Year: 1873

thls on which we meet, but one of
these unique events that make eras in
tbe history Of the worlds progress,
The lives Of Contucius and Of Christ
We're religious events Of such impor-
lance that they are used as starting
points for the recording Of time.
From the discovery OF Coperpicus,
dates true astronomical know6 sge.
1 The declaration of our national inde-
pendence is recognized as the birth
day of equality. Newton's true law
Spf eravitatlon may be considered as
| the starting point Of knowledge Of
true philosophy. Fulton's steam boat
was an event which we may lookupon
as the initial point Of our present
system OF steam transportation by
water and land; and when Franklin
captured the lightnings he made pos
sible the wonderful system of electric
| telegraphy. AS these events were
the commencement of great results
in religion, astronomy, liberty, philos-
ophy, transportation and communica-
tion, SO may the convention of the
State Grange of Patrons Of Husband
ry mark the beginning of a new era
in the agriculture of the great State
of Missouri. The occupation in which
we are engaged, from the very nature
of the case, causes us to be scattered
and more isolated from each other
than the members of any other indus
try. While this has some advantages,
it has also worked to our serious det-
riment. There has, from this cause,
grown up among us want of socia-
billty-a lack Of sufficient acquaint-
ance with each other and our own
and each others wants. Our distance
from each other has caused an igno-
rance Of each others character and
ability, and we have often overrated
the strength Of the inhabitants Of
towns and cities and the members Of
other callings. We are, to be truth
full, compelled to admit that in the race
of life we have not been as successful
as our numbers, wealth and common
sense deserves. This has not happen
ed without cause2 Gan we discov-
er it, and if discovered, does it lie in
our power to remove it? My own
conviction is that the first cause tout
of which others grow is our insola-
tion. We labor on our farms the
year through for days sometimes for
weeks, we have little communication
with any human beings, save our own
families. The routine Of the farm
life is not very exciting; our thoughts
are not called into active use; listless-
ness slowly and dimperceptibly attaches
itself to our minds, and year after
year follow each other in the swift
procession of time. While we are at
home quietly holding the plow or
welding the pruning hook the poll
tician is making our laws; the monop-
olist fixing the price'of what we buy
or sell, and the merchant regulating
the commerce of our country. Why
then do we continue in itP Simply
because we are too far apart and too
upsociable to know each others wants
and to rouse each other up to action.
One solitary flint kept by itself will
never emit single spark of fire, but
bring it in violent contact with other
flints or highly tempered steel, then
You will see the fire fiy-both steel
and flint will show the fire which is in
them, and confagration will be
kindled. So it is with us. Alone on
our farms we are like solitary flint.
There is nothing against which we
can strike hard enough to bring out
the secret fire that is in us. BuC
bring us out, let us strike against each
others dints, or against monopolists
steel (stcal) and a blaze will be kin
died by the light of which wrong can
be distinguished from right. If the
Tatrons Of Husbandry will accom-
plish this,it it will bring us together
stir up our thoughts; rub off the rust;
arouse us from our lethargy; bring us
out In the world, flint against flint,
steel against steel, in fair contest for
life's blessing and honors-then the
day in which the work is inaugurated
here will well deserve high place
among the memorable days in history.
To bring us together in social meet
ing TO cultivate the friendship and
amenities of life; to incite and develop
habits OF thought and action; to cause
us 10 bring into us each others latent
torce- were the primary objects Of
our order. When we meet in oranges
and look each other in the face take
each other by the understandings
with each other our inmost thoughts
/ look over our past and prognosti-
cate our future-it sets us to thinking;
thinking sets us to acting, until to-day,
as never before in the history Of our
country, the power Of the farmer Is
felt and his rights acknowledged.
We have, on consultation with our
selves, discovered how that we have
erred ourselves. While our politi-
ticlans, spectators ana monopollsts
have sinned by commission we have
been equally guilty of sinning by
omission. ds


We are living in the nineteenth
century Of progress, OF untiring ac-
tivity. The men of this age are full
Of "push, and their schemes are guild
ed by wits kept sharp and bright by
constant use Evade it we cannof
meet it we must, and meeting it we
must conquer or surrender. Can we
meet the enterprise and intelligence
Of the age by solitary staying at home
and quietly and unthinkingly tilling
our fields day after day, year after
year2 Never, never. We must take
things as we find them and meet them
as they are. We must succeed in the
battle Of life and never say die, bat
push right straight on to victory.


To do this we must work our hands
laaq and onr hrnins vnr,ra etudv mora