The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1881-12-24

with the tallsmanlc sHOpc and FER
severep emblazonod thereon, let MS
ever be found in the thickest of the
fray until Agriculture shall be rid
Gifts burdens and its votaries re-
ceive that recognition which the im-
portance of their calling merits.
Much more might be added to
these thoughts, but | have depressed
from my subject. In conclusion, |
would again thank you and the
good Patrons ofayour county for this
cordial greeting, and also the good
people Of your beautiful little village
for the kindly recognition they have
given us, and trust that our meeting
here may be as profitable as it is
pleasant to us all, that we may add
another link to the golden chain
that binds us to our fraternity.
ANNUAL ADDRESS OF WORTHY MASTER
PUT. DARDEN.
Brothers and Sisters: In obedience to
our regulations, makeeth my annual
report showing the work that has been
Done and the progress made since our last
meeting together with such recommends
tons and observations as may be deemed
necessary for the good of the Order
In accordance with instructions given at
our last meeting, have been continuously
engaged since last May in visiting, lectur-
ing and reorganizing our Subordinate
Oranges, having visited some forty eight
counties i found the spirit of improve
ment manifested in the condition OF the
Order more than a year ago undated.
For the first time since | have been trav-
cling in the interest of the Order large
numbers of the people turned out to hear
our principles and purposes explained, and
notwithstanding many efforts were made
to depreciate the Order by designing men,
and though corrupt partisans used every
effort to disintegrate our membership, yet
we have increased more rapidly during the
last twelve months than any similar period
for six years. For the fiscal year ending
on the goth of June last, as shown by the
official report of the Worthy Treasurer of
the National Grange, our net increase in
the number of Oranges in this State was
As per cert, and 46 per cent increase in our
membership. Our net gain in membership
for the year ending to-day, as shown by
the records in our Worthy Secretary's Of
fee, is about 100 pei cent, and the gain in
the number of Oranges 900 per cent.
1t is gratifying to know that in those
communities where the principles and pur-
poses of the Order are understood it is a
fixture, increasing in strength, influence
and usefulness, and that it is retrograding
only in those localities where they are not
known. This displays the fact that there
= LIE
Declaration of Purposes, and suggests the
sing proper information among the far
mers. For l am thoroughly convinced
after an experience and observation ex-
tending through five years of arduous labor
among the farmers, that they cooperate
with us just as soon as they are brought to
understand our objects and methods
Then, in my judgment, the most impor-
tant matter for you to attend to at this ses-
sion is to devise some practicable means OF
disseminating correct information, wheth T
by lecturing, or the press, or both, your
wisdom must determine
CONDITION OF OUR FARMERS.
On my canvass through the State saw
no evidences of general improvement or
prosperity among our people. The farmers
of Mississippi produce annually about
$50. 1000 worth of cotton, besides the
grain, fruit and vegetable crops, quite suf-
ficient for an independence if they were al.
lowed to enjoy that equitable proportion
of the rewards of their labor to which they
are Justly entitled. But it is an incontest-
able fact that they are required to paw more
than just share of taxes to support the
Government; that the prices of their pro-
ducts are arranged to very great extent
by the money ed powers and speculative
rings, "that they may yield larger per cent
ages of profit to the various interests inter
vening before ultimate use" 1t is lam
entable fact that nearly all our farmers are
forced to operate upon the credit system.
BY combination of unwholesome laws,
capital has been diverted from seeking in
vestment with land as a security, and far
mers as rule cannot secure the use of
money at reasonable rates of interest, but
are compelled to ask indulgence of the
merchants at ruinous rates, from 80 to over
100 per cent, and history proves that agri
cultural communities cannot prosper where
they have to pay more than or 10 per ct.
Now if it is not unfriendly legislation
that prevents capital from seeking invest
meut in agricultural pursuits with land as
security and that has reduced the farmers
of Mississippi to their present dependence
upon the moneyed power, let me ask,
what is il?
Our public men refer in eloquent terms
to the large amount of capital being inves-
ted in rail roads and manufacturing enter
prises as evidence of the prosperity of the
State, and proudly point to the large per
centages of profit being realized from such
investments, and appear highly gratifed
because moneyed corporations are buying
up our lands by the thousand of acres. But
they do not seem to realize the sad fact that
while these rich corporations are making
money SO rapidly and receiving so much
attention and protection at the hands of
the law making bodies of the land, that the
real producers of all the wealth of the State
are realizing little or no profit from their
labor, are getting poorer each year, and are
receiving but little if any attention or pro
lection from the law making bodies, and it
must be evident to the careful student ofthe
times that the inevitable tendency of the
present system of enriching the few at the
expense of the many is to establish landed
and moneyed aristocracy, and to bring the
masses to a condition of dependence and
servitude. To prevent the consummation
of such dire calamity, the conservative
masses must organize, that by associated
effort they may create a public sentiment
sufficient to combat these encroachments
upon the liberties of the people.
We need not be discouraged in our eff
forts to reform the graspings ofmonopolies
because men of ability, men of honest con-
victions and great personal worth do
neither appreciate nor sympathise with our
sense of injustice and our fear of greater
IL - = l. IL -