The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1882-01-14
FROM ARK KANSAS.
Ae1'er from Worthy Master 7
v" Scott, of the State Srauao

close, and another year has been
added to the history of our loved
order and to our existence &C
people. And while the past is vet
IfeSh IN our memories, could we not
treasure up our experience and
make 1t profitable in the futureP
Inc shortnesS of crops in eyerv
part of this broad land of ours 70.
gether with the high price of all
the necessaries of life. make the
CONDITION of the farming class truly
alarming, and how they are "to
keep body and soul together until
another harvest is one of the great
questions that is now staring us in
the face. There is also another
question which should be consid-
cred IN connection with this, and
that is, what is the real cause of all
this depression and hard times?
There is plenty to carry US
through till another harvest if it
was only ours, but by some means
1t has got into the possession of
some one else and if we get it we
must pay dear for it, and nothing
to pay with. Now as we are the
producers of the wealth of the ma
ton we ought to retain enough for
our subsistence. But, alas, we have
not done so, and now We find that
Just at the time when we ought to
be independent we are dependent.
and 1t does seem to me that this
ought to be warning to every far
mer in the land. He ought to see
now that self-protection is the first
law of nature, and that in times of
peace as well as in times of war he
that does not protect himself is LETT
at the mercy of his enemies, and in
this 10Th century they have but little
mercy left. In many instances our
people will be compelled to go in
debt for another year, and it will
take two or three crops to get out.
1t does seem to me that the farmers
of the country ought to awake from
their slumbers now and no longer
be "hewers of wood and drawers
of water" for the moneyed few. If
farmer is ever to see an excuse for
rebelling against his masters, the
corporations, it is now. | would
like to know how much more it
will take to convince the farmers
that the relief they need and must
have before they can become a free
and independent class is through
the medium of the Grange. Then,
why will they stand aloof from the
cause and put forth all their exer-
tons in finding fault with us for
not doing that which they refuse to
do? If one half the interest was
taken by them in trying to do some
thing that they take in grumbling
at US we could accomplish untold
relief for the farmers, but instead
we are confronted by the argument
that we are not united and that we
never can unite. This is partly
true. We are not united, and how
long before we do become united
they are the best judges, because
we can not tell how long they are
going to be content to serve their
masters. We are doing our best.
We are struggling and battling
with all our might, and our efforts
are not in vain. We have accom-
piishad great deal, and look at the
opposition we have TO contend with.
Not only those engaged in other
pursuits but even our own farmer
friends some of them are opposing
us, and really greater hindrance
to our progress than those engaged
in other pursuits. # this OPPOSE
tion was removed we could soon
see our way clear. Then how long,
brother farmers, before you can get
vour consent to unite with us! we
are told by many that they are only
waiting to see what we are gong
to do, and when we make the
Grange success then, and not I'LL
then, will they unite with us. Now
this reminds US of the man who was
Going to be buried alive because ne
did not have anything to eat. a
friend kindly offered to give MN
corn. The doomed man asked II
the corn was shelled, and when
told that it was not he hung down
his head and said, 'Drive on your
cart, boys; it will have to be sh s
So it is with our farmer trlenos
who intend TO join the Grange
when we make it success. Ii the
corn had have been shelled, ground
into meal, and baked into bread and
set on his table the life OF this un,
fortunate and doomed man would
have been spared. If we will spend
our time and talent and our money
and make the Grange a glorious
success then we can find plenty OF
friends to help US enjoy it, but then
e Won have to work for its success
n - don't desire any Of that kind of
g glory e'' That which is not worth
Struggling for is not worth posses
eiuO =, =,