The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-11-23
Ex-cov. Robe IN KANSAS.
His Address Before the National
Grange Meeting.

MS AuOfeSS 66toro the Nationai
Grange Meeting.
The National Grange is holding its annual
meeting at Topeka, Kansas. Thirty-four
States are represented by fifty-nine voting
members. Each State Is entitled to two del
egates. The meeting is held in the Repre-
sentatives' Hall of the State House. The
members of the Grange are receiving great
attention and Inequalities from the citizens
OF the State and city. The members of the
Grange visited the Agricultural College at
Manhattan, and were given public recep-
ton and dinner by the citizens of that CITY,
This city is fifty miles from Topeka, and the
Union Pacific railroad provided free trans
portation. There was also public recep-
ton Of the Grange at the State House. Gen.
John A. Martin gave the address Of welcome
and ex-Gov. Robe was SEX cted to respond.
The following extract is taken from the To-
peka Commonwealth
Ex-Governor Frederick Robbie, of Maine.
was next introduced, and spoke as follows
1t is great honor to be invited to respond
to the eloquent remarks that have been made
by the distinguished speaker who has pre-
ced me, and to be recognized as the official
representative to return the thanks of the
Patrons of Busbandry of this great, pros
porous and united nation, for the cordial
greetings and generous Inequalities which
are SO freely bestowed on every hand es-
pecially thank His Excellency, the Governor
OF the State OF Kansas, and. through him,
all the people Of the State, which he so ably
represents, for his sincere words Of welcome
and encouragement. The principles of idel.
ity, loyalty and the love of country and
| home, which have made this State grand
and mighty, are the foundation stones and
spirit OF the organization which is here as
| sembled. 49,
All over this broad land, from the lakes to
ths gull, from the Atlantic to the Pacific,
suoorulnal9 oranges have been organized
grange halls have been erected and are occu,
| pied by band of progressive farmers with
| answering faith and steadfaSt purpose, to
stand together, not only for the elevation OF
tne American farmers, the protection and
prosperity of the material interests of each
ana every State alike of this united republic
IL is privilege and pleasure for so MANY OF
the representative farmers of this nation t.
meet together at the Capital in this magnif.
esns agricultural State, surrounded by all
the evidences OF an advanced civilization. II
Is almost an empire by itself and as we
stand together on this sacred soil and con.
contemplate the past, with so many historic
anu eyentful memories, sectional, State and
| nelgnDornood boundaries are at once Oblter-
ated and forgotten, and we feel glad and re-
Jolce that no longer bleeding, but successful.
| prosperous and mighty Kansas is an infiuen.
tlal. integral part Of this free and united
/ country.
| Ihave the honor to represent the northeast.
srn state of this union, extending its TERRITORY
1arther into the northern latitude than any
otner ana near nelghbor to foreign gov
eminent. We are in high northern latitude
ana carry the grange banner high. 1t was
nrst settled by the white man nearly three
Centuries ago. fifteen years before the land
Ing OF the pilgrims at Plymouth. 1t was in
| Maine that the first clearing was made for
agricultural pursuits. 1t was In Maine In
1907 that the first vessel by name Virginia
was built and launched upon the Atlanta
ocean. Agriculture and commerce for many
years Were the chief empl0yments of The
people of Maine. 1t is state remarkable
for its long and cold winters, its soil is gen.
eraLy sterile and rocky and its general ap-
pearance compared with Kansas must have
been very forbidding to its early settlers. but
py energy, labor and frugality about one
nall OF the area Of the State Is cut up int
5000 farms. have the honor to represent
these homes and farms, Astounding with ali
the comforts of rural life, and Surrounded
by all the modern and essential agencies Of
| prohtable farming. | have the honor TO re
j present an agricultural, commercial and
manufacturing State, and 1 bring with me
as an onering the warm congratulations and
sincere greetings of not only 10000 Patrons
OF Husbandry, but the good will of all the
farmers OF the State, and every other indus
Try, full OF interest for the general prosperity
OF this wonderful nation. What a marvel
Gus progress has been made during the last
| century! The early farmer OF Maine and
New England one hundred years ago cui.
tivated their farms in the same manner and
Dy similar methods, using the same rude
agricultural tools, as had been in use since
the Greeks and the Romans.
a hundred years ago and a little more we
ma the pioneer building his log cabin In the
FOREST, Clearing away small patch for his
barley, corn, potatoes and beans, grubbine
. sne sou, twisting around the stones and
pIowlng around the stumps, keeping a few
sheep and cattle simply to supply his own
wants. There were but few business cen
tiers, no factories or manufacturing estab-
nshments, for the markets were very limited
Tor any surplus of crops. In the early DAYS
OF this republic the farmers were the indie
pendent class, for they could do that which
no other pursuit could do; they could feed
and clothe themselves There was little or
no manufacturing other than that which was
done by the village cabinetmaker, the shoe
maker, halter and blacksmith. A hundred
years ago the population of the United
states was largely extended along the Allan
NC coast. The great State of Ohio had NOT
t snen Deeh INHABITED by single white man.
lOO years ago 26 per centum of the whole
population of this nation lived in New Eng
land. New England then had great infii1.
ence IN cons Aquence of its numerical strength
ana It's comparatively large wealth. But its
20 yer ana strength have not been confined
anu utlllzed ON Its own sacred soil, eonse-
Grated by so many historic memories, ami
the Olrth place OF so many illustrious men.
from the farm houses of New England have
gone out into the West, armies of intelligent
me hhen u anu women popping every State, filing
professional and public life. From the
ROCKY nils OF New England have gone ont
some OF the best specimens of American
CHARACTER. This mighty nation has been
made so by the influence of the fathers and
mothers of the American farm by educatina
boys ana girls IN such manner that thew
snail possess the necessary Qualifications n
MI any place or perform any duty. Fifteen
Oh our twenty-five presidents were farmers
Hannibal Hamlin, who was vice president Of
,ne United states during the days of the be-
loved and lamented Lincoln, was born IN n
farm In Maine, midst the rocky hills of Ok
ford county, in sight OF the White Mountains
ana aiLnougn nearly 80 years old he is WON
der1uiiy preserved in physical strength an d
bright Intellect, and is practically a farmer
today. 10 the neighboring State of New
Hampshire, in sight of the same White
Mountains, where Mount Washington lifts
40 ot1NAJ hcdu, Ddulel WEBSTER was born
on farm. He was a son of farmer and
on being presented at an agricultural festi-
val In Massachusetts by President Marshall
+. Wilder as the farmer of Mershfield, Web
ster remarked. you do me more than JUS
tice when you call me farmer. NV father
was farmer and am farmer. When a
boy among my native hills of New Hamp-
shire no cock crOwed so early that did not
hear him, and no boy ran with more avidity
to do errands at the bidding of the workmen
than did. You are engaged in noble en-
terprise. The prosperity and glory of the
nation are based upon the achievements of
agriculture. From these incidents we get
a useful lesson that farm life produces great
men, that farm labor is honorable, that early
rising Is commendable. and obedience to the
rightful commands of our superior is the bas
is of success, and the characteristics formed
in youth lead to the grandest and noblest re-
suits in the conflict of active life.
l have in limited manner called your at
tention to few of the more common statis-
ties and methods OF reasoning, which conclu-
sively places agriculture as the necessary
and leading pursuit of this great nation. is
manifold and great Interests as a political
and economic question entities it at least to
the same protection and favor from public
laws as are bestowed upon other pursuits by
the general and Stale governments. [ am
inclined to accept the language and senti-
m Of that lnuaI u