Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-12-16

organized effort; and in seeking for the
cause they have found that there has
come to the people en- masse what be-
fore had been seen only by the In
dividual--the vision that the future Of
the State and Of the Republic rests
upon the broad and enduring founda-
ton OF agriculture. They have discov-
cred that the nation rests securely in
the cottage: that IS per cent. of our
: exports and therefore our surplus
wealth comes from Agriculture; that
the possibilities Of the 10000 farms in
this State alone, under rational treat
ment, are almost beyond computation.
! They have discovered further, that
i the agriculturist has finally concluded
$ that laws to equalize taxation, to re-
move embargoes from his products; to
! improve his roads and to open up his
mellow acres by cheap transportation.
must be laws which originate, in the
main. with him.
In looking still further for the cause
.,of its numerical and moral strength.
they find that in this secret order. as
perhaps in no other. has the superemi-
i nency Of woman been acknowledged;
!. that grange partnership with the sweet
siwife and mother with her ennobling
!. influence in raising the standard of
a,farm and home, is doing more than the
! self-appointed champions of woman's
position and rights can hope to accom-
Y plish on the lecture platform in hum
dred years.
q These elements and principles which
have wrought so nightly are woven
into the warp and wool and shine
through and illuminate the bylaws of
the organization. These principles.
discussed in grange halls and crystal
lized as they are now into higher
thought and action, are unifying the
tillers OF the soil until they no longer
stand alone, but are a united force In
the world of progress. To such an
organization, with such a mission. the
gates Of the city open wide. All honor
to the men, who. more than gener-
alton ago, saw the future of this move
ment and the emancipation of the
farmer and the farm.
There still stands, in the city of Lon
don. that famous old cathedral of st.
Paul, an example of the majestic and
beautiful in architecture. Within, a
simple tablet bears the Latin inscrip-
ton: Isl monumentum requiris cir
cumspice"-if you seek his monument.
look around you. While that colossal
pile resists the levelling process of the
years. Sir Christopher Wren will need
no other monument to his genius.
And so. methinks, when the future of
the country and Of the State is moulded
and fashioned to a still greater degree
by this organization and it's principles
and coming generations shall seek a
fitting monument to perpetuate the
memory of Patron o. H. Kelley, the
New England farmer. to whom organ
ICED agriculturists owe so much, it will
not be found in the little brown build
ing In Washington where on Decem-
Der, 4, 1857, that first little meeting was
held: nor yet will it be found in the
perishable bronze or granite shaft, but
on the contrary:
A broad citizenship, making self-re-
lance and acknowledgment possible;
commercial and business relations that
conserve the interests of the farmer;
public burdens resting equally upon the
backs of all; legislation for the asses
and not for the classes; the markets of
the world for American farm products
proper conception of the dignity of
labor; broadened lives of the men and
women of the communities-these
achievements will mark as no monu-
ment can, the end for which he
wrought so wisely.
Again / say to you, patrons of such
an organization. you are thrice well
come. May your sojourn within our
borders be profitable and pleasant;
may your deliberations and actions re-
suit In larger usefulness to your order,
to the communities you represent, to
your State and to your country.
AS Mayor Davis concluded, Worthy
Master Gardner arose and on behalf
of the State Grange and it's 10000
members eloquently thanked the may
or and through him the city of Water
willie for its splendid welcome. He con-
trasted this meeting with the one held
in Waterville. % years ago. when the
city seemed hardly aware of the pres
ence Of the State Grange, and conclud-
ed that both the order and the city
had grown and advanced since then.
He accused the mayor of having de-
livered the response as well as the
managed to frame a most happy and
fitting response himself.
At IL o'clock a recess was declared
until P. NJ, and the delegates quick
ly poured from the hall. for the true
Patron knows what to do and how to
do 1t when meal time arrives.
Afternoon Session.