The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1880-02-28
Number I.
call your special attention to the report adopted

e cali your special attention to the report adopte
IS by the National Grange
AMERICAN AGRICULTURE
!; worthy Master Your committee raised to ,sk,
. into consideration the state and condition of Amer
can agriculture and to report such and mol
lcies as in their Judgment will tend to afford ralia
from the weights, hndranees and difficulties that
1eset IT. and suggest such methods will restore to
farmers greater prosperity and promote their
political and material welfare have given the.snb;ect
such cons ieratlon as opportunity and circumstances
allowed and present the following report:
Agricultural progress has been more rapid tb
WITHIN the last decade. The modes of agriculture
teen vastly improved. The invention Of labor
implements and farm machinery has multiplied the
powers of farm labor and accelerated the forces of
duction In that PERIOD the increase of raw produc
zion has been greatly augmented. The appliances and
raelhtles Tor profitable farming in the hands of
every farmer, and the highest degree of agricultural
progress is exhibited in the marvellous abundance of
the harvest. From 1875 1873 the amount of newly
set,ee sands in the United States acres
Inc tendency is toward the increase of raw produe>
lion, and the new methods of cultivation upon all
farming lands gives additional and enlarged powers
OF production. From these additional resources agr-
culture yields larger annual wealth, and taking a
general view of its progress it might be accepted as
evidence of general prosperity among thnso
enssged IN its fields bG sher pPned to the lndvid-
such advantages, and notwithstanding the stupendous
eorts OF the agricultural people to keep abreast with
the march of other trades, occupations and EMPLOY
aents tarm capital and labor receive less remuaera
elon than equal capital and labor employed in other
departments of life
encouraging. In a country possessing many facI-
tiles of cheap production this dsceura gng aspect OF
agriculture must be and is the result of more than
natural causes.
The annual additions of wealth, under the epligh4
ened system of agriculture, are enormous, but from
the unequal divisions of the profits of labor and the
unjust determinations made against it, the enlist
ents of property show that farmers Of the United
States are not prospering While it is rapidly extin.
gushing all debts and restoring equilibrium the
currency of the country votaries are deprived of
of foiI
Capital concentrates to make and form rings
to fix prices.
Transportation companies are allowed to make and
unmake prices at will by their unjust discriminating
tariffs and freights
Subsidies and tariffs are created to protect other
industries to the prejudice of agriculture
Commerce is shackled
American productions denic1 the markets of the
werld through partial and restrictive laws AgrieuI
tural property is made to bear unequal and undue
proportion of ia xation, afford EXEMPTION and nriv
leges to other industries Monopolies are permitted
TO assume power and control, and exercise preroga-
tves and privileges justly belon ging to severeipntv
Encouraged by legislation and stimulated by power
they have grown dctatorial and imperious in their
demands unresenting in their exactions, and cruel
and unmereiful in their impositions Society has be-
come extravagant, and is now Needless spendthrift
of the painful earnings of labor Government has be-
come proud and autoeEatc, while her toiling aborers
humiliated in their poverty; States lavish and
prodigal with the peoples money; cities and towns
grow rich at the expense and impOverishment of the
country laws are ingeniously formulated to make
justice ardy and thus tend to encourage crime and dis
order.
In view of the we'll established fact that the pro-
ducive industries must bear the burdens of society
chief among which is agriculture the natural nursing
mother of all the occupations trades and professions
of people, it is found that it is overaxed and over
burdened with unnecessary, enequal and grant i'm
positions, that just sense of right would transfer
where they justly belong ...
The farmers of America have on all occasions
shown themselves to be patient and enduring peo-
ple but further submission to wrong and injustice will
Go nf nhoaI md avh,
ardice. Stirred with just of right, and sup
ported by the integrity of purpose, the National
Grange OF the Patrons of Husbandry, in the and
interests of the United States, sternly demsnd-
I. That the Department of Agriculture shall be
made an Executive Department and the Commissioner
a Cabinet officer. .s .-.
II The Agricultural Department shall be supported
by annual appropriations commensurate with the i'm
pOrtance of the great and permanent industry it rep
resents
III That commercial treaties shall be made with
all foreign countries, giving to American products
equal and unobstructed intercourse with the markets
of the world.
". That governments be administered in cheaper
and simpler manner, consonant with the conditions Of
the people.
" That more rigid economy in the expenditures
of the public moneys be re-established.
vi. That the laws shall be plain and simple, to the
end that justice shall be speedy crime punished, and
good government maintain, d.
VII. That the creation allowing of monopolies
exist in violation of the spirit and genius of
government.
VIII That the tariffs of freights and fare rail
roads and all transportation companies shall be regu-
lated and all unjust Determinations prohibited by
law.
TX. That taxation hall be equal and uniform, and
all values made contribute their just proportion
the support of the government
X That the revenue laws of the United States shall
be so adjusted bear equally upon all classes of
property the end that agriculture shall be relieved
of the disproportion of burdens it bears.
XI. That the patent laws of the United States be
revised that purchasers ofpaent rights shall
be protected fraudulent vendors alone held respon-
sibe for nfringements of rights and violations of law
XII. That system of elementary agricultural in
structon shall be adopted in the common schools of
the country.
XIII That we are entitled and should have fair
representation in the legislative halls of the country
chosen from the ranks of the farmers
The Committee on Resolutions in the National
Grange the partial relief given us by the
National and State Legislatures is accepted with
thanks the result of petition. There is, however
no bstantial relief to the oyerburdene farmers of
America in any action thus far conceded by the leg
islatye authorities Of our government
Thirteen years experience and association in the
Grange has satisfied the American farmers, whom we
represent that their grievances will never be removed
until farmers elected repre- entatives to the
law making bodies of States and Nation in suhc
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