The Brookhaven leader., 1883-06-28
Capt. Pat Darden's Address st
~ Coon. CaseyyiIIe. ..

the address delivered by this distinguish
cd gentleman at Grange Hall near Casey.
vile, on the 1sth inst. As is well-known,
Capt. Darden is the Worthy Master of the
State Grange, and speaks by authority
from that body. boz
The speaker was gracefully introduced
to the audience by DIR. r. II. Applewhite,
and began his address with conservatism
and equanimity Of manner which was
unifCrmaly maintained throughout.
He started out by stating that the far
mers of Mississippi, with few exceptions,
are not prosperous, and he need not go
further than the badly fenced, dilapidated,
poor and neglected farms of Lincoln coun-
ty, which were in keeping with those ofthe
State over, for the proof. For this condition,
however, he asserted plainly and emphat-
ically, the farmers are themselves chiefly
to blame. No all-onc-crop country could
be prosperous, and he pointed to the all
rice sections ofSUuth Carolina, and the
Northwest where he said the farmers are
as poor as ours who raise all cotton. Di-
versity of crops, good stock and love and
cultivation of home, is what is needed
among the farmers, and the Grange is try
ing to impress this truth upon its members
Much has already been done toward diver
sifeation, the introduction of improved
machinery and stock through the influence
of the Grange, but it is barely begin
ming of what is hoped for.
At the outset of its career in this State
the purposes and principles of the Grange
had been greatly misunderstood, both by
its members and outsiders, and this mis-
understanding at one time came near prov
ing fatal to its existence Seven years
ago when he first took the lecture field,
scarce handful of men were present at
his meetings. He was compelled he said,
to speak in private houses, and frequently
to less than dozen people. Politicians
and the monopolists frowned on the new
tangled thing and laughed it to scorn.
That portion of the press that spoke at all,
was opposed to its sway and was open in
denouncing 1T as a fraud. 1t had no
friends save few Jealous men who watch
ed its progress with the greatest interest,
and who labored night and day. Now
things are rapidly changing. Wherever
lie goes large crowds have eongregated
and great interest is demonstrated The
press, once silent (or respectable minori-
ty of the leading journals of the State), he
said, is striking telling blows in behalf of
the farmers cause. He was pleased to
see it. In the place of ten or twelve
Grange organizations in the State of Mis-
sissippi, there are now $50 subordinate
Oranges, and instead of 500 members, they
now have upwards of 1900 in the State.
In the United States there are $4,000
Oranges, with an aggregate membership
of /, 100000. 49,.
Now the monopolists are growing nec
vous again, but they need not do so, if
they will concede what is right. The
Grange is not party organization, and
does not discuss political parties in its
meetings, and he showed how impractical
BILE the formation of National Grange or
Farmers party with nearly all the Gran
gers of the North Republicans, and nearly I
all those of the South Democrats, with a
wide di versity of local interests. But the
Changers here and elsewhere, do propose
to discuss and have something to do with
politics, and politicians and others may
make the most of it, if they like.
He INDUCED in a talk on protective
tariff, and showed clearly how it affects
the farmer. He further. said that while
laws had been passed time and again in
favor of other classes and interests, there
is not q law on the Statute book of Mis-
issippi looking specially to the farming in
terest, which is the foundation of all 9th
ers. He had made this charge in every
county in the State, inviting a citation to
the contrary, and it lad never been con-
tradicted but once; then by Col. w. H. H.
Tison, late Speaker of the House of Rep
got up and pointed to the
lien law! "The lien law indeedp' he replied,
and when he got through with an analy-
sis of that infamous law, the Colonel con-
fessedly saw it through another pair of
specs. He passed briefly over this in al
luding to the Claiborne county Grange
resolutions, and considered its repeal
foregone conclusion.
As regards the Claiborne county Grange
resolutions, much had been said which
only displayed the ignorance of the critics,
and he read from the proceedings of the
State Grange at its meeting in jackson
last December, embodying in the main the
same resolutions. In regard to the reso-
luton pledging candidates, he said it was
not the purpose of the Grange to go into
party politics as the Grange, but its MEM
bers are requested to act in behalf ofthen-
selves, with such parties as guarantee
them their rights and the protection of
their property. 1t has been the practice
immemorial in this country to pledge can
didates to certain platforms, and it is a
privilege the voter has the unquestioned
right to exercise before he casts his ballot.
When officials fail to endeavor to advance
the interests of their constituents, then
&,