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

even to ourselves the length, the breadth,
! the heighth and the depth of its great
ness and its influence. We then welcom-
| ed the Grange in our midst to cheer Us
/ upon the farm, to make us better agricul-
| turistS, to make US more charitable and
! peaceable with one another, and better
men and women through it all. We en-
couraged education, but little suspected
| that after passing the rudiments of
| Grange knowledge would be opened up
to US so vast field for thought and inves-
| tigation. How wonderful has been the
influence of the Grange in bringing
farmers up step by step to a standard Of
true manhood with powers of thought
and Willingness and determination TO
solve every problem, whether of business
or of politics, which acts or reacts upon
| its calling. How could we know in its
| infancy that the Grange would accomp-
fish what armies could not do, and about
| which politicians have proven themselves
such miserable failures? l allude to the
| complete suppression of sectional animos-
| titles and to the fraternal and national
feeling existing in our Order throughout
the entire Union. In a little while will
assemble in this city, the politician from
our various States to tear agape the
wounds we have been trying to heal: to
to squabble, to wrangle, to work for par
/
country.
| cannot think it altogether vanity, to
suggest that perhaps it is well for Us to
meet in Washington as contrast to such
proceedings as are every year enacted in
this place. We know that our objects are
peaceful, our feelings are national and fra
ternal; and that our work is for the good
of the whole people; but many mis- Judge
US yet and accuse Us wrongfully-not
-Io+
poses are.
Thirteen years ago was conceived in
this city, the idea of an organization of
farmers. 1t is little singular that men
not directly engaged in agricultuka should
perceive the necessity of sucn action
among farmers, when farmers themselves
had not formed an idea of the sort. The
founders of this Order had better oppor-
tunity here for Judging of the necessities
of our class than if they had been direct
ly associated with US, and it was Il noble
impulse which prompted them to devise
: means for the Improvement of the most
: neglected of all classes. Like men stand
! ing upon some high eminence, who can
look around and discern the face of the
) country, so they saw from the National
Capitol an inequality existing throughout
the land; they saw an unjust division OF
the Nations wealth, learning and infiu-
! ulatiOn was mOnopOliZing and absorbing
the proceeds of industry, large major
: ity was declining in education and politi-
cal influence, and whose life was becoming
a desperate struggle for bare existence,
and barren of the hopes and aspirations
which only free and educated and pros
porous people can feel.
: We come to this city, the Nations Cap
: itol, without any hope or expectation of
t minglng in its gay and fashionable
/ society. Nor do we propose to ''beard
the lion in his den;" the politician under
: the dome of the Capitol as has been init
mated by some; nor to dictate terms to
our political representatives. We pro-
= pose in the National as well as in the Sub
= ordinate Grange to be educated, to give
: breadth TO our views aud render our
: selves worthy representatives of a great
: industry, the welfare of which is para
| mount to every other interest. Its fol
lowers are the most numerous, and should
be the controlling element in every de-
partment of State, which directly or lndl-
rectly has bearing upon its interests.
We are here to perfect our organization
in order that we may be enabled to ac-
5 complish the purposes as declared and
published years ago, which are ''lor the
good of the Order, our country and man
kind" No narrowminded sectional ideas
2 have ever characterized our Order, for
I owe cherish the belief that sectionaliSm
t is, and of right should be, dead and
7 buried with the past. Our work is for
: the present and future. In our agricultu-
$ raj brotherhood and its purposes we rec
ognze no North, no South, no East, nc
Vest
We live in an age characterized by great
and mighty forces at work in every depart
..TE, HI, off tst- -
: individuals can 90 but little towards CON
trolling the elements at work around us
= Combination and cooperation are par
| of the spirit and progress of the age, anC
are recognized By all thinking men as the
: great factors in the success of any under
) taking whether social, commercial. polit
cal or religious. Our effort then Is tC
= organize and combine our class for the
: protection and maintenance of our right:
and interests as Il class not to antagoniZC
/ others.
4 Through unfriendly legislation greater
D burdens are laid upon our industry than
: it can bear and prosper. Capital Is al
: lowed to form combinations and Absorb
an unjust proportion of our earnings
Y and to fix the price of GU" products
t / Transportation companies by unjust dis
e ordinations are allowed to destroy Oul
t property rights. We are required to pa
: port the National, State and count.
# governments, besides the UNI Just an(
i unrighteous amount paid for protec
+ ton.
# When we asked for cabinet officer w,
S were ridiculed and classed with cord
: wainerS and shoemakerS. Our petitions
e are pigeon-holed and our cries for relic
5 unhceded. All this is for the want o
e combination and cooperation on on
part, and proper appreciation OF tn,
e duties and responsibilities devolving upol
e as the laboring and producing class o
$ America. Our interests are ignored b.
V the legislation of the country, and yet "
t, are taught TO believe that the highest dut
If of patriotism and craftsmanship is L
If protect the laboring and producing class
e As this is not done under the prescn
d regime it is evidently and eminently on
N duty to combine, as we are now doing
Il throughout this broad land and proteC
ourselves.
rs No higher compliment can be paid YOU
% the founders OF this order, than to por
N to the splendid results already accom-
N lished by your followers. You have don
If much to liberate the minds of the farm
D. ers from the shackleS of party spirit an
ID To fix thin upon the good OF the coui
i'd try, and the development of its nation;
Of prosperity.
IF While much has been done, much sti
N remains undone. Having passed th
j. dangerous period of organization, W
m can safely say that henceforih our cours
er will be onward and upward to the az
,: complShment of sill greater victories
ne With the significant words, education
in agitation and cooperation, emblaZone
as on our banners, we will never cease I'll
or struggle untice and equality are secure