The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1881-01-22

OF time has its cares, its responsibilities, lis
quicksands and breakers as well.
The farmer OF the present day necessarily
represents large amount of capital. Lands
have become hgih, and to render them avala
bic costly machinery, tools and teams have t.
be procured. To procure those that are suitable
, for their uses requires close observation, good
! judgment and experience, To superintcnd
all the minutia OF farm work, the use and re
pair OF tools and machinery the proper al
justmcnt to their varOas uscs, require no lltlIc
mechanical skill.
The care and attention of stock the different
breeds, their peculiar characteristics and vain
) able qualities, their needs and wants IN health
and sickness, all help TO increase the farmers
cares and responsibilities.
The different crops that are most suited TO
his lands or offer the best remuneration from
the markets of the world the culture OF
fruits and flowers, their growth and care, the
depreciation Of insectlfe that meet him on
every hand to destroy the prodactO Of his labor
We might thus 90 on enumeratlng almost
infinitely the various duties that cngrOss the
farmers attention; but sufficient has been cit
ed to show that there IS enough to absorb the
the attention of the broaleSt intellect and clos
est observer IL must he evident to any candid
mind that the farmer needs the cooperation
and assistance of his brother farmers around
him.
There has been very little done III develop
| ing the vast resources of our couutry aud psac
ing man on the high road Of progress and
improvement without cooperation. II is the
foundation aud strength Of all the great enter
prises OF the present day.
| There is hardly profession, avOCation or
calling but has an organization in some form
for mutual assistance or protection. If lawyers,
doctors merchants, and even saloonkeepers,
need organizations for their mutual interest
and protection, the farmer III his isolated STU
alton, producing threc.tourths of all the wealth
of our county, certainly does. There Is no
other class that need the interchange OF
thought and idea AS much as we do, or that
can derive greater advantages from cOopera
ton. The social, the intellectual the fraternal
and sympathetic needs of our being are more
neglected on the farm than in almost any other
place.
Realizing these great truths, a few far seeing
men conceived the idea of organizing secret
society among the farmers of our country for
their social moral, intellectual and financial
advancement; one that should be national in
its character and reach every rural mel ghbor.
hood in our land On the 4th day of Decem-
Der, 1867, the National Grange was organized
in the city Of Washington by the founders OF
the Order of +. Of H. and subordinate
grange organized for school of instruction
IN its work In the January following cir
cular was issued to the farmers of our country,
stating briefly the primary objects of our Or
der, and the necessities Of such an o:ganza-
ton among those that TIL the soil and produce
the wealth Of the country. The following from
the circular will Indicate It's character
1T Is evident to all intelligent minds that
\ m m haa tIl l.n trlI n
rural pursuits should have an organization de-
voted entirely to their interest. Such it Is in
tended TO make the Order of Patrons. 1t is in
tended IN their interest, and IS destined to be
one OF the most powerful organizations in the
United states. Its general objects are not only
the general improvement IN husbandry. but to
increase the general happiness, wealth and
prosperity Of the country. 1t is fosnd, d
on the aXiOms that the products of the soil are
the basis of all wealth that individual happi-
ness depends on general prosperity, and that
he wealth of Il country depends upon the
general intelligence and mutual culture of the
producing classes.
The Order Of Patrons of IIusbandry will ac-
cOmpiish y thorough and systematic organlza
ton among farmers and horticuturis,s
throughout the United States and will secure
among them intimate social relations and nc.
u
mcnt and elevation of their pursuits, with an
appreciation and protection of their interests.
by such means may be accomplished that
which exists throughout the country in all
other classes combined cooperative assOcia,
tons for individual Improvement and com.
mon benefits"
Upon this broad, simple but grand plat.
form, our Order was founded
The agricultural classes are proverbial for
their extreme caution and conservatism, and
many are bitterly opposed to any association
that savOrs OF secrecy. From that or some
unknown cause. the early growth OF our Or
der was very slow. During the first three
years OF its existence there were eighty-three
sub oranges organized. The fires kinded W
on their affairs spread from that time throuS
out our broad land until, In November lSt
the secretary of the National Grange reportd
q membership of 762 1868 With so marvelo,
u growth, and the many adverse elements th'
entered our Order, the inevitable result couF
net have been otherwise than reaction. W
lacked the dlcipine and training of veteran
Many joined our ranks purely for selfish ny
tives, some through curiosity, and others vali
~ aspiring for political honors, little compII' |
bending the real objects and aims of Oh |
Order. Such members becoming dsappof |
ed III their expectations soon dritted from \ |
leaving our ranks somewhat depleted. VI |
notwithstanding all we have had to encouni,
both from opposition without and foes with
our Order, we are steadily pressing forwardN
our noble work, and If not accom- plishing pc
that we might desire, yet rcaping richly for at
that we have sown in the grange field.
Our Order being opposed to monOpolies IN
every form has, from It's own origin taken II
deep and active interest in the great and over
shadowing question of transportation. We
stated in the beginning of our remarks that
the rapid settlement of the interior of our
country and its development was largely de
pendent upon the motive power of steam not
only for travel and manufacturing, but the
transportation of our bulky farm pro
ducts and inter. commerce between the pro
lucpr and consumer We stated also thar