The Republican journal., 1888-12-27
Patrons Of Husbandry.

| Grange in Bangor last week Worthy Maste
Robie delivered his annual address, which wa.
| listened to with earnest attention. 1t was
| thoughtful effort. full of valuable suggestions
and eloquent passages. In the beginning, Mas
| ter Robie paid an eloquent tribute to agricul
! ture, and reviewed the wonderful progress /
| has made within the present century. Speak
| ing of the work performed hy the Grange. he
said:
| 1t cannot have escaped the notice of thu Pat
rons of HuShandry that by our per>e> ering ef
forts, more than by all other causes combined
we have practically >ecured cabinet position
for the head of the Department Of A.rcu-
ture. We have done much to restrain the
aNarlce and greed Of corporations. tue burden
some requirements Of our patent laws. and the
evils and frauds of aduiterated food and arti-
cleS of common Use. We have secured the
passage of the oleomargarne laws. the inter
State commerce law the establishment of cN-
perimental agricultural stations for each State
in the Mon. and nave advanced the interest il
Of public education and morals everywhere.
We have organized farmers life and fire in>ur-
ance companies cooperative stores. farmers
exchanges, and other organized and cO-opc rl-
tive business helps. These are among the
triumph~ of the Grange. and they place it at
once 1T the head of the column As Il band IF
aggressive and progressive workers for the in-
tcfc>t Of agriculture, and tile Grange is there
fore worthy of the confidence Of the American
hu>bandnhn, whether be tiii> the soil and fol-
lows the poW among the rocky and sterile hills
OF Maine. OF cutivates the corn belt and " heat
fields, reaching from the Atlantic to the Pacific
Ocean. or IL engaged in the raising Of the fruits
and products of the sunny lands of more
southern latitude. We have the same and one
common interest. We have stood an, acted
together. tnd have accomplished much that We
have demanded from our State and National
legislatures, for the interests of the farmer.
There still remains much 10 be done. Grange
halls mu>t be erected. the ctade> Of our
strength. reaching frt III ocean to oc, an. These
forts must he held hv Il rc>oiutc and aggressive
band Of Patrons of ilu>banlry The farmers
must come to the front, and demand by their
numbers and wealth that combinations. mo-
ncpolies and trusts. which destroy confidence
and wrekt from Il burdened people profits
which are unreasonable and unjust shall for
ever ceash by the power of law, that gambling
in farm products hy dealing in futures. shall
be regulated by an honest government III the
interests of the people
The Grange is opposed to the giant strength
of monopolies under the control of heartlc>>
capitalists. W ho by de> poic combinations com
pei the people to pay eNorbitant prices for
what they must buy. Trust companies with
enormous capital have been formed to hold
and control the entire sugar business of the
country. thus making to Il few capitalists ei!or-
NOUS pTOHl> Oul Ol lnt pockets ul llt people
The New York Times recently tahulatcIa long
list Of trust companies organized to control The
production OF linSeed oil. school states. steel
rails. and even those articles upon which sue
ces>ful agriculture depends, such llow>.
reaper>. mowers. binders. nails, and even conn
mercial fertilizers. The spirit Of The Standard
Oil Company Of Pennsylvania. the prihre Of
monopolieS, has taken possession Of many 9TH
er corporations. W hicli are walking boldly and
deiantly over the rights of the people.
Brother farmer. consider these matters. and
i'll the language OF Senator Elmun.l>, of Yer
mont. to the farmers of his State. keep up the
organization and continue to press for simple
justice aud the far play that you art emitted
to-
We recognize the efficiency and the ta, oral,lr
results which have followed the work of the
State experiment stations in the several States.
and especially cur own. and We demand their
continuance. with such liberal public appro-
lriatioiS las will insure that the, i"l hc ad-
nlIHlStered Oh huSlnu>S principles. and make ii
possible TO retain and develop the highest eli
cheney. the best specialists and investigators in
the different branches Of knowledge and the
arts which pertain 10 agriculture in lis highest
sense" To the end that the department OF
agriculture may have ample means to collect, (,
compile and disseminate ali the Information T.
suting from the work OF the experiment sta
ilon> OF the mon. bh 'aliing in and utilizing
the best science and other useful means t. help
eSt> of the greatest agricultural nation III the
world.
The Grange is one of the best schools for The
young farmer to educate him for am active par
tlclpation i'll the town meetings. conventions
and the leyi>laturt--for too man, farmers of
rrer years have already found out that mon of
far less ability and influence than Themselves
ottentimeS get the advantage in II discussion of
public questions. by Il better know ledge of the
rules ot parliamentary law. Let our farmer
boys come to the front in this respect, and cut
uNate self reliance hy the opportunity and
practice of the Grange, and not he compelled
hereafter to take back seat. or display on
common occasions an ignorance in parliament
tary law unworthy Of az American citizen.
Master Rohie next gave an Interesting az
count of the meetin. Of the National Grange ut
Topeka. Kansas. flft,->lN delegates FROM b
States took part in the meeting. There is <ii.
600 in the treasury well invested. During Tie
year i9> subordinate Oranges have hccn form
ed. and the membership is increased by ihou--
andS. Master Robic paid an eloquent tribute to
Capt. Put Darden. of Mississippi, late Worthy
National Master. who died Il short time ago.
The tax on sugar was one of the principal top
les discussed by the National Grange and in re-
gard to this matter Master !,obit has this to
say to the Maine Grange:
Let the Changers Of our State place them
selves on record in favor of protecting this
home industry by tbe payment Of bounty of
from two TO four cents per pound to the >ligar
making interests of the country. instead of the
present burden>ome method of protection.
The bounty of four cents on the present Yield
of POO, 0,O0O.O00 pounds Of sugar would be ii tnN
of ss,0Oo.0co annually; it >hou, protect and
develop the sugar industry of the nation. and
would probably result in the saving of 500
900 900 annually to the people, for the ext 10
years. equal to 81 apiece to every inlabtanf
now in the country. The people >honld de-
mand this protection to themselves, and the
Master Robie urged upon the Grange the I'M
portanre of sustaining the agricultural papers
of New England, and especially the Maine
Farmer. which, he said, had done much for the
farmers of Maine, and was closely identified
with Grange work.
Concerning agriculture IN Mainr. Master
ltobie said:
There has been a CONNIE ndable adN ance and
a continual progress i'll the agricultural history
of our State, since the days of forest clearing
and stump pulling, aS is shown 10y the better
farm lands, comfortable and beautiful homes.
larger barns and granerieS, improved stock and
we'll selected farm implements. Our agrlru'-
tura, State, county and town fairs give good
evidence of improved farm stock. and that all
the crops of northern ati'ude can be raised
in Maine, equal in quality and quantity to tho>',
| of anV State in the Ii mon similarly situated.
| Some of the farms located long distance from
| business centres. have suffered in consequence
| OF the lack of home market>-otherS by til"
| neglect of judciouS cultivation. Here ana
| there are found farms entirely run ont and fast
| becoming waste land. because the own ncr> have
| too long depended upon the fertility of the
| virgin soil without restoring its yearly dis
counts of plant growth, by adequate lnailuring.
| 1t is grave question whether tn" state Of
! Name would not be better off if 1t should Ell
| courage the occupancy of its deserted farms
| by an entire exemption from taxation of land
| and stock to those farmers who may cultivate
| them. and also stimulate the efforts Of many