The Chickasaw messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1880-1900, 1888-01-19

one Of these it is proposed to
change Article VII 50 as to allow
each State Grange to regulate the
fees for membership within It's
jurisdiction, provided the mini
mum fee shall not be less than one
dollar. This amendment, If rati-
fed, will be permissory, not man
datory. For several years past
petitions have been made asking
for a reduction Of fees, and this
amendment has been submitted in
response to demands frsm quite 8
large number of State Oranges.
LAND COLLEGE AND A. AND NJ. COL.
LEGK.
Through the liberality ofthe Leg.
Iislature we now have successfully
established the l. l. & College and
the A. & NJ. College. We refer es.
peciaIly to the support given these
Colleges, because of the very &C
tive interest taken by the members
of our Order in their establish
ment, and not because we are OPP
posed to the State sustaining her
other educational institutions. For
be it said TO the honor, not only of
the Patrons, but of the farmers
generally Of Mississippi, that they
do not object to being taxed for
educational purposes, provided
extravaganza and Encouragement
are avoided as far as possible.
Speaking for the Grange, we de-
mand the striotest and most rigid
economy in the conduct and man.
agement of these Institutions, with
all salaries and wages as low as
will secure competent and efficient
service. Mississippi could not, if
she would, afford TO give up her
colleges. For painful as the de-
claration may be, that it is doubt
full whether our civilization is ad-
vanoing or retrograding, it be-
hooves us as a brave people to look
stern facts in the face and meet
every issue ;ntelligently. If we
would advance and keep abreast
Of the spirit of the age, we must
educate the rising generation. We
must build up and increase our ed
ucational facilities and not destroy
them or diminish their usefulness.
THE ELEMENTARY PRINCIPLES OF AG-
RICULTURE.
Eight-tenths of the people of
Mississippi are engaged in Agri-
culture. It will be readily admit
ted that the general system of farm
ing in operation does not indicate
intelligence, progress or enterprise
that ignorance Of the plainest
principles of agricultural science
constitute the general rule, and
not the exception. Our tired lands
need restoring. Our methods of
farming need revolutionizing by
substituting those of progress and
intelligence. If agriculture is to
maintain her position with her
sisters, commerce and manufac-
lures, as an equal factor and CO.
worker in future progress and civ
ilization, then the class pride of
her votaries must be developed by
teaching them the underlying prin-
ciples of their profession. It Is
the paramount duty of the Legis-
lature to look to the interest OF
the people, and knowing this to
be a question of great Importance
to the future growth and prosper
ity OF the State. l feel satisfied
that 1t is only necessary to call the
attention OF the Legislature to the
matter, to have a law passed re-
quiring the elementary principles
of agriculture to be taught in our
public schools. There is work
used at the A. & NJ. College called
"First Lessons in Agriculture, I"
prepared under the direction of
the Board of Trustees ofthat Col
lege, at the request of Gen. Lee,
by Prof. Gully, which is well ar
ranged and suited to the use of our
public schools.
FREE PASSES.