The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1880-04-24

tentlOn and reSpeGf az the hands OF
the Government, which its impor-
ktance SO idstly@deman ds. -
lCopleyille, AprilI,ISs 9 ! 4
Worthy Master. The subject en-
braced in the resolutien,l which has
just been read, has been uppermost
in my mind for a length of time
for after long reflection and careful
investigation I have come to the
conclusion that there is no subject
SO urgent sors SO amomentous that
could be brought before the Grange
touching our common interest, and
for, this reason / would beg the in
diligence of the house for a few
moments while I attempt to urge
upon our membership to give to
their political interest that attention
and careful consideration which its
importance SO justly demands.
For ages and for generations we
have, been suffering from unjust
discrimination at the hands of other
classes, who regard US in the light
of interiors, whose rights, of all,
are the least to be respected. To
such an extent has this been carried
that the term "farmer," among our
would be superiors, is almost a
SYNONYM of ignorance and stupidity.
Suffering social ostracism and at
the same time contributing to the
best elements of society Consigned
to ignorance-yet heavily taxed for
educational purposes. Receiving
no benefits from the Government
yet burdened with taxation for its
support. Such are. the grievances
and the adverse circumstances by
which the farmer has been sur.
rounded and overwhelmed from
time immemorial /; and they GER
tainly present to us very dark and
gloomy picture of his situation.
But amid all of these wrongs, out
RACES, and humiliations there comes
a CLEAN of hope. This hope, ema.
mates from the Grange and be-
lieve you will agree with me that
it is solitary hope !; and were the
Grange to fail to-day there would
not be a fragment of hope left for
the farmer. Bound hand and foot
and completely shackled he would
be handed over to his enemies and
consigned to the SHAMELESS of the
middlemen, there to be limbed and
MANNED that he might never again
reassert, his natural rights. 1asl5
Then the Grange, as the guardian
of our, common interest and the
embodiment of all our hopes and
aspirations is earnestly looked to by
agriculturists with the expectation
that it will do something to amelio-
rate their condition. Shall they be
disappointed? The answer comes
from every quarter of the country
that they shall not. Then it is time
we were taking some practical
steps toward the ultimate objects of
our organization, We have long
been drilling for this work, and
now, | think, we. are prepared to
meet it. But in the first place that
we may have some system in our
labors it is very important to decide
what should be the. prime. prelim- i.
mary step-of-the~Grange in COM
mencing its great work of reducing
its principals to practice as97
Here we will find diversity of
opinion. Some would recommend
corporation as "a prime factor in
the cause. Others, would recon-
mend a general diffusion of educa-
ton. While others, still, insist that
we should first become more pro- i
fcient and skillful in aour calling in
life if we ever expect to raise our
selves to, that highersplane of man
hood to which we aspire. All of
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS virtues and
advantages.;.sbut they will be found |
inadequate for the emergency.
would suggest that we enter deeper
into the subject, and I would re-
commend something more effect
ual., I think it would be the more
and manly course to first
ferret out the fountain head, from
whence all our grievances flow, and
then, with an iron hand of deter
the needful : remedy
sheuld--be-applied--- This great
fountain head j abeliexe ITO be our
State, and National Governments.
# is true that, we, are afflicted by
many grievances which do not
seem, to emanate from. this source,
but, if you will investigate carefully |
you will find that all our itroubles, |
either ]. directly or indirectly, flow
from this, theirto common origin.
Yes, here it's, that these rings and
monopolies are nursed and reared
which are Expressing us, and w hich
stand like so MANY ruthless giants