The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1880-12-25
The National Grange.
FOURTEENTH ANNUAL SESSION A
WASHINGTON, D. c.

WASHINGTON, D. c.
We continue our report of pro-
ceedings by giving the following
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON
AGRICULTURE.
Worthy Master and Members of the
National Grange.
Gentlemen. The condition of
American agriculture is a subject of
deep concern for farmers who look
beyond present productions to the
possibilities Of the future. Taking
into account the extreme importance
of its products in our commercial
relations with other countries, their
great va.ue in exchanges, foreign
and domestic, and the multiform in
dustries they support, the revenues
derived from them, and the vast ad-
ditions of the wealth of our people
obtained from them annually, it will
be apparent that the material inter
ests of the Nation are deeply con-
cerned in them, beyond the question
of food supplies daily recurring to
all the millions whose existence is
Immediately dependent upon this
one NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. AS
plain proposition OF economic sig
nihcance, it may be asserted that an
industry SO important in the wide
range of its beneficial influences
should be left as free as possible to
expand and amplify the benefits it
confers. This will be admitted as
of automatic force, but there is such
evident lack of intelligent apprecia-
ton of the needs of agriculture and
its part in the economy of affairs, in
a Government shaped in a great de
gree by its industries, as ours must
be, that we may venture to cite
specifically certain direct influences
of agriculture; to note the retarding
forces operated against its develop
ment, and to point out the means for
extending it with profit for all who
share in its products, whether di
rectly or through the varied indus
tries it supports.
The export of this country for the
last fiscal year of the Government
amounted to more than $500, ,ooO,- :
900. OF this vast sum three fourths
! were the products of the SOIL This
proportion has been maintained, or
exceeded for several years. The
steady stream of wealth thus flow
ing through the channels of COM
merce maintained against and over
flowing the returning tide of inn
ports into which were merged the
acceptances of our people amount
ing to hundreds of millions foated
abroad during long period of de-
preston, 10 which manufacturers
and merchants were forced to sue
comb by thousands, was the outflow
of surplus production drawn from
the soil. Thus has agriculture con-
tributed far more than all other in
dustries to the payment Of debt, the
mainlainace OF credit, private and
public, the restoration of sound
money, and in like degree it has
aided to turn the balance Of credit
in the commercial capitals of Eu-
rope in our favor to the extent OF
81, ,ooo, 600, 900 in the past six years
It's munifccnt contributions to the
permanent wealth and improve
ment of our own country have been
relatively greater. 1t has extended
cities, built villages, guaranteed sup
port to a thousand industries tha;
draw life from it, and has proved
it, elf the buiwark of Government
1t has brought prosperity out of the
darkest encouragement, frightened
hope, and effected the relaxation OF
the gilded promise that served SC
long to sustain trembling credit
while the tagging industries OF faint
heart set their poor dependents
along the highways tramping fol
bread. Surely there is in all this
enough to swell the hearts of the
men and women whose achieve.
ment it is with honest pride: for
: 1heir ,,iticst toll aidel b. The forces