Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-12-19
llo state Grange.


The annual report of MIR. q. II. Ban
croft, master of che Delaware State
Grange, Is paper of considerable inter
est and significance to the public at large
az well rs to the farmers to whom it 10
especially addressed. Tho pressure upon
our local columns has precluded us from
msking room for the report in its entirety
but the chief topics touched upon are the
progress of the grange, the neglected
cause Of the American farmer, the tariff
system, the rspacity of trusts, the sur
plus in the national treasury, alien immi-
grafton and the duty of farmers
TO take more active share in
the State government. Upon the
first topic, Mr.. Bancroft 10 gratiied to
note that the Order OF Patrons OF Hus-
Ohndry, as q whole, has made material
advance In numbers, in financial condi.
ton, in educational development, in
grasp Of the situation and in ability and
determination to champion the cause Of
the American farmer. It has oulgrown
its boom" period, and the resetion that
followed, and 10 now on the up grade,
hereafter to permanently conserve the
best interests Of the builders OF millions
Of rural homes, whose industry, sobristy
and conservatism have always stood, and
always should stand, az the surest sup
port of social order, civil liberty and
good government. Passing On TO dig,
cuss the existing condition OF agriculture,
Mr. Bancroft says:
a few specialists ana peculiarly fortunate
| farmers are still prosperous, but as class
| they are depressed, th6valIe Of their farms
| greatly depeciated, and their moderate
accommodations steadily slipping away from
them. ArsUn9ht to prove this has become
| unnecessary. The situation Is so fully
| attasted by commercial facti and by stalls
| tlc9, That 1t eoMpels the attention OF
| thoughtiul and patriotic citizens IN all the
| walks Of life.
| Bstore seeking remedies for these evils 1t
| Is necessary 10 understand the causes that
| have produced them. Here wa llud wide
| divergence OF opinion, showing the nsgeg.
sity OF capdid a.1iy OF the sui iscr, without
| selfish or partisan bias. Wherever truth
and the logic Of facts Lead, the honest man
| need not hesitate to follow. 1t is claimed
| bHspme that" oyer-p rOduction" II thecHusa,
| hut Il IL rot shown that inc to!linc millions
| q the ear.h navs q suHerabuud lGcs Of
! food, 60 that tho pro0uetS or agriculture
l must waste Tor lack OF consumers, or that
/ TODD istoo caeanly Obtained by the masses.
The "oper.productlon' .heory Is therefore
| false, what chen becomes OF the wealth
| produced from this soil2 It Il carefully
1 gathered from It's countless tiny sources
| ant poured In huge y0.u ne into the Golfers
| OF the great combines
| flhR nv h,,% a.
/ production costs him too much not that ha
| ialis 10 Industry, or sEtil, or economy, or
/ IN the use nl the most improved ulethods--
/ but because he has entrusted the econnmi.
cnl and fiscal leg station OF the country to
| TIE dear old party, and always voted tho
straight ticket" Us the "b5ssesn directed
\ obvious Of the fact thEt tao politician, the
baHksr and me corporation attorney, how.
| arsr bright aud akitful they may DB in the
prosecution OK their own business could
hardly be expected TO uud 9r5tand the needs
i Of the farmer, or to weary themselves to
, study and defend hts interests.
Lot us taEe an illustration from recent
| evaAt8. In coEGptanee WIFI the continued
Demands Of tho farmers, tho miilionnaires
ana corporation attorneys, who mainly
compose the United States Senate. Dor.
mittet the great fundamental interest oil
the country 10 he represented In the
ffestdeuEs cabinet BY q Secretary IO
Agriculture" But our Lawyer President
obBitent to the demands OF partisan poli
tics, aud in opposition to the w!ll OF the
people interested, appointed TO the position
an eminout "laWyer." In his late auuua
message" his legal mind, of course, die
not dwell on the condition OF agriculture
but bis pan made oae uuwary slip, whict
carried TO Its logical and practical conclu
sion would revolutioliae the fiscal legls
ation OF the country. He says "Tha pro
tactlve nrincIple shnul1 ba FnirIv ppnItsd /,