The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1881-12-10
The National Grange.
Reports OF the Committees.
REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON AGRI-
CULTURE.

basis, reduCcQ interest rates, TSSuia-
ted exchanges and guaranteed pros
perity in all branches of useful in
dustry, is Agriculture.
During all the years when these
tasks were of doubtful achievement
its workers were quietly, steadily
and surely effecting purpose not
fully comprehended by the wisest
statesmen. Their productive indus
try was laying the safe foundation
of financial greatness and CONNER
cial prosperity, enriching the people,
multiplying and extending the bless
ings of peace, and Identifying labor
by proofs of its power and its benef
icent ends. In single decade this
grand industry has added to the
permanent wealth of the people
sum too great for computation, even
the small proportion of its products
that has gone into foreign markets.
In that period portion of the sup
plies alone is a contribution to the
material welfare of the people in
comparably greater than any other
country has offered in like period
in the history of the world, A thous-
and million dollars of balance is an
Inadequate expression of its COM
p mercial value, an insufficient meas
ure of its greatness, deficient estl-
mate of its volume, yet this is but
the fraction of magnificent produc-
ton gagged by demands abroad, far
exceeded in each year by home con
sumption. The grand industry that
has done so much is yet far within
the possibilities. It's rapid develop
ment has no visible bounds except
in the indifference of the millions
TO the encroachments upon civil
rights. Or in more comprehensive
phrase, these millions who till the
soil with such beneficent effect have
vet grander achievements in pros
pect if they can be true TO their own
interests Their danger lies in the
neglect of civil duties or sintelligen
/, appreciation of such duties. 1t is {
f fact supported by incohtestabl'
f proof that agriculture pays more
than its ust share of taxes for tbs
, support of government, and it i
: co ually true that its products arr
cheapened in the hands of producer
p that they may yield larger percent
: ages of profit to the various interest
intervening before ultimate users.
: Let us confess in full sincerity AM
with plain understanding Of tn
facts that these exactions of Agrl
culture and its products are in n
wise singular or strange, but rathe
the inevitable consequence of foil
- displayed by farmers themselves
= they have titled their fields, care
: for their focks, gathered their hal
q vests and marketed the increas
y without reference to influences cor
| stantly tending to reduce their pal
in the rewards. They have yielde
!. to the direction and dictation {
= other interests with astounding sci
a. abnegation until at last the prevail
IS. ing sentiment relegates them to tt
e, soil as fixtures too low III the sea
ed of intelligence to deserve part {
n share in the administration of put
he lie affairs; in politics they are will
sng, obsequious slaves, alwa.
ready to obey the behests of par
D. leaders. They glorify and worsh
party idols, and at the polls deba
re their manhood in perfunctory arti
ulation of the party shibboleth; thu
they go to their labor hampered ar
worried by hardships invited
;as their ballots. If all this be true, M
ok we not say, with the earnestness
nts conviction, that the American IA
the mer deserves no greater share OF t
gh rewards that follow his labor un
he displays manhood enough to {
" sert his rights in the general CO
~ duct of affairs. If his land and
, nc products be too much taved, he C
&c not enter effective protest agar
ate the exaction except through
nge proper channel and by law
means-the ballot.
,io Having surrendered to his M
tiers the use of the one, and lost
- telligent appreciation of the 9th
IN we lament the conclusion that
fate deserves no amelioration ur
he is able to summon manhood
tate shape his own destiny by intelligt
in aud independent exercise of all |
sen ltical rig hts and privileges. Star
me ing in the front rank Of labor, fe'
did ing, clothing and sustaining tho
and other industries with lavish fir
gu dom, he deserves for his own
non more than he gets until he resol
on TO exert proper care over his rigl
in not in the field of labor alone {
the byways and highways of &C
in merce, but in the making of rules
nSe' fecting the products of his lat
the and in shaping the laws of the |;
and in which his sole part as now orc
the ed is submission. AS the repres
onse tatives of an organization basec
next \ agriculture, having no purpose I
tile to any other useful calling
profession, we deplore the apath,
ge. American farm crs on the quest
of their rights in the body pol
an and invoke acton designed to
store equitable balance between
various interests, industries and !
ich- LESSONS, so that no. one shall dc
va, nate others, but that all shall h
O. free and equal chance in the rae
Oui material and intellectual progr
rO- W. &c l. ~ ri ftc of ,,1aea no con