The Chickasaw messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1880-1900, 1888-01-19
Announcements.
STATE GRANGE OF MISSISSIPPI.
Proceedings Continued.l
Annual Report Of the Master of the
state Grange, 1887.


state Grange, 1887.
Brothers and Sisters:-The
Grange is a progressive institu-
tiOR, hampered by no particular
class, and distinguished for being
the only organization that has
ever accomplished any thing ben
efcial to American Agriculture.
Every question relating to the
rights, privileges and duties Of
man are legitimate subjects for in
vestigation and 'Hthe good of our
Order, our country and mankind, "
the grand consummation. That
progress has been made, we have
only to note the various subjects
that have boen agitated since its
establishment in the State and re-
suits accomplished. For this pur-
pose we might refer to the laws re-
straining the discrimination and
injustice of railroads, forbidding
our Executive, Legislative and
Judicial officers accepting free
passes from transportation com
panieS, abolishing the Agricultural
Lien Law, forbidding speculation
IN futures within the borders of
the State, the establishment OF the
|. /. & College and the A. & NJ.
College, besides the general i'm.
provement which it has brought
about in the science Of agriculture
and to the development of a "bet-
ter and higher manhood and wo-
manhood" among the tillers Of the
soil. We might in further illus
tration of this truth refer to the
facts that as Patrons of Husbandry
we are slowly but surely, enhanc-
ing the comforts and attractions of
our homes and strengthening our
attachments to our pursuits, ere
ducing our expenses" "buying less
and producing more," and that we
are making our farms selfsustain-
ing. That we are now systematic
ing our work and calculating in
diligently on probabilities; that
we discOUntenanee and denounce
the credit system; the mortage
system, the fashion system, and
every other system tending to pro-
digality and bankruptcy and point
with pride to the fact that Patrons
as class in Mississippi have no
mortgages upon their property and
that their words are as good as
their bonds.
These good result have been
achieved through the power Of or
ganization and the educational in
duences in the Grange, which after
a severe trial of twenty-one years
has proven to be we'll adapted to
the wants of farmers in every por-
ton Of our common country. En-
braoing as it does in its member
ship, citizens of every State in the
American Union; admitted to have
been q leading factor in the civili-
zation Of the last generation,
known to be the only national
farmers organization, within
whose power rests the possibility
of protecting the rights and inter-
ests of agriculturists and remov-
ing the causes which prevent pros
perity; hoving made few mistakes
and fewer failures in its efforts in
behalf of agriculture, it stands out
in bold relief before the world to-
day as the embodiment of splend-
I'd farmers organization, possess
ing every element requisite to a
complete and triumphant success.
Then, having an organization to
which we are indebted for all that
has been done for agriculture
standing without a rival in the
great work of the present and I'M
equalled in its advantqees and
power for future work and good;
it behooves US as patriots and
philanthropists to use all honora-
BILE means for its extension. Be it
said in simple justice to the Grange
that for the paucity of its members,
it has done great and good work.
1t is to be regretted that the
great mass of farmers are so slow
TO realize and recognize the neces-
sity for organization. Had we
have had a sufficient membership
we could have accomplished ia a
very few years what it has taken
US twenty-one years to do. And
could we now secure the numbers
that reason and justice teach us we
ought to have, in an incredibly
short time the cause or causes
could be removed which deprive
farmers of the just and righteous
rewards oftheir labors.
AS stated in my annual report to