Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-08-14

made their lives richer and more COM
plete.''
Within the past few years momentous
problems have confronted us which
greatly affect our futuia. New respon-
sibilities have been placed upon us
which we must discharge. Statesmen
may, in certain way, direct our public
policy, but the mass of the people de-
termine the social and political order
that shapes our future as a nation.
Political parties are necessary to our
government They are all seeking after
the welfare of the nation, although they
may differ in their party platforms.
Difference in these principles should
not be discussed in our halls. Only the
principles Of clean, honest government,
of justice and right should be consider
ed in the grange. They are things in
Which we, as good citizens, should make
our power felt.
1t is unimportant whether a policy
prevails or not, but when this policy
becomes law, it should be respected.
+ An unWise law, if enforced, will cure
itself; an unWiSe law, if diSregarded or
Knocked at, is a plague spot, scattering
the germs of disease and death
throughout the social and political or
ganism.
Free institutions working through
the law are the greatest of earthly
blessings; perverted into lawlessness,
they become a curse even greater than
that of despotism.
The laws that we must respect and
obey are determined by ourselves.
Our general public policy, the great
principles of private right and distrlhu-
| tive justice is without our own Great
| ing, and it is a source of inspiration to
| think that 10000 of the best men and
| women in Maine are, through the
Grange. becoming every day better
| fitted to discharge this high RESPONSE
bility, wisely and well, and that their
power for the good is constantly in
creasing.
Corporations and unorganized capital
| must exist to carry on the great indus
tries of our nation. But no man or
| body of men should be permitted to OPP
press those under them. Neither
should any man or body of men be
allowed to control the necessities of
| life-coal, meat, sugar. etc, in order
to lay unjust tribute upon the people.
| Property and property rights are the
creation of the state; their justification
| lies in the fact that they are the means
| of uplifting the race. They should
never be used otherwise.
The Grange stands for the conserva-
| tive element for the millions who must
say in stronger and stronger tones to
great combinations of capital: 1--WE
hail every effort that you make to de-
velop our natural resources, to build up
our manufactures, to extend our COM
| merce; but you shall not exploit the
people, you shall not take advantage
of their necessities by laying heavy
| and unjust burdens upon Them
The Grange will say to labor: Com
bine and organize to defend your in
| terests. to better your conditions, to
raise your standard of living, for in so
doing you are effecting a great public
| good; but the right of no man to labor
and to live by his labor shall be in
terferred with either by open violence
| or by covert conspiracy"
| The Grange will say to the Socialist:
You are free to sail upon your frail
banks through your mental fogs and
mists in search of your 0Eutopia your
|
main on solid land or reality, and there,
| as true men and women, enjoy the
| freest political institutions that the
| world has ever seen, and recognizing
| that strength of mind and purpose, and
| development of mind and character
| comes only by merting and overcom-
| ing difficulties, we shall continue intel
| ligently and courageously to discharge
our responsibilities as citizens of the
| grandest republic on which the sun
| ever shone.
| "And finally the members of the
| Grange. speaking for this conservative
class that it so well represents | will
say to all. official and private citizens,
employer and employee high and low,
rich and poor, obey the law, for obedi-
| ence to the law is the corner stone of
these free institutions and life of the
republic ITSELF
w. J. Thompson, the State Lecturer
was the next speaker. He said that
Brother Gardner wondered why he al
ways had a new speech for every occa-
sion. He listened to what was said al
each meeting and carried it on to the
next one, so he always had something
new, and wasn't responsible for its
character, either.
The Grange needs no advertising in
Androscoggin county, said Mr.. Thomp'
son, and yet there are a few good peo
pie even here, who ought to join the
order, and those are the people fol
whom these meetings are held. Th'
Grange has grown very rapidly during
the past three years, this year making
the largest growth in its history. Thu
Oranges own about 200 halls in th'
State, with many more under construc
ton. There are more than 80 Grang
meetings held every day in the year.
The best way to study anything, HI
said, was to study it living, in progress
And everything was progressing, tn
sciences, history, all human knowledge
one must study things in progress,
he would understand them And tn
value of this study was to throw ligh
on the future. We should never dream
Oh better things if the past had no
suggested them to us. All the improve
mehts OF our modern life had come b.
tnls Kind of suggestion He found TIL