The State Grange

A year lias paesed slmce hiere we niet in councU. We congratúlate our brothera and Bits tors in tne order, and extend our congratulations to our ínoiliiT (armera throughout all tlie land, oai tiH' boiintifui crope whlch a kind providftnce hoa voucheafed to u.s. and the remuneratlve prioes whlch our pioilucls brwig. While we cannot rejolce over the iius.ortuiiies oí our brother farmers In focteiffn lande, wc are bhankful, llial Drom thi' aliiinilaiU'c oí our stoi-rs we au spare enough to supply thelr wants, au 1 íivd the hun.ry niillinis whose borne supply has iaileil them. 'llic lii-ijíhli r (lays. who.se dawjiIng we s.uv a y. ago and propheslftd lm our report, are'fasi approaehlng. 'íhe wíae and íearlesa Btateeíii.-! n-ii i i which ciinti-ois our forelgn relations lias opened markets abroad heretolore cloeed to as, and removed í'e.siraints and procured concessions Which iiave broadened the (Iemand i ; . - '.mr producto ioi foreigu lands. The rapiil building up oí new Industries and the revival and expansión ui' ola ornee is so enlarging our home mark ■: iliai we need no Longer lear to p-lani leet our abundant erop siüi-ilii glut the markct and leave our labor unrewarded. Beüeving, however, tha1 we have a duty to perfoirm, beyaad and hlgher ;u,.n ,li.' mere ralsdioK and marketing di crope: in educating and eleg iii' (armer above the mere drudgjery of farm Míe, to a highcr intellectual acttyüty and broader riewe i' public afiair.s: and to awaken in hiin a srlf-oonscionsncss that he has il. duty to perforjn as ;m American citizen, in protecting the weak agalnst the stirong, and resisting tlm unjust exactions oï lmcorporated capital, we Bliall continue to pohit the way to mare just and cconomical conditions, and to suggest remedies tor exiatlng cvils, to oall pon tfhe people to right wrooga that imbridled R-reed bas iji:licted and is still inflicting upon nn bonest but too conïiding public. As the ol;j ets. motives and methods of tbc Grange are more or lese confoun(k'l in the public mind uilli the numerous poffitical farm organlzaroiis which have Bprung up in the land siaice the Grange was organized, wc deelde to oorrect Miis error by mtocmiiig all that the Grange ba aoi a ])olit;c:il argandzation. Jt oífers no crazy patchwork tri inconsistent, inuois and conflii'cting demanda apon government as a partj platform lor farmers to Stand upon. li refusee bo be used by thé politleal ïnnlcoiifmts oí cithcr party as a niinmerdal factor of equal rtghts tor all, and special privileges to none, and recogni:dn; the common brotherhood oí all lawful iinhistrics, it demanda the confidence and respect of the public pri'ss, and the sympnthy of all pat-riotic cltlzens. lts mission is to build up and improve, not to tar down and destroy; to cou-eot abuses, not to cripple ar impede legitímate enterprlee. The Grange döea not cali upon its members to abandon their creeds, or forsake tlii'ir church; bat it does aak them to infuso among their brethi(-n i'ii the church a broadcr humanirty and a mare charltable coosldertóon oí the differing views of others. It does not require its members to abandon their political partics, and vilify and abuse their farmer assoclbut it does usk them to enter to activity uto their party coumils and endeavor to ek'vatc politics above the mero consideration of paxtlzap advantage, and direct them to the greal neede of a rapidly advaadng peoplie; and eepecially the needs [ agricuSbure tor a proteetlve barler against the robberles anfl exaioiis o; boards of trad.' and orgaiüïed apiial. The Grange appcals to the cison and consclenee of the people, niot to tnelT passions or prejuuiuca, ; appeals to the statement of uil Ku-ties, in the firm belief thut. 11 H )oit.s out the ri.srht wuy, they wiH ollow the pa-th we blaze, and correct ie errora oi our random Unes. In our Grange halls we dtscuss 11,01 nly those economie questlona whicli Heet our eaUlug as (armera, but we iecues those broader questions ol pobïcal eeciiciny. that affect, the well )eini; of our whole country. It is iere w-e formúlate our views upon U Important public queetiona tor ilimission to the delgated assenili,uv oi all the Graagera o;' the state x be passed upon, and such as are apirovod are sent forth as tho expreson of our order, tor the candid conaeratlom of an intelligent public. So far as we suggest remedies for exietimg diffk'uHies ( abuses, point out iniiK'iiiliiiiï dangers, or propose modes of acta om for the bettcrinent oí the farmers' oondition, or for che promotion of the toteíesi and tel' are of the people. we aak for tliem reepectful ooMdderatiioB by all. NATIONAL FIXAXCKS. As we prbfllcted in our last antual report, the additioa to our eurruicy of national fcreasury notes baeei on the goiid valui' of 4,500,000 aunéis of Bllver per momli. the product o, our ;;old niinu's not used in the arts. and tdie balance oí trade in our duHii'-i year, liave not been sufiicw'n!. t' meel iii" wants ol Uglti■ business. Au unnecessary strinücy aas prevalied in the money miarket, crippdtog business, anfl premtlng the proseeutlon of enirpris-4 projected early lm the year. Thai ;m annual Inoreaee iu t ie uraicy tnuch larger than that fufnlsh'ed ader the ppeeeat law i necesparj to meel the lmsinrss wants of tke COUniiy. is so ualversally admittefl by all save those depenidlng on fixi'ii Incomés or interest on money loanecf, thal we deern an extended diBCUsslcm "i the at ihis time unnecesaary. The balance m' fcrade with foreign tries in (inr favoi1. and tli' prouc! of OTir Lï'ld a.iKl mines. not raed n the arts, as a l:sis for (Iciiiand treasnry notes would bo ampie for all oeeds of the country, wre it not for Immense outflows of tnoney to pay Interest and dividruds on foreign capital Ioaned and inTeeted ín thi.s country. The amount ihus earned b.v forcign capital as interest aml ilividcnds anioiintn to more than 9150,000,000 0 year, and is 80 rapidly ni-rcasing tlrnt, unli'ss checked by propar Ii'.íííslation, it wlll exact au nnmial tribute froni the America il peopk' of $400,000,000 for the boaefirt of EntfMsli capiital dwing the neil (iencration. Tliis dralin durlaig the laaf ttoc&l year has aniounted to more tlian the entire oulput of our gold ;inl iilver added to the bn Lance oí trade la our favor. This constant outflow of money, or Lts equivalient in product, for which nothing is retumed, is au annual tas upan the i.ndutj"y "f our country, and the gsreateal uwhaee I .our continual prosperity, IIv ti clii' ■!. bicreasing inilcljti-dií 'ss. .■ni. 1 th eonsequeni inereasing nbso our carnings by foreóigü capital, - cae oí the diíficult ]ii oí Jc-nis wbick our statesmon have in solve, aal to whicta their attention cannül to lúon be directed. In the nii'antinii'. and until this outf.inv for ;m 1 di idenúe Is check ■! .hkI redvced below th ■ avera ■ .nnual balance oí trn.de in our favor, and thr .iMinial output of precioufl nu - 1 : i 1 -i from our iniucs. provisión inust b:1 iinad' for a greater increase in our curremcy tlian the present law pernüis oukIi to meet the demanda oí a rapii 5 in ireacing trad ■ and conimerce. What shall Ík' the ainount of thid increase, nml how it slwül be made, are questiion bcín.ic widely discussed and miiny plan llave been proposed. T1ien foöowf a discussion relativo to the inannrr oí toeuing ínoue.v. Advoeatef oí the aLngle gold standard are fond of telling us tliat niiiotytwo jK'i' c ut. of all the business in the country is done witb private notes, clieeks, (1 ifts, bonds and othi'r negotiablc ;iapi'i-, and only eiglit per cent. witli immer. All the litV and vitaliiy liieh glvea this ninety-two per cent. frf negotiable paper power to f1o:it, is the faith in the receiver that he r-.an turn it into money at wlll. 'I'lms thé olght 'per cent. of money proves the redemption fund for ninetytw(.i per eent. oï private promises to pay money. Il' u redomption ïund ol asAj eif.ii per cent. is sufflcient to ilo.it wiiu eonildence ninety-two per ■ latlividual promlses, it certainly di -s nol require one dollar in gold as i reflemption fund to maintain ciuri ' n ■!■ n the government promi pay ome dollar. Tlie (act that three hundi-od and forty-six mi'llion in groonbacks, which ave aimple promises to pay at BOme tuue not iiK'ntioiieil, are niaintained at par witli gold all over the world, with oiily one hundred mllUon in gold agpropriated as a redemption fund, demonstratee to a certainty that the pledge of the government tip011 them, troasnry notes, payable on demand, can be niaintained at par witli gold to the same extent for evn-y dollar in gold set apart for ita redemptiom. There is now in the uvasury 140,000,000 in gold, held for the redemption of $140,000,000, gold certiflcates, on the same basks md for the eame reason that the greenbacks are niaintained. This $140,000,000 will maintain at par witli gold $484,000,000, or $344,000,000 more tibian is now out -Hinmiiiiií against it. Thu.s if oeceesary the clrculatiag medium may be Lncreaeed to the extent of $344,000,000 upOO a gold basis wiiiiout reference to an ouuce ol siiwr In the treasury. But there i.i in the treasuiy silver to tbe amount oí $3Jö,000,00u, gold valué, íi 1 1 1 for Uv reöemption of $3í)5,C0 ,00 Ool sdlver oertificates and i. , . s,iry notee; oa Che same basis, and ar the samo reasoo that the $100,000,000 in oíd maiiHüiiis $346,000,000 in greenbacka, this $895,000,000 gold value wlll maintaiu at par si. :-!(J0, 700,000, or $071,700,000 more than it now stands pledged to redeem. Tims bhere is aow in the trcasury suifi_-iit, if usedaa a redemption fund, to niaintaiu at par wilh gold $1.: 15, 700,000, moro iban te Jiciw (iiitslaiKliiiü'. Enough, ooe wimld tbink, to satisíy the wHdrst intlationist. As lirasury cotes oo fchle redemptloii íund could issuf no faeter than the ueeds ol tiue liiiviiniiicnt requlred, there could be no danger oí dlsturbing valnes by any BUdden inflation. With theee oreeouroee, the govemment has tlie meaiis now in liand with Which to fcwtify our harbore aud make our vtiole coast lmpregaable to any existLng pnwiT. To créate a niivy Beeoud to that of no other nation; oue that sliatt command the respect of nnd secure civil treatment from all othrr powers. That will make American cfrtizenshlp a protecting shi.-ld, that will gaard our people from injury ar insult in every forelgn land. Rot only this. lml sufficieal in nddlilicrcto to makt' ampie improvoni. 'uts in our water ways from the falN of St Anthony to the Gulf of Mexico, ainl iroui the MlesisBlppi to the lakee, and from the lakes to the scn; broad and deep enough to accommodate our vast and rapidly In-rv.-i siii'i commerce, Independeni ol I he ooneent, and bèyond the lnterference, of any foredgp dominion; and all t liis without adMne ome dollar by taxation ! tiv ri'vcnin'. Such expendlturcs would aíford a gradual and hiNiliTiy additi.-iu to the general circulation, and lnaugOCate an era 01' ïmezamplied .n-tivity in all branches of business Chïonghout the nation. I.OANS i:y GOVERNMENT ON' FAKM SIORTGAGE8. We reafflrm oui unquaiified probíit'on oí tlu' écheme for governinont Io:ms on farm mortgages. v are as unalterably oppoged i i clasa legisla-tíom n favor of the farmers as vi' are opposed to clasa legislatlon ln f.-ivor of th bankcrs or the railroad kiaiií.s. All we asi is equal rlghte, equal privileges, and equal eoosideration for th benefit of agricultnre as that whlch govecnment xtende to otlicr branches of business. aoricdltubalJdeparthent. Wf 1HO-.I heartüy approvethe poücy of th? Secretary oí Agriculture and extend t liim our warmesi congratulatíoní ora tlie success of híe :idministrnt'.on of the aífairs of liis department. We hope the soeretary wiil extead liN syetem of erop reports so ae to embrace foreign countrios as well ,-is own. As the price of all exportable producís depends on the world's demand and the world's supply it would le most bemeflcial to the farmers of thfi United States if they eould know the ratio of supply to demand of all export products from time to time, rturinjï the planting, growlng, liarvcstiiiK and inarket seaeom. As, for lnstance: II they couW know ho-w tae acreage of wiieal khvii in each wheat prodiicinn' country; and condltlon of thu erop from time to time during lts growth, the probable yleld per acre at harvest time, the probable amount avaiLable export, and the probable demand oí the Importlng countrles to eovcv ghortage In home supply, they wouM h-ave a fair U:iU togulde tlK'iii boto 111 produeftng and marketimjt. And if Hu' department havlng obtained this Information would estimat" iroin the ratio of price to Bupply, as equalrzed kw ;i perlod of fivc years past, the1 probable price which wlieat wonld bring as thua deductod, and publish the eoaeluricwn arrived at, it would go far toward suppressing the evil inflicted by boards of trade. The entiire effort of the spoculator in wheat is to keep down the price by falae reporte and fietitlous sales until the erop Ie out of the farmers' hands, and then by withholdlng salea forcé the consumer to pay an exliorbitant price; the imformation above suggeeted would assure the farmer in holding his producís until natural valué wliich supply and deniand will give is oifered. If farmers could be aseured beforefhaad of the probable demaxtd and supply, and the probable price, those who ave able would hold thi'ir product until that price was reached and tlius effectually cut off any corner in the market to the consunnr. We agatn respectfully request tln Becretary of agricultura to undertakr the carrytug out of the plans above outlinod. PAEM MAIL DEI.IVEUV. Inasmuch as the postmnster general ie making an effort to introduce .1 gyetem of free mail dellvery to the farminir population, and feeling tliat the systciii recommended by Mr. Wannamaker is desLrable, we desire to cmivfv to the post ni.i strr general our apprecintion oí ti ï efforta in our behalf, and beg to aasure Mm of the eami'st support of tbe Michigan state Qrange in good work. We feel tliat the faimera oí the country, in view oi the amcmnt of taxatïon they bear, are entitled to such extensión of the service, and that the free mail dellvery propoeed wouM rosult in ultímate galn to the g(ys 'Tnmi'nt. REPEAL OP THE TAX I.AW. We are opposeri to the calllmg together of the leprilslature for the purpose of repeaMxg the tas law enacted ,-il the last s.'sshm oí that body. A we said a year ago in reference to the McKhdey Wil; when a law hes been lüDy mul lalrly iliscussed mul pasaed by a legislativo body. and duly considercd and siinied by the oxccmivi'. wc are opposed to its repeal nntil its provisions are falrly triMl liy actual opi'ration. The presmt law maw le detective, and its opera üon may prove oppreaeürve, but until its defect are deterrained by actual triol and its effect shall beoome apparemt írom its actual operatlon, a repeal would lea ve the Íesisla ture with no more knowledse to gulde them in pafiBlng a new law tban tiu'.v had when they passed the present one. We therefm-e tender our tbanka bo HiB Êasejlency, the hvit ■, ú retuaal to yleld to the clamor of wwspapers and loanlng ageniH in their efíorts to condein tli law uutrieil. SiiíiK'd by .T. (. ütinsd'll. Ch'n, I'. W. Kedfern. .1. Q. A. üiirriimton. GeO. jï. Horton. II. 1). l'lMtt, II. II. Dreseer, ):. X. Bates, Th,oe. Mars, .Tennic Buell, nicniluTs oí the Executive Committee.