The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1882-02-25

awake from their sleep anu JON III
the grand work which lies before
the farmers of our State.
The State Grange has at every
meeting within the past six years
urged upon the General Assembly
of Virginia the importance and the
necessity of some legislation which
would give to the producers of to-
bacco that protection to which they
are entitled, and to this end the rep
resentatives of the people were
urged to enact uniform inspection
law requiring sworn samplers and
weighers, which should apply to
all the markets in the State. Such
law is now pending in the Gen.
eral Assembly.
This Grange recognizing the fact
that Virginia is peculiarly and en-
phatically an agricultural State. has
urged the passage of such law as
would establish the agricultural de-
partttient upon a wider and firmer
basis, so that it might be in posi-
ton to develop the agricultural and
mineral resources of the State, pro-
tect the farmers from the sale of
worthless and fraudulent fertilizers,
furnish statistical information in
regard to the crops and products of
the several counties, make known
to the world the advantages pos
sessed by our State for agriculture,
for mining, for manufactures, and
thus invite immigration and capital,
to build up the waste places caused
by the results of a fratricidal war.
Such law is now being consider
ed. and there is is every reason to
believe that it will pass.
There is also a bill pending to
give the State supervision and con-
troll of the railroads to that degree
that no unjust determinations shall
be practiced, no unreasonable tolls
levied, no abuse of power shall be
welded by strong corporations to
rob and destroy "the chief industry
that fills the channels of commerce
with its products, sdstains manu-
features, feeds and supports every
useful labor, and maintains the
credit of our country at home and
abroad"
BY the continued agitation of
these great questions by the Grange,
its public speakers, and its press,
the people have become informed
and have come tn the conclusion
that the only remedy was in legis-
lation. Therefore they have APP
pealed to the law making bodies for
relief and there is every reason to
believe that the relief will be given.
The strength and influence of the
organization in this State, as we'll
as in the other States, cannot be
measured by its numbers. What
ever may be thought by others in
this regard | have contended as
is well known, and do now contend
that the Grange in our State is to-
day eHecting more real good than
at any time in its previous history.
For even where the fires upon the
Grange affairs have apparently died
out, there the living principles still
remain, buried deep in the hearts
of the noble men and women who
once gathered with so much of hope
and JOY around these affairs, and
whenever occasions demands that
they give expression in regard to
any matter in which these princi
piles are involved, they will always
be found acting side by side with
tbs Patrons of Husbandry.
Then let ustake fresh courage
let us GO forward in the future as
we have done in the past, faithful
in performing the duties which we
owe to ourselves, our children, our
country, and in good time we shall
see that it was not in vain that we
| labored.
show to the world that we are
something more than laborers in the
field of industry.
We many justly claim that our
profession has made our country
rich and powerful, and in the lam
guage of the report of the Commit
tee on Agriculture TO the National
Grange, say that "the grand indus
try that has done so much is yet far
within the measure of possibilities.
Its rapid development has no visi-
BILE bounds, except in the indiffer-
ence of the millions engaged in
production to the encroachments
upon their civil rights; or in more
comprehensive phrase, these mil
lions who till the soil with benefi
cent effect have yet grander
achievements in prospect, if they
can be true to their own interests.
Their danger lies in the neglect of
civil duties or intelligent apprecia.
ton of such duties. 1t is fact,
supported by incontestable proof,
that agriculture pays far more than
its just share of taxes for the sup
port of government, and it is equal
ly true that its products are cheap
ened in the hands of producers
that they may yield larger per cent
ages of profit to the various inter
est intervening before use.
Let us confess in full sincerity
and with plain understanding of the
facts, that these exactions of agri-
culture and its products are in no