The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1882-06-10

on trade, nor honest demands in
business transactions, but simply
taking, or in other words, plain
and truthfully spoken, robbing both
producer and consumer OF that
which of right legitimately belongs
to tbe producer as his profit and to
Ethc consumer as his savings, but
taken from them by special schemes,
chained to be legalized by favorite
legislation.
AS a further illustration OF the
error OF special legislation, we will
name nine railroad corporations
X 4 X who
have adulterated their stock by the
watering process 20 the amount OF
S402, 100000 This four hundred
and two million is fictitious capital,
has no existence, never had being
other than the fat contained in the
decree issued by these corporations
increasing imaginary wealth at
pleasure. Upon the best informa
ton obtainabie, the annual interest
collected on this watered stock
averages 10b per cent, or $43,2lO,-
000;. agriculture pays OF this
amount &c., 248, 500.
Mark, now, this is only the wa
tered stock privileges on nine rail
road corporations. When we add
others of like privileges together
with the favoritism of banking,
manufacturing, tariffs, tax, &C., we
find the amount thus extracted an
nually from the farme rs, as tax d.
riot and indirect, to be at the very
lowest calculation, $500, 100000.
This amount is not taken in ex
change for an equivalent returned,
but simply because special legisla-
ton grants it to the favored few.
Another error to which we desire
to call your attention. =
We have not only made millionaires
by granting them special privileges
to gather the wealth produced by
others but have made miliionaires
by gifts. 100000, 900
acres of the public land have been
given to railroad corporations.
Eleven private individ-
uals own S12,37S,000 acres more.
From capitalization by this water
ing process and government gifts,
we have ovor So, 500, 900, 900 in the
hands of few men.
FACTS AS VIEWED FROM A FARMER's
STANDPOINT.
The farmers have long since been
aware of many errors in legislation, and
in the management of public affairs they
realized that they were bearing much
more than their share of public burdens,
and realized as fully that they were not
permitted to enjoy their Just share of gov
eminent advantages. They hoped for
many years changes might take place
that those errors would be removed and
trusted Their all in their respective parties
politically, and in the legislation of the
States and Nation they relied upon the
Courts and Government tor relief Instead
of the errors being corrected and they re-
lieved from injustice, the evil has gone
from bad to worse, until they, in Justice
to themselves, for the protection of their
own interest and in support of their own
manhood, were compelled to organize,
Husbandry was instituted, made national
in its character, admitting every farmer
and his family in the land who are worthy
of membership.
The object of thus uniting the farmers
into fraternal organization is to enable
them to protect themselves and their in
| terests by educating themselves in the
Grange-to more fully understand agri-
culture and its science, the relation it
bears to other interests, and to become
familiar with the rights and privileges to
which they may have claims under lust
government, and the duties they owe to
themselves, their families, their neighbors
and government. Our Grange meetings
are farmers schools, where everv member
becomes both a teacher and scholar. Here
we educate ourselves to become better
farmers, by studying and discussing the
science of agriculture, its varied interests
and Importance. Here we also educate
ourselves to understand the various ques-
| items of political economy and the affairs
of .ent; this makes us better citi-
zens as we'll as better farmers, and more
generally useful as farmers and as citizens.
| And when so educated we shall exert an
influence socially and politically in every
department of life, that will lead to the
rectitying of errors which now exist and
| relieve the farmers from many burdens
and errors with which they have been I'M
Justly taxed and have so patiently borne
for years.
OBJECT OF THE GRANGE.
The object of the Grange is not to an
| tagonize any other class, nor to wage war
| fare against any other interest, for we
recognize the right and importance of
every legitimate enterprise and vocation,
and we are quite willing to concede to
them every right upon the principles of
| Justice to which they may have claims
We, as farmers, cheerfully aid in the ad-
vancement OF every useful interest, and
shall strive to secure to them protection,
| justice and equal rights with others.
While we recognize the privileges and
| Importance of all others, and concede to
them every claim of right and Justice. we
| simply ask that the Importance of agri-
| culture be also properly recognized, and
equal justice be guaranteed to us. Agri-
culture holds close relationship with
every other interest, and all are dependent
upon 1t for support, and it should be pro-
tected in its legitimate rights and those
engaged in it be permitted to enjoy fair
share of its profits.
For many years agriculture has been
compelled to contribute largely to favored
| interests, without an equivalent return;
farmers are paying taxes for others better
| able to pay them than they are. BY the
operation of pools and schemes, formed
into monopolies, they are forced to pay
forty cents for fifteen cents worth of ser
vices in transporting their surplus to the
markets. Agriculture pays much the
largest share of public Indebtedness, local
and national, and after paying the numer
Gus demands upon it, there is frequently
no profit left as interest on their invest
rnents, often not even paying for their