The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1884-02-16

| the fresh vigorous MANHOOD that moves
the wheels of commerce, manufactures,
literature and art From them comes the
great intellect that mods, shapes and gov
erns our country. These are facts which
cannot be controverted, and can be amply
proven by the census reports and biograph
ica histories of our country. Then is il
not highly essential that every help our
rural population can get should be used to
advance them to a higher plane of thought,
refinement and culture? There is no avo
cation or calling that brings one into such
close relation with nature and its laws AS
the farmer
The hidden, mysterious springs of life
and production in the animal and vegetable
kingdoms are thrust upon him for their
solution, any one of which contain secrets
the human mind has never solved. In
this beautiful country, where our favored
lot has been cast, we fully realize the di-
vine command coming down through the
ages to till and dress it and that it must be
by the sweat of our brow, the beautiful
homes and improved comforts of civiliza,
ton amply attest.
In this onrrlshing age of the world we
must be fully abreast with all others in
everything that pertains to the develop
ment of our country.
If in the past We have neglected our
duty, trusted to others what we ourselves
ought to have done, those mistakes must
be righted have We obnoxious laws upon
our statute books, whereby we are de
barred from retaining our wet lands, or
the improvement of our highways, they
must be removed by the intelligence of
our people. We cannot sit idly 10y and see
the miasma rising from our sloughs to
poison the air and engcnder disease, while
our creator has placed within our reach
clay and coal for tile, and given us intelli-
gcnce to use them. And how can we meet
the great questions of the day? How can
we make the influence of the farmer felt,
but by being organized and working to-
gether? 'Tis the height of folly to expect
it in any other way, and the sooner we re
aliZe this fact the better it will be for us.
We need our organization to educate us in
the great problems of our industry, in the
live political issues of the day, yet above
and beyond all other considerations we
need it for its social advantages The far
mer, with his round of duties and cares, his
mind absorbed with questions we cannot
solve, seeking and striving for light on
some vexed subject, or perhaps financial
difficulties weighing him down, needs so
much the social benefits the grange gives
him. The wife and mother with her
round of domestic duties and cares that
pertain to her household, and the many
crosses she must meet, how like the genial
sunshine the grange meetings break into
her life, dispelling the dark clouds of DIES.
pOndenCy and gloom that seemed to be
settling around her and give her new
heart and courage to battle with life's re-
alitieS. Yet re-eminentIy its grandest
results and greatest good are for the young.
1t has been said that the songs of Il country
had more to do with mOIding its morals
than its laws. If that is so the recreationS
and amusements of the young certainly do.
Young life must and will have amusement
and recreation 1t is the very law of their
being, and just as essential as it is to
breathe the pure air of heaven.
Where else can such advantages be
found for amusement instruction and
morals as in well conducted grange ?
Could all our young people in the country
be thoroughly drilled and disciplined in
the grange parents would have little to fear
from their falling into temptations when
going out from the parental roof
We have an organization that may well
stir the heart of any farmer with pride to
be member of, embracing as it does hun
dreds of thousands of the best men and
women of our country. Yes, not only of
our country, but Canada with her forty
thousand patrons greets us in our fraternal
bond. With such men as W. NJ. Wood
man, OF the National Grange, Gov Robbie,
of the far east, W. NJ Cotton, of the Gold.
en- State, and not least among the standard
bearers of our cause Worthy Master Mil
Ter, of our own state and the host of other
bright luminaries throughout our country,
we may well have hope and courage The
principles of our Order are better under.
stood and appreciated than ever before
The welcome, God speed our cause, comes
waited to lis from far and near At the
late meeting of our State Grange in
Springfield the Senate Chamber and Su-
preme Court room were opened to us and
every assistance rendered to make the
meeting pleasant. The governors mansion
was thrown open and warm, cordial re-
ception given to the State Grange by his
eSteemable lady and others. The future is
full of hope and encouragement for Us
Let us press boldly onward in our work
dare 10 act from a conviction of duty and