f 



118 - PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



" Conservative just means be kicked, 



In any way you phaze or turn it; 

 It means tliut we're to own up licked ; 



That we're poor shoats and glad to own it." 



I agree with him most heartily, and will say further that timid, time- 

 serving conservatism has never benefited our race, never righted a wrong 

 nor relieved the oppressed in any age of the world. Then 



" Out of the light, ye priests, nor fling 



Youi'cold dark shadows on us longer; 

 Aside! thou world wide curse called King! 



The peoples' step is quicker, stronger. 

 There's a divinity within 



That makes man great whenever they will it; 

 God works with all who strive to win, 



And the time cometh to reveal it." 



It the Grange ever accomplishes its grand mission it must do it by 

 aggression. It was not conservatism that cast the tea into Boston harbor, 

 not conservatism that struck down British tyranny on this continent, but 

 determined, persistent, active hostility to the power that was crushing 

 out the liberties of a whole people, and eating out their substance; hence 

 our privilege of peaceably assembling here to-day and discussing ques- 

 tions of vital importance to us, and devising means of relieving us of our 

 oppressions. No, my brothers and sisters, soft words and grass are not 

 the weapons with which to fight the powers that are crushing the indus- 

 tries of the land beneath their iron heel, and reducing a great and free 

 people to absolute pauperism and slavery. I cannot stop to reason with 

 the hungry wolf who has me by the throat; time is too short and the 

 danger too imminent. 



Mr. Flagg, in a recent address on legislation in its relation to agriculture 

 said, " It is an undeniable fact, that during the period when legislation 

 was most profligate and partial, the agricultural interests have suff"ered 

 most." 



The agriculturists constituted nearly the same part of the population in 

 1850, 1860 and 1870. In relative numbers it has held its own. 



But the agricultural wealth of the country, which constituted 55 per 

 cent, of the whole in 1850, and 56 in 1860, fell to 37 per cent in 1870. The 

 whole national wealth of the country increased between 1850 and 1860, 100 

 per cent., and between 1860 and 1870, 90 percent. The agricultural wealth 

 increased at about the same rate as other wealth between 1850 and 1860, 

 but between 1860 and 1870 it increased only 40 per cent, while manufac- 

 turing increased 110 per cent, and wealth not employed in agriculture, 

 manufactures, mining or fisheries increased 200 per cent, or as 5 to 1 com- 

 pared to agricultural wealth. Now what has the Grange accomplished 

 towards arresting this unequal distribution of the wealth that we, as a 

 class, in the largest degree create ? Up to this time very little, in fact, noth- 

 ing compared to the power it possessed through its local. State, and Na- 

 tional organizations. If then this unequal distribution of wealth comes 

 through currupt legislation, what is the remedy, and what our plain duty 



