Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1881-09-24

system of states ; our grand and powerful
nation !; fifty millions of people mourn. And
why? Why these flags at bali mast; this
Grape, aud these tolllng bells? Last night the
telegraph told us that James A. fairfield was
dead. The intelligence gave poignant sor-
rov In the cot OF the poor, as we'll as in the
palace OF the rich. Few presidents had more
the confidence and love of the people. He
is gone-gone. The nation bows It's head in
sorrow. Ii ia without a chief. But the in
telliSencs and loyalty of the people will per-
NIT no shock to be felt. The machinery of
government Will move on 40 ii nothing had
happened. AS head of the great farmers
organization III this nation l join the. chief
OF the order In this state in hoping that you
will adopt the beautiful and fitting resolu-
tons offered by your committee. They do
honor to Missouri
Tit motion to adopt the resolutions was
put to a rising vote, all being requested to
| vote and to vote their sentiments for or
against. The entire audience rose to its feet
In the affirmative vote, and remained a mo-
ment standing apparently in silent medita-
ton. Tn vote was unanimous. |"
After the taking OF this vote dinner was
announced. We DO not purpose here to en-
J ter into q description of the feast, for 1t was
| a feast. The good ladies of the grange al
ways make ample preparation for such &C.
%caslons, but they really surpassed themselves
on that day. All sorts of substantials, as
many varieties of delicacies, and all In such
abundancethat there Was three times rs much
as could be consumed, evidenced that Provi-
| dence had been bounteous in Its hberality
| to those there assembled. and that that kind
! of civilization which teaches the highest
| form of hygiene In good cookery was thor
oughly appreciated.
After dinner the people again repaired 10
| the stand, and we're addressed by the master
of the national grange. MIR. Woodman is a
tall ana portly gentleman OF commanding
presence and pleasant, regular features.
| His address is good. He does not pretend
to oratory, but is a plain, practical and some
what forcible speaker. His home is at Paw
paw, Van Buren, county, Mich. He was
elected master OF the national grange for two
years, at the annusl meeting which took
place November 1879, at Csnand aigua, N. Y.
The meeting last year was at Washington
City, as will be the one next November.
MIR. Woodman began his speech by an
| apology for his voice which he said was
hoarse, because of the numerous speeches
he had been called on to make. He SAID that
he did not expect to dazzle his au dience with
brilliancy OF rhetoric, that he did not pre-
tend to be an. orator, indeed that he was
.ere more to meet them face to face, and to
assure them of the prosperity, growth and
strength of their great brotherhood OF farm
ers. than to make a speech. Having been
one OF the four agricultural commissioner s
appointed by the government to attend the
worlds fair at Paris, he had made it his busi-
I ness to visit in their fields and In their homes
the farmers OF Great Britain and the CONT.
nent, and everywhere in the old world he
had found q degradation of the agricultural
classes which would astonish the farmers OF
America. Whether in Ireland where the
lowest condition prevailed, to France where
the farmers own the soil and are the most IN
dependent OF all European farmers, he found
the agriculturlst at the lowest plane OF so.
| cisty, largely because all other avocatlons
and because they allowed others to do for
them their reading, writing and legislating.
He eulogizsd agriculture Without detracting
from other callings, and urged farmers to
join their organization aud support it in It's
educational and social features as we'll as in
its consideration Of political questions. He
asserted that the grange was the first great
organization OF farmers, while merchants,
lawyers, doctors, mechanics and others had
for q long time known the value OF organi-
cation. He defined the politics OF the grange
to be non-partisan, but contemplative OIL
their merits of sIl questions of political
economy. He urged democrats to attend to
their political duties in their own political
bodies, and republicans to do likewise In
theirs. He spoke ot the Importance of g
proper dissemination of public documents OF
merit and interest to the farmer; of the val
liable cooperation rendered by the press,
and urged 8 constant effort to secure fol
public places OF trust the very best men. He
never gone into partisan politics except to
Its detriment; and said thai so sure as ii
: should ever do 80 generally it would sound
its W death knell. He spoke at length Of
what the grange had already accomplished
Its revolution of the agricultural department
at Washington ; Its effort to have the com
missioner OF agriculture made a member Of
the cabinet Its influence IN securing decis
ions of the supreme court of the United
States declaring that railroads may be regu
lated by law of the growing number o
farmer congressman; Of the lobby and IT.
nefarious work, especially deuouncing tn,
appointment OF Stanley Matthews, the UnIol
Pacific railway attorney to the suprem
bench. He denounced the patent laws a
lniquitous; and said that under them limo
cent pnrchasers Of patented articles ha,
been dragged hundreds Of miles to Unites
States courts, tried Tor arrangements, an,
stripped Of their farms to pay costs and dam
ages. He urged farmers to educate them
selves SO that they could be on an equal foo,
ing with the giant monopolies which wer
fastening themselves upon the country, an
which threatened to educe The farmers @
America to the condition OF the farmers G
Europe. He protested that the farmers wer
! the friends OF the railr Dads, but that wine
four men could closet themselves in q parIo
In New York and raise or depress the valu
!, OF every acre of farming land in the cour
: try, and do things which congress would nc
: dare to 10, 1t was time to be alert In defens
! of the farm property Of The county. H
T concluded his speech with a few ~facetIou
: remarks regarding the mysterious .goat an
. !. creased pole" which seemed TO deter som
r persons from Joining the order, AMI close,
E = in a very eloquent and pretty peroration ur
8 on unity, brotherly love and noble aspir,
= = tions.
Mr.. Eshbaugh was then called on for
q speech. but declined saying that the tin
d had been fully and well occupied, an
promising to give Lafayette county i've {
u six days some time within the next thrt
: months.
The exercises OF the day being over az
y vanMge was taken of the large assembling
of farmers to pass the following resolutio
y offered by Mr.. Isaac Neale and seconded /
MIR. Jas. E. Gladdish:
Resolved. That We, the farmers of LAFAYETTE ~
% adjoining counties, here assembled, desire
say that we feel greatly Inundated and wrong,
that q number of train robberies have occur,
10 in our vicinity. and that some of tue oulla,
still remain at large. We heartily approve {
steps that may be taken to apprehend and pul
ish these mIscreants. and will uphold the han,
~ OF Governor Crittenden and other officers who
u duty it ID to rid us of their presence; and
- protest that harborlng such men is being pa
! - tsceps crfmiHis with them.
The resolution was unanimouIy adopte
ut Upon motion the meeting adjourned.
g. 1t Is sale to say that u plessanter or mo
10 profitable assembly of the people has n
been held in the county for a long lime.
Removal.