State Convention—The Farmer in Politics. 173 
of our legislatures, who will make laws in defiance of the people’s 
will, and b}' whom outrages will be committed against our best in¬ 
terests, and this, the result of your failure in the due performance 
of your duty now, will possibly—I hesitate to say probably—end 
in another bloodv revolution. 
It seems to me we should pause here and ponder on the situation. 
It is time, we farmers, and especially the younger men, who have 
enjoyed such advantages in education, and are to-day enjoying such 
privileges in society, and opportunities from so many sources for 
acquiring knowledge, should begin to think for ourselves. This 
being led and controlled by others—this putting power in the hands 
of men, whose interests are not our interests, is not only dangerous 
to the nation, but undignified, unbecoming our manhood, and de¬ 
rogatory to a proper self-respect. To think, to act, to do for our¬ 
selves, to find our representatives in our own ranks, is the need, and 
not only the need, but the duty of the hour. To forget our jeal¬ 
ousies, to rise above our prejudices, to cultivate and develop the 
talent and ability of our young people, is a task to which we should 
devote ourselves, and should in its interest be willing to make sac¬ 
rifices, such as are made by men in all countries and at all times, 
who value liberty, equality, and good government at its true price. 
For this, the grange gives us a grand opportunity, and if it fails, it 
will fail because it does not seek to educate its members in the line 
of duty, and instill into their minds a deep appreciation of the re¬ 
sponsibilities that rest upon them. 
I fully appreciate the necessity of the farmers obtaining through 
' the organization, as much direct and immediate pecuniary benefit 
as possible, and shall be happy at all times and on all occasions to 
co-operate with them for that purpose; but I look upon this as only 
incidental to the great aims, the high and holy purposes of the 
order. The necessity is apparent and the duty imperative, of im¬ 
pressing upon its leading men as the great primary object, the edu¬ 
cating and cultivating the minds of the members. 
These remarks apply with equal force to this association. But 
this association, I am free to say, is more liberal in its conduct and 
the expression of its views, and in the discussion of all questions, 
allows a greater freedom and large] 1 latitude than the grange. 
It is not so constrained and trammeled with rules and regulations 
that tend to dampen our ardor and repress the higher aspirations 
