Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1893-09-01
POMONA GRANGE.
National Master Brigham's Adj
dress
At the Meeting i'm BrattIeBoro, Tuesday
Afternoon. Aug ~


grange meeting, but the speakers of the
hour were listened to with a close and in
terested attention.
The meeting was called TO order bv Mr..
Underwood of Westminster, and after
singing by the grange choir a cordial adj
dress OF welcome was made by o. r. Ware,
TO which j. 5. Day of Townshend re-
sponded fittingly Mrs. w. f. Mixer gave
humorous recitation, and then State
Master Alpha Messer was introduced to
address the audience. He expressed his
satisfaction at seeing so many present, say
ing That II there was any place in the state
that could stand rainy day it was Brattle-
boro and Windham county, because of the
enthusiasm and the numbers in the organ
lzation. His remarks were upon the "Po-
sition of the farmer" the subject being
considered from social, financial and an
educational standpoint.
The farmer is of necessity separated
from the social centres, and his position
before the advent of the grange organiza-
ton was one of comparative isolation.
But he has been learning and to show the
improvement in this direction one has but
TO refer to the meetings of the grange in
town and in county, and the general uplift
which has come through this organization,
and which is worth continuing.
Financially the farmer is in better condi-
ton than many other classes. Reference
was made to the highly prosperous condi-
ton of farmers at the close of the war, and
of the subsequent decline, while trusts and
monopolies increased. But there always
comes time when values seek their true
level, and now while the financial state of
the country is so disturbed, the farmer, at
least in this section of the country, is fair
ly prosperous. In the parts of the state
already visited farmers were found gener-
ally in good spirits and cheerful.
Education was declared to be the corner
stone of the grange edifice of which coop
Grafton is the capstone. While some
classes are more cultured than the farmer,
none in the community is better educated
in the practical duties of life. Farmers of
New England are intelligent men and
women, and all they need to enable them
to take their places in the front ranks is
the development of the faculties they pos
sess. This educational work the grange is
doing, and intelligence, integrity, morality,
honesty and patriotism are being developed.
At this point Miss Jennie Goodenough
sang a solo, the chorus being given by the
choir, and after it Col. j. II. Brigham,
national master of the grange, was intro
| duced.
Col. Brigham congratulated the Vermont
farmers upon the fact that while there is
suffering in the West and Northwest, the
farmers of New England are so prosperous
and in nc danger of losing their homes.
Considering all things, the accessibility of
the markets and the associations and cir
cumstances which surround the home,
there was no reason why the New England
farmer should not feel pretty well satisfied
with his condition. The farmers position
should not be decried; there is no cause
for young men to abandon agriculture or
leave the farm, where a competence can be
acquired by which the family may be well
provided for and the children given an ed
ucation.
The topic upon which Col. Brigham
| spoke was "The farmers share" He re-
| ferred with much warmth to the share
borne by the farmers who landed on Ply
mouth rock in transforming the wilderness
into a region filled with happy homes.
When the time came to withdraw from
the burdensome yoke of the mother coun-
try, Lexington farmers fired the first shot
When the world recognized the fact that a
new government was to be made, men who
were farmers gathered with others to make
|
government was fairly launched farmer:
performed their full share in making the
country the wonder of the world for pro
gress. Again when fraternal dissentiOr
threatened to divide the country, the far
mer boys were on the field, not to return
till victory was won, and after the struggle
was over did their part, and large part
in developing the brotherly feeling be
tween the sections, until now the condition
is better than the most hopeful dared Il
hope could be brought about in the shor
time that has elapsed. The farmer ha
borne his proportion of the public burden
paying for the government and the protec
ton it affords. Having done so much u
ensure the prosperity of the country, he i
surely entitled to his share of the profits
his labors, of which, by various agencie
and influences, he has been deprived
In social and educational way, we hav
rights, and should receive not only on
share of the profits, but of the honor an
recognition. There is nothing in farr
life to hinder a farmer receiving fair POI
ton of honor and recognition. Farmer
are wronging themselves by standing idl
by and not asking for this recognition
Wise selections should he made; ma
should not be put forward simply becaus
he is a farmer, but there are men on tines
Vermont farms who could fill with homo
the chair of the chief executive OF til
state. or legislate wisely in the state cour
ellis. But we must be willing to accept tn
responsibilities, must know how to invest
gate ntelligently the great questions OF IN
day There are great problems to .
solved and great dangers to be guarde
against,-the dangers from trusts and m'
nopolies, and the gathering of vast fortune
into the hands of few; the dangers frol
the concentration in our cities OF lawle'
men. the worst elements of all nations
the dangers from immigration. Provlsio
must be made for all these things, an
farmers must be ready to intelllgently taH
their share in the work.
If farmers are to secure what should
theirs. they must get it by strong, unite'
intelligent effort. They must see 10
that some one between themselves ana u
: consumers doesn't get the lions snare
the profits. If they want favorable legl
lation let them unite in sending men ihte
ested in agriculture to the state couhcl
and TO the national congress. Men CIV
their heartiest efforts to what most near
concerns them, and naturally men engage
in other pursuits than farming give the
first thoughts to something other Una
agriculture. An instance was given
COS