Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-12-23


annual session. II seems eminently fit.
ting after wandering up and down the
State with our annual gatherings for
these dozen years, that this body should
return TO this city, where II first had life,
TO convene In this, the most important
session Of any In its history. For at no
time within that period die il seem 90
necessary, so imperative, for the farmers
of the State, that great conservative
class, who hold Its destiny in their power.
70 meet and consult together for their
best interests, and the future prosperity
Of the whole State.
There is no class that should have 40
great an interest in the welfare OF our
Z public schools as the formers, for upon
tar Z lie rural distiists must our chit
dren depend, not only Tor rudimentary
education, but in large majority OF
cases, necessity compsls the completion
of the limited education, which in their
present condition. pupil may attain.
The winter oourse in agriculture orig
mated recently by the trustees and faculty
Of Delaware College, is a move in the
right direction and should, think, re-
ceive our appreciation and cooperation
Our recent victory in the passage Of the
0leomargarine bill is yet new to us, and
before we can decide as to its benefits,
and before the present session Of Con-
gress is yet week old, o proposition
comes TO amend this law, IL may be TO
our advantage, IL may not be. We should
look to this matter with watchtul eve,
decide what we need, and then act.
II behooves us, in connection with these
questions Of Congressional legislation, to
look we'll to the Legislators. Are we send.
ing the right kind of men TO represent us,
the people of this commonwealth, or do
they represent the corporate and monied
interests Of the country.
One of the most important duties Of
the Legislature, soon to assemble ut
Dover, will be the selection of a United
States Senator for this State. That
Legislature will be composed Of large
majority of farmers, and all being of one
political faith, the selection does not par
take of partisan political action. Will
that Legislature of farmers send to the
United States Senate from Delaware for
the next six years senator who repre-
sents their interests, or will they obey
the behestB Of party, and the lash OF
the bosses, and give their support to one
who has voted In the past in direct oppo.
sition to their expressed desires.
Patrons this is the question Here is an
Office to be filed for long term, six
years. Who can foretell what questions
Of vital importance to the American
farmer, will come before the United
States Senate in that time, and what assur-
ance from past record have we from the
gentleman who is slated for that positionf
Here is work for us. Politicians can and
will laugh at our protest now. When will
farmers learn to protect their own inter.
ests l leave the question with you.
Il Is an admitted fact among our best
informed and thinking citizens that the
constitution under which we are governed
as q state, is inadequate, and unslited tc
our needs. The judicial system, the pres
ent method of appointing, instead Of
electing county and other officers, the plaI
OF representation In the law-niaking
bodies, our assessment and collection
laws and many matters of minor import
snoa ,nasA retarmirs, 70 msst the want
OF an enlightened and progressive people
The refusal to meet this popular dc.
mand by those having the power to do &C
should be visited with our severe con
demnation, and no patron who gives hii
aid, sympathy and support to the men
who refuse is true TO the obligation he
has taken as member of the order.
The order OF Patrons Of Husblndry
has adopted the following, as a part Of
its fundamental principles; "we desire
proper equality, equity and fairness
protection for the weak restraint fci
the strong, in short, justly distributed
burdens and justly distributed powers.
These are American ideas, the very
essence of American Independence, and
TO advocate the contrary is unworthy the
sons and daughters Of an American re
public"
Have we in the past advocated these
ideas, have we supported them by voice
and voter Is the power TO make and un
make laws justly distributed2 Is TIT
burden fairly apportioued2 Are om
assessment and collection laws framed
with proper regard for the equality Of
all citizens. and are they enforced in {
spirit OF equity and fairnessI
appeal to you as fair-minded, un
prejudioed, liberty-loving men ant
women, that they are not. That we nav,
not done what we should, as citizens, o.
as an organization, In these matters.
No state that retains such laws and Ell
actments ON its statute books, so contrar,
to the spirit of American institutions, an'
TO every instinct of American indepen
dence, can hope TO reach d high legre
Of prosperity, or keep apace with ii
sister states OF the republic.
While we depreoate too frcquen
changes in our organic law and deem /
unwise to endeavor TO create sentimen
or feeling of distrust, dissatisfaction anI
disrespect towards the present constitu
ton, yet we seriously question the wis
dom of the trainers of that instrument
in their efforts to place it outside III
power of human possibility to change o
remodel it.
That the people areI the supreme powe
In this land is the very foundation of ou
government and our proudest boast Am
for few men to assume so or 60 year
ago that this age and generation hhoul'
not be as well able, as we'll equipped a
they, to cope with the great questions
self-government, was ut least presump
tious, and we say this without any disre
spect to their memory. We claim tina
the Legislature soon to assemble have tn
undoubted right to pass law submittin
to the people, for them TO decide, wliethe
or not, yes or no, it Ia their wish &c hav
constitutional convention assembled, I
prepare constitution for their approve
or rejection.
No constitutional government can Ion
endure in which the voice of portion
the people is not on an equality with th
other portion where the many is mad
subservient to the few.
The census of 1880 gave to New fastl
county, in round numbers, 80 OOO inhab
tants, while Kent and Sussex, combined
number 10000, and the difference is n
doubt greater, after the lapse Of six yeari
The former contributes one-thiru th
members Of the General Assembly, Will
the latter, with the less population, zen
two-thirds.
To constitute the General Assembly o
o fair, just and equitable basis, the Stat
should be divided into districts, each c
which should elect representative, thu
bringing each Legislator directly respoI
sible to his immediate constituency, an
providing for O representation of th
minority, without which no leglslatio
can be pure and wholesome, and giving I
the people representation on the basis
population, and local self-government
its simplest form.
AT the annual session held in Dove
four years ago J. j. Rosa, then presidin
officer, in his last communication to tn
body advocated prompt faction being takei
the subject has been discussed at eac
succeeding session, and the Grange hi
placed itself on record as an enlightene
and progressive organization, desirous
and striving for the best interests of Il
whole people.
The levy court in each of the counti'
is cumbrous, expensive busine~ o
rangement, that should be replaced !
more modern ideas.