The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1882-02-04

We, the members Of the National
Grange, desiring to define the precise OBJ
ieCts of the Patrons of HusbandTy, and
place them before the membership Of the
Order throughout the Union, do hereby
set forth the following propositions with
our distinct declaration of purposes re-.
lating thereto.
The industry upon which our Order
is based is Agriculture-thc most indie
pendent of all industries, the foundation
and support Of all others. the true basis
OF all our National prosperity. We have
observed the condition Of our people, and
viewed with alarm the encrOachmcnts
upon their natural rights. While AgriCul-
ture is the chief source Of all our wealth,
and therefore deserving OF at least equal
recognition with other yocatiOuS, it IS de-
prived Of its just rewards and oppressed
bv methods of law. 1t is made to bear
grievOus burdens not its own; ii is COM
PEELED to pay taxes which an equitable
distribution would place elsewhere: it is
forced by wicked combinations to submit
10 hurtful determinations against ifs pro-
! ducts both in transportation and in the
marts Of sale: its vOtarieS have been and
arc now denied that consideration IN pub
lie affairs to which the magnitude and
the Importance OF their calling entitlc
them The laws of the Nation and Of the
from our great industry the rewards
which are the incentives to toll, and an
earnest rCmOnStranCe against their iuius-
tiCe spurned.
In view of these truths. we are bound
i'll defense Of our manhood 10 assert our
rights, and we therefore declare our IN
alterable purpose to emancipate AgTiCul-
tUre from the burdens uniustly hoped
upon it, and the means by which we hall
n
l. We shall strive earnestly, w1Unin
and without our Order, to extend the
benefits of education, which shall COM
prise knowledge of public affairs and the
methods of self-government.
2. We shall demand admission in the
Legislature Of the several States. and in
both Houses of the National Congress,
for representatives of Agriculture chosen
directly from its votaries, as the only
means of relief.
3. We shall accord TO other industries
all the rights, privileges and immunities
which we claim for our own, and lUin
with their representatives in earnest enc
deav0rs to impress upon the General and
State Governments the habits Of wise
economy and frugality as essential TO the
thrift and prosperity of all the people.
4. We shall give constant care and at
tentiOn to the public schools, in which
the youth of the country are deeply inter-
ested, limiting expenditures therefor only
by their usefulness, striving always for
that higher and practicable enlightenment
which should become the distinguishing
feature Of free people.
After the above had been adopted, the
| following was also presented and passed:
In accordance with the above objects
of on. organization, and the methods by
which they are to be obtained, We -sdge
our unyielding devotion to 4e work
marked out. We believe the prl ciplcs
enUnciated in our Declaration are n full
| accord with the highest welfare Of our
country. and that they deserve support,
especially by all farmers. The history Of
Agriculture on this continent shows that
no organization in its behalf has ever
been attempted without direct effort Oh
the part OF those who prey upon its pro-
ducts to neutralize the work, and the less
ons of the past establish the conviction
that our only hope is III the full and cord
ial cooperation of farmers, wherever To-
Gated, to insure that success which is
within our grasp.
We appeal, therefore, TO good men and
women. whose interests are our Own to
Join their efforts with ours, confident lat
with their support we shall not wait hong
for the consumation of our hopes. We
appeal TO the agricultural Journals of the
land asking their great influence in aid
OF the above objects as 4 potent means
for the attainment of great object. TO
these forces, and to the intelligence of
our people, we present the purposes
which animate many thousands OF farm
ers in every State of our Union, and rev
erently trust in the direction of the wise
Providence, in whose decree we We're
made tillers of the soil that our efforts
may be rewarded by the full accomplish
ments of the measures which justice de- q
mands in the relief of an oppreSsed-in-
/ dustry, and the higher enlightenment of
Its yotaries.