The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1881-09-17


iects of the Order challenge the aP
proval Of every good citizen and It
will vet claim the highest recogni,
ton from those who look forward
to that higher civilization to whicn
we, as a people, should aspire.
The Order is based upon primer
piles that are indestructible. It-has
not sprung into existence from the
ephemeral outcroppings of a discon-
tented class, but it is a grand move
ment which has been evolved IN the
fullness of time, out of the exigen-
cies of the most important indus
trial class in our country, the neces-
sity for a more just conception OF
its rights and interests, for wiser
economy in farm management, a
higher intelligence for performing
the functions Of sovereignty. and in
preserving the equilibrium between
the several classes in our social or
der, that we may preserve our Tree
institutions and counteracr the dan
gerous tendencies of too great a
concentration of power and wealth
in the hands of the few.
No industry has suffered so sc
verely as that of agriculture, and no
people have ever been subjected to
greater wrongs and more oppression
than the. farmers of the South have
been since the war. We have been
working all the time with the sword
of Damocles hanging over us, pow
erless in a great measure to help
ourselves, on account OF the great
changes brought about in our social
condition and the complete uPheaval
Of our labor system: the country
devastated and plundered, and being
left without a circulating medium
which has thrown us completely IN
the power and at the will and mercy
of moneyed rings and corporations,
the National Government, too, be-
ing hostile and iniu1eal towards US.
1t really seems that Landlords
box has been opened, and all the
evils, wrongs and injustice, that
could be imagined or thought of,
have sprung from it,that could affiict
and Cypress our noble calling.
Laboriflg nrder SO MANY disad-
vantages it is certainly Wonderful
how we have got along and sue
ceeded as we'll as we have; yet out
of all these evils that have environed
agriculture, there has flashed from
them the conviction that those who
pursue it constitute a distinct class,
from which must Some the wisdom
and strength to defend its rights and
foster its interests. 1t is in the prov
ince of the Grange and it is its duty
to promote this wisdom and strength
that both may, through organized
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
of our country, which is. possible
through our superior natural ad
vantages and the great principles
of huran freedom imbedded in
every American heart; and which
under our form of Goverfin1ert is as
dear to us as the freedom of
which we boast, must develop the
American people into the most
prosperous, powerful; intelligent
and the happiest people on the face
of the earth To this end it as ne
cessary to preserve the equality of
the classes, as it is to preserve dis
tinct the coordinate branches of
our Government or the constitutional
rights and powers of the States. 1t
IS also as necessary to equalize the
intelligence of the classes as it is to
foster the growth of that sentiment
which recognizes the equality for
which we contend.
The Grange may then be said to
have truly originated in that in
stinct of self preservation which is
the first law of our being, and which
has been called into exercise by the
necessities and conditions which
have environed our great industry,
and which looks to one grand re
suit, the industrial, social and politi-
cal elevation of the farmer.
Fellow Patrons, the duties and
obligations of our Order are vari-
Gus. In our s'Declaration of Prin-
ciples" we publish to the world the
object of our union. One of the
higher causes is to advance educa-
ton amongst our neighbors. Our
organization is mutual school, it is
field to be cultivated,-we are to
be the cultivators; we are to be the
teachers; we are the scholars. We
must and should be active, and by
a proper cultivation of our minds,
our hearts and heads, we shall be-
come elevated, more liberal and in
dependent. The Creator endowed
man with certain inalienable rights.
He has given you, my brother, my
sister, a mind to cultivate. Shall we
not strive to add dignity to labors
Shall we not encourage others to do
so? Make of it what you will, there
is dignity in labor The mind is the
brightest display of the power and
skill of the Infinite Mind with which
we are acquainted. 1t was created
by God and given to man, so that
he might be fitted for higher state
of existence. | need not point out
to you the capabilities of the mind );