those farmers who
fear the opposition of other classes
more nerve and spirit and encourage
them to enlist in our grand army of
| progress and reform. Those that
hold back from the Grange from
mere selfishness and penuriousness,
/ like to have said, are too small
game to cavil over, for their connec-
ton could add but little to an organ
ization composed of generous, noble
and patriotic farmers.
Deputies of the Georgia State
Grange, upon some of our skirts
rests the censure of the dormant
state of our org nization in many
parts of our State, and we have but
to look at the work done by some of
us to be convinced that it is in our
power to have every Grange banner
unfurled to the breeze and the mem
bership marching under them with
! firm and steady tread. A well d.
| eested plan of action is the first step
towards success, and the plan for US
is. with our eyes open and minds
fixed. TO move forward in united,
determined and persistent effort to
arouse to action every sleeping
Grange in our I'D Commonwealth.
To commence this work, let us find
where the Masters o. these dormant
Oranges are and see it they are not
asleep, for it often Happens that the
fault of such dormancy lies with the
Master. Let US visit these NJ asters
and induce them to trim their lamps
and light up the way of the blin>1
and slurnbering and get them into
path of duty, as some of our Depu-
ties have already done so well; then
impress upon every Master the great
importance of inducing his member
ship to subscribe for and read our
| Grange Journal, "THE PATRON OF
II IL 1 r