Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-12-17


the storage of ice There is not village
of any considerable size in the State that
does not have its ice house. The shores of
many of our large ponds, lakes and rivers
are lined with these erections. Many OF
these ice houses are owned by parties out
side of our State. Vessels are daily leav-
'ig our shores during the summer months,
carving this product to those who are not
bile to produce this great crop of our State.
Why should not this industry bear its
share of the burdens of taxation? l am
aware that it 10 argued that the profits are
uncertain, and that what there is in it is
labor. l believe that the profits are not
more uncertain than that of farming, and
not more labor enters into it, and certainly
it is a crop that never, never fails in Maine.
There are alto at present, and the num-
Der annually increasing persons who are
living upon salaries, or receiving from other
sources large incomes, whose taxes are
merely nominal. Why should not these
classes assist in supporting government:
| trust that you will give this question of
taxation your most careful consideration
for if we as farmers are in majority, and
at the same time are bearing unjust bur
ders, where lies the fault, il not with us !.
erdeavor to relieve us, if we stand with
folded arms and look idly on: Our resolves
should be accompanied with work, and ii
that work has been heretofore neglected at
the ballot box, let it be done row with our
legislature and let 1t not cease until our
rights are secured
Education.
Thousands of years since the Sons of
Zirach asked this question "How shall he
have wisdom who followeih the pillow, or
whose talk is of bullocks:"
This question, which has been unanswered
these Thousands of years, is now being
solved by the Patrons of Hnsbsndry
throughout our free and happy country.
The answer of all is-by education in the
grange; education as taught in our grange
halls, by our Boards of Agriculture, in
fact might say, by our many organizs.
tions for that purpose. These are giving
the farmer wisdom. We, as Patrons of
Husbandry, are gradually seeing the nee
es,ity of higher and better education,
And it is being given, year by year, higher
place in our order.
In the grange school the rich and the
poor, the educated and the uneducated,
meet upon common level. In this school
VIC labor to disable ignorance. to place our
selves on higher plane, and prepare our
selves for higher and nobler life. We
here should devote our time to studying and
discussing the business methods of farm
ing.
We are expanding large sums every year
educating our children, that they may enter
upon lfe's duties upon IS high plane as
possible, and while educating them in the
ordinary school methods we should, at the
same time, enleavor TO impress upon their
minds the importance of keeping up this
education in after life, msking them feel
that the farmer has not only seasons for
work, but seasons for study and improve
ment, and that these seasons will be open
TO them in the grange.
Courses of study suitable and preparatory
to rural life should, and | have no doubt
will through the iOnuence of our order,
soon be taught in our common schools.
without education life is almost hope
lessly narrowed. We therefore should, by
gu. work. our influence, see that our com
mon school. are made educators, in the
true sense of that term, giving our children
such wisdom as will lead them to the high
es. mental, moral and Ihy steal powers, ard
the grange, the continuation of this educa-
ton, fitting them TO be ever ready to dis
charge the many duties of after life with
honor to themselves and our organization.
Conclusion.
In conclusion, let me endeavor to i'm
press upon you the necessity of giving
careful consideration to every question
presented for your action at this meeting,
and when our labors here are closed, our
Al and rafurpeH IN
homes, let it be with a determination to
make one strong eff )rt, one cooperative
move to strengthen our order, to organize
new oranges and revive dormant ones in
our vicinity. A little sacrifice on the part
of Us all will make a grand forward move
ment of our noble order. In this work,
let us all bear in mini that strength does
not always lie in numbers. We should
take only those into our counsels who we
believe will be cheerful, willing laborers
those who are ever ready. ever willing to
till the ground before gathering the crop.
Let us only encourage those to eater our
folds whom we believe to be of pure char
acter and ready to make earnest workers
Those only who are good citizens and
neighbors will make good Patrons. One
great lesson we have yet to learn, and that
IL, 10 nave cobuucHce III onIsti'es rs ihru
ers, confidence in ourselves as business
men, confidence in our order as Patrons of
Husbsndry.
The grange must be a positive force,
and while l would not array it in hostility
to sny sect. party or industry, there are
wrongs which we can, and should. correct
These wrongs can be righ'ed if we are true
to our principles which in the past have
been our guiding star, ever keeping in
view the fact that principles, like every
thing else in this life. must be proere ssive.