The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1880-02-07
WORTHY MASTER PIoLLET, OF
PENNSYLVANIA


PENNSYLVANIA,
In his annual address to the Stae Grange,
speaks as follows:
How very agreeable the life Of our far
mers would be if left in the normal condi-
ton of our pioneer fathers WHO settled
Americai The reward of their bil, hard
ship and labor Injured to their sob use, and
were equal to that rendered in the open
fields of competition by any oth'r class of
people.
The sole purpose that actuated the pro-
ienitors of our civilization and tie found
ers of our system of government were to
plant and grow from its infart state
country where the equality of man and
woman could not be endangered by any
of the articles that belonged to their for
mer countries and the oldest civilizations.
The patriotism, endurance, and, can
fairly add, the heroism displayed by the
American agriculturist, achieved gov
eminent of republican equality. The con-
dence gave victory to the right, and not
to the behest of arrogant power that utterly
ignored humanity.
American farmers would have no cause
of complaint, and would be secure in the
t)OSSeSSlOll vi tllCl anu lIlGH lldIS-
mission to their children in endless perpe-
tuitv, if there had been no device, sane
toned by the authority of law, conferrng
privilege upon other classes. 1t is i'm
possible to confer a privilege by legisla
tive enactment upon one man or upon an
association of men, without dehacting
from aud abridging the equality of Others.
The specious pretense that associated
der any circumstances, inure to the gene
raj welfare and equality of the American
people has proven delusion. Journalists
and politicians, who are solicitous for the
votes of farmers, pirate loudly for system
of revenue laws with large duties for the
avowed purpose of protecting American
industry. They are sure to protect the
manufacturer of fabrics, and not the pro-
Queer of the raw material. The farmer is
denied equal protection when engaged
with his labor and capital to produce the
fiber of which fabrics are made. 1t is as
much an American industry to produce
cotton and wool as It is to manufacture
wooden and cotton fabrics. So it is as es-
sentially an American industry to produce
hide as it is to tan a hide. Then what
gross injustice it is to make and put in
force law that enforces the collection of
IS per cent duty on manufactured leather,
and compel the American producer of
hides to sell in competition with hides from
foreign countries duty free.
1t has come to be fully understood, since
the farm class began to organize, that law S
which tax agricultural products to the ex-
tent of hundred million dollars per annum
for the support of the National Govern
ment are unjust, because it affects the price
of farm products to the injury of the CAPT
tai and labor employed. So do we far
mers know, when transportation compa-
mics are chartered with the right to charge
for the carrying of our wheat, corn, rye,
oats, cattle, horses, sheep ana swine, our
fruits, vegetables, etc, a rate per ton per
mile that enables them to make four times
the profit upon their capital and labor that
the agriculturist can make for his capital
and labor; that they have special privi-
lege that is fragrant violation of our
eQua1ry. 14aWS, however unjust and TIN
constitutional must be obeyed, or anarchy
would come to in iure labor to the same
extent. This, however, should not deter
the intelligent citizen from such political
alliance and action as will secure the re-
peal of every vestige of law that tends to
abridge his equality.
AS the representative of the Patrons of
Pennsylvania, l had the right to member
ship in the National Grange. The thir-
teenth annual session of that body was
holden at Canandaigua, New York
Thirty States were represented The
minutes gifts proceedings will be printed,
and copy will be sent to each of the
Subordinate and County Oranges of our
States. The gentlemen and ladies who
composed the National Grange are all
practical farmers-people of rare intelii-
gence and marked ability. The fraternal
bond which the Grange organization pre-
supposes was apparent in our association
There was not vestige of sectionalism,
East or West, North or South. The as
sembly was a family of brothers and Sis
| tiers, endeavoring to promote the material
| social and educational interests of the
American farmers, whom they represent
/ ed -