Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-09-08
AN 0RATORICAL GEM,
COL. TILAS' ADDRESS TO THE;EARM
ERS OF MINNESOTA.
The Down-Pouring Rain Casts Damper
on the State Fair-The Annual Address
Fortunately Lifts the Gloom-A Full
Report of the Grafton.
Especial Telegram to the Globe.l

lSpeclal Telegram 10 the GLOBE.
ROCHESTER,, MINI. Sept. THE
day has been rainny except a few
hours in the afternoon, yet a number of
sight seers have plowed their way
through the mud to look at the magnifi-
cant display of stock. There has been
no programme except the judging of a
few classes of stock. AS l write, the
shades of night are falling fast and the
rain faster, but school house hall is
packed to everfowing to hear Wiscon-
sims great orator, Col. Villas. At s
O'Clock President Thompson introduced
the speaker who was received with
thunders of applause, and proceeded to
deliver an address which commanded the
deepest attention and frequent applause
At its conclusion vote of thanks was
rendered the speaker.
The society will continue it's fair until
fair weather permits the resumption of
their programme.
COL. Villas ADDRESS.
Mr.. PRESIDENT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:
I recognize representative assembly of the
farmers of the most magnificent farm on
earth, whose wide expanse stretching from
the western bank of the father of waters re-
ceives the swift-running light of morning in
glory unbroken before the Rocky mountains
intercept its brilliant race for day; on whose
undulating surface the oceans pour, through
clouds and wind, their fertilizing moisture;
whose broad fields teeming with the fairness
of fecund soil, can satisfy the desire for
bread of all the hungry children of men.
Around us are gathered the abundant evil
evidence OF your material prosperity. The
glory of your fields, the bounty of your dali
ries, the fruit of your trees and vines, the
sweets of your blossoms lie on the well spread
tables; the stalls display the excellent blood
and culture of your flocks and herds; on every
side the affairs of the fruitful Pan and the
bOuntiful Ceres are redOlcnt with the incense
most pleasing to the rural gods.
The scene suggests the theme to whom you
choose for your spokesman. 1t is most natur-
al to the hour to recall those distinctive fea-
lures of the American farmers character and
relations to men which have brought him to
the "happy state and condition" here repre-
sented.
Demagogues love to thrum our eardrnms
with their clamor Of the wrongs the agricul-
turalist suffers, and stir spirit of unrest.
Their regular outcries are doubtless proof of
the healthy condition of our free political at
mosphere; but sometimes this mark of salu-
brity seems trif1e too abundant. Calm wis
dom, with broader view, superior to the irri-
tations of the passing moment, perceives the
solid foundations for satisfaction in our pres
emf state, and sure hopes for steady progress
with advancing years.
Nor shall your speaker be justly charged
with optimism, if he but point to the charac-
teristics which exalt his subject, and give lit
tie heed to the querulous cavils of detractors.
If it were fault it should be pardoned to
the occasion. I am only partly willing to be-
lieve that all the fruits of Minnesota are so
rich, that all her cattle are so sleek and fat, as
the exhibit on the platters over here, as the
splendid creatures in the stalls yonder. 1t is
right to bring out the best to the fair.
But there shall be no such fault. There is
the noblest philosophy in that contentment
which rises on wise survey of great results
accomplished, and cO-eXists with a high pur-
pose to make enlightened progress beyond. 1t
is in that spirit of confidence in his future adj
vancement that I would dwell with pride and
satisfaction on the present character and at.
tainments of our typical American farmer.
Yet venture the essay with great regret
that it must be SO hurriedly and imperfectly
done as to be but hint of the true measure of
the subject.
THE FARMER OF AMERICA
is vastly different being from the kind who
has for ages fretted the soil of the old world.
Various and multiplied are those differences,
but the chief of all, perhaps the producer of
most of them, is the Transformation which
has come over his relations to his fellow men,
de stands forth, first, in sharp contrast with
his cla's in other lands, in the origin of his
title to, and the nature of his possession of,
the soil he cultivates. He entered upon
his fields, not as the tenant or yassal
Of some feudal lord, wearing the col
lar o. servitude and yielding all The
better portion of his produce In re-
'nrn for protection TO him as weakling
laborer. He strobe at the outset beyond the
pale of ancient and arbitrary usages. He bore
in his hands the arms of lord of the forest,
dependent, he took from nature the lease OF
his estate, rent free and bondage free. Not,
however, free of cost and without price; but
the price he paid was the price manhood loves
to render for the gains which do it honor. 1t
was at the cost of that labor which builds ND
the man; with privations which strengthen
rather than enervate; and facing perils which
exalt the soul. With every trunk he lifted to
its place in the cabin wall, a new layer OF
strength was added to his character; every
rood of ground he subdued to cultivation gave
new breadth to his views; every peril he sur.
mounted, every conflict which he won, refined
and sublimated the spirit of his life. And
when, after such discipline of labor and trial,
standing at the door of his castle of logs, he
heard the sound of the contented housewife
within, and the voices of happy children
round about, while his eyes swept the fruit
full possessions he had wrought, from the
wilderness to their sufficient support and
comfort, he realized the
INDIVIDUAL INDEPENDENCE OF FREE MAN
HOOD,
and, with unopened lips, his soul Joined in the
great hymn OF liberty, raising strain har-
monious with the symphony, of the stars,
which heavens ear might hear.
To such man those who wore crowns and
titles were not superior in the elements of
manhood, and he neither so acknowledged
them nor feared them. His thought exalted
him to their level, and he dealt with them in
spirit as their equal. His domain might not
be SO large, but it was just as much his own.
His rights and powers might not be SO extern
sive, but they were equally as sacred. His
happiness lay more in contentment and less in
splendor, but his privilege to pursue it he was
as ready to defend as a king his kingpom. So,
awarding to all like him the rights he claim
ed, he found in his union with his peers and
co-workers the strength and ability to resist
oppression which, all on sudden, manifested
the farm workers of America to be new ele-
ment in the world. They had fought in the
forlorn hope of civilization, and had carried
the assault. In every added hour of life their
understandings, newly informed, came more
clearly to see that the civilization whose BAN
ners they had carried in the front was not
that of the old world institutions of feudal
lord and tenant, of master and slave; but that
the abodes they had wrought were the home.
steads of freedom and independence.
To such men the hour of labor was not an
hour of sodden toll, whose burden was borne
as the laden ass carries his pack; nor the hour
of repose period of british rest. They loved
to pursue high meditatlons, and the problem
of life, the rights of men, the methods of
social order and happiness were excogitated
and understood. They were not the men to
bear unlawful exaction, though king and
parliament put it on them; their manly pride
resented the arrogance of power and the in
science of office; and they taught the aristo-
Gratis of England-who saw with mere scorn
the rebellion ofpeasants they were not
peasants who titled the new world, The con-