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

been put iri~operation bynevery civilized
countryin theswor.d. The measure was OPP
posed by such men Is Sir Robert Peel and
the Duke of Wellington. and even Sfdn.
Smith lamented the concessions OF the
Ministry as sad and unworthy marks OF
weakness, such as to fill reasonable men
with alarm. Petitions came pouring IN
from all parts of the land to at least give the
plan fair trial. The Government at length
recommended Mr.. Hills scheme, and 1t
passed Parliament after much opposition in
both houses. Mr.. Hill had been brought
TO work out his scheme to relieve the peo-
pie of the many trials, Inconvenience and
vexations occasioned by the high rates then
in vogue, and to prevent the subterfuges,
smuggling and many artfui devices 20
evade the Government tax and to meet the
constant demand that postal privileges
should not be confined to The rich and es-i
pecially to Government officials.
In this connection | will quote SEN
tence from the Report of the Committee
on Dormant Oranges presented at the last
meeting of the National Grange:
"Nearly all the great reforms which are
now agitating the pubic mind and engaging
the attention of the best and most influential
men of the country had their origin in this
farmers organization; and when, some day in
the future, the impartial historian shall make
an accurate and correct record OF the great
and important measures which were adopted
for the relief of the indus trial interests OF this
country, and which had the effect of placing
our great country on the highway to prosper
ity, wealth, influence and power, the Grange
will stand forth prominently ss the great pro-
jector, and will shine forth with peculiar and
| brilliant lustre as an organization which has
done so much in SO grea; and good cause"
1t seems unaccountable1 that under a
Government like ours one clsss should &C
quire ascendancy at the expense OF another,
but such has been the gradual and effectual
growth of monopolies- and corporations,
that the present day witnesses the undeni-
able fact thatwhile aminoi 'ty are growing
| enormously rich, the great mass of the pco-
pie are struggling for an independence
which they feel they are entitled to but
which they cannot attain no matter how
persistent their efforts or how hard they
struggle. For years mysterious hindran-
ces, causes unseen and undefinabie, have
| been operating against the prosperity of
our industrial classes. Agriculturists es
pecially have suffered, and work as they
| will, things invariably go contrary to ex-
| pectations and previous calculations. Sta
| tistics show that the country at large was
| increasing in wealth and prosperity, while
| farmers as class found it impossible to
keep pace with the general prosperity. Be
| fore the organization of the Grange they
| grew weary and dispirited believing there
must be some inherent deficiency in them
selves or their calling which kept them in
evitably down and cut them off from the
hopes and aspirations of other men. An
/ INV ho paNrIa
rendering to the fate which seemed to have
decreed them "hewers of wood and draw
ers of water"
| While the rich were growing richer, the
strong growing stronger, there were men
who did not fail TO discern that the poor
were growing poorer. They believed that
| Republican institutions were not safe
where such inequality among classes pre-
vailed, an inequality not only of wealth but
| of education and political Influence. Such
| thinkers as these were the founders of the
Grange. With rush, people went into
| this Order that promised better things to
come: help to the needy, education to the
| ignorant, relief from grievous burdens, and
deliverance from state of hopelessness
and despair to one of promise and good
cheer. The great host of Patrons moved
forward, panoplied and high spirited. The
Red Sea of public opinion parted before
them, it rolled back and stood still while
Changers passed along exultant on their
march. Once in the desert, they looked
about for substantial evidences of judi
cious change. There came no mamma from
heaven, nor had the Grange any bread to
offer hungry men and women. 1t had not
allured with promises OF food and raiment.
and could only offer benefits which seemed
1 To no l,,lav no eh tha
and designing, empty and contemplate
objects not worth the pursuing, so they
turned their backs and went their way, and
greatly reduced the number Of Oranges.
With ranks thus divided, true Patrons
went forward, believing in the promises
| they had received. They found trials and
! discouragements on every hand. There
was opposition. ridicule and contempt
without, and lukewarmness and desertion
within. And where stand we now? and
what point have we reached in our prog
ress towards the full and complete realiza-
| ton of our hopes? We are in the depths of
the wilderness and in the midst of the war
| with princiPalities and powers that would
| overwhelm us and put out the light which
| the Grange has kindled We cannot re-
| trace the steps v have taken nor return to
| the 1esh-pots of Egypt. We must hold
fast and push forward or perish where we
| stand. The end is not in sight Our leaders
| in this pilgrimage may be gathered to their
fathers, this generation pass away, and it
| be reserved for our children to enjoy the
| rich heritage for which we now battle.
| That the principles for which we now
contend will finally triumph, there is no
doubt. And if we, the leaders in this move
ment for the amelioration of the condition
| of the toiling masses, would cease to take
counsel with our fears, we would soon
| gather sufficient strength to bear down ev-
| cry opposition and secure to the present
generation many ofthe measures for which
| we contend. Brothers and sisters, are
| you ready to take the stand for the right?
SUBORDINATE ORANGES.
The advance made by the Grange in
knowledge of public affairs is truly Won
derful when we consider how inapt farm
| ers are to take hold of matters outside of
their own personal concerns. It shows
the adaptability of the Order to all our
wants as class. 1t gives opportunity for
the development of agriculture at home
and inevitably leads to broader fields of
knowledge, bringing them at last to cope
with the great powers of the land and to
demand in the law making bodies recog-
milton of their rights. How. clear the
issues have been made and the magnitude
of the struggle have become so apparent
that we dare not falter or grow faint in the
work. Wherever Subordinate Oranges
thoroughly understand the principles and
objects of the Order the members are
never lukewarm in their attendance or in