The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1881-06-18


strength. that both may through or
ganized effort be wisely directed,
and to foster in the hearts OF the
people that very just pride which
every one should feel in the glorious
future for our country, which is pos
slble through our superior natural
advantages and the great principles
of human freedom imbedded in eve
nv American heart, and which, I'M
der form of government which is
as dear to us as the freedom OF
which we boast, must develop the
American people into the most pros.
porous, powerful, intelligent and
happiest on the face of the earth.
To this end, it is as necessary to pre-
serve the equality of the classes as
it is to preserve distinct the coordi-
nate branches of our Government or
the constitutional rights and powers
of the States IT is also as necessary
to euualize the intelligence of the
classes as it is to foster the growth
of that sentiment which recognizes
the equality for which we contend.
Our Order may then be said to have
truly originated in that instinct OF
self preservation. which is the first
law of our being, and which has
been called into exercise by the ne
cessities and conditions which have
environed our great industry and
which looks to one grand result
the industrial, social and political
elevation of the farmer.
In the possibilities of our country
in a growth in wealth AID power,
and, indeed, in all the essentials OF
human happiness, no class has
wider or richer field of progress
than ours, and none needs more an
educated intelligence to enable it to
keep abreast with other classes IN
tie work of development This need
is fully recognized by the Grange,
for it bases its hopes of success upon
that higher intelligence for the far
mer for which it provides, and dis
passionate survey of the field will
convince anv one who is capable OF
tracing a cause to its effect, that i'm
mense good in this direction has al
ready been accomplished. There Is
amongst our rural population a spi
rit of enquiry, thirst for knowl
edge, more general intelligence,
than ever existed before. More
newspapers, which are powerful
educators, are finding their way to
the homes of the masses than ever
before, and practical education has
become the order of the day
Whilst the mental vision is being
enlarged the more general attritior
of mind against mind is awakening
the power of thought, and the spread
of intelligence is everywhere mani
fest. 1t proceeds from centers it j.
true, but like the waves of the sea
thew are constantly widening then
circles, and will finally impinge OF
the distant limit. Many of these
centres are found in the Grange,
scattered all over the land, for t
deny that the Order has had its share
in this good work, would argue {
want of observation or an unworthy
spirit of contradiction. Besides en-
couraging such a specific growth II
practical knowledge as the farme'
needs. both in the farm and in the
higher duties of the citizen, it has
given more thought to the education
and training OF the young for prac
teal life than any other organization
of farmers has ever done, and may
well point with pride to the step,
already taken in this direction.
But whilst its educational pro
cesses are in active operation botl
in the schools of the Grange and TO-
the young, and with the most graft
flying progress, it is laboring BY
other means to secure for the farme1
the reward of his toll, through co
operative enterprises, by which al
immense deal of money is saved botf
in purchasing such supplies as ht
needs and in lessening the number
of way stations between the produ
Ger and the consumer. For the proc
OF this, we may point to the grow
ing cooperative spirit in our owr
State as we'll as elsewhere. Beside
Grange schools, purchasing and pro
tective agencies, fire insurance com
panies, under Grange auspices, al
ready exist in many States, and il
affording a cheap protection to pro
perry are giving the highest salts
. fiction; so much so, that it is only ;
question of time as to when the,
will be organized in every State
These enterprises, wherever thel
exist, are weaving into create
strength the ties that are binding tn,
farmers together into one distinc
body, and the greater strength anC
intelligence they have acquired
, through Grange methods have Sc
cured to them already higher re
spectability and more HONORABLE,
position in the social scale. 1t i
welding a powerful influence in re
storing peace and good will to tht
several sections of our common
country, and it stands as a sentine
over the agricultural interest of tn,
country, ready to protect those whc
pursue it against the machination,
Of parties, the corruptions and abuse
of Government, and the Oppressive
exactions of railroad and other cor
porate bodies, which, through un
friendly commercial relations or the
customs of trade, unjustly tax the
products of their labor.
Through the facilities the Ordel
affords for organized effort, the ag
riculturists are beginning to realiz,