I 
174 Wisconsin State Agricultural Society. 
that come of mental growth. I do not wish to be understood as 
censuring the Grange, or as setting this association above it, but I 
am speaking to farmers, and both are farmers 1 organizations, sus¬ 
ceptible of doing much good to our class, and I cannot help speak¬ 
ing freely of both. I look upon the Grange with the highest respect, 
but being circumscribed by dogmatic rules and regulations, as it 
necessarily is, it is kept within too narrow lines to develop political 
power, and its friends will fail in their duty if they attempt to use 
it for that purpose or force it into a political action for which it is 
unfitted, and which is incompatible with its objects and its duties. 
Yet it can do a good work, by developing minds to bear opposition, 
and by teaching its members to bring their preconceived notions 
under the purifying influences of free debate. And I look upon this 
association as a free school, wherein free thought and free speech 
is tolerated, freedom in debate encouraged, and serious deliberations 
on all questions made necessary to all individuals who took part in 
your discussions to save them from defeat at the hands of the 
well-read and sound thinkers ever to be met with at your meetings. 
There is much in both of these organizations for us, as farmers and 
citizens to be proud of. The Grange is our primary school, and 
should be encouraged by all of us, because out of that, if properly 
managed, will come a class of minds enlarged and developed by its 
teachings to sustain this society. And out of this association, if 
it be well conducted, will come a class of minds which, being en¬ 
larged by cultivation and liberalized by free thought, must ere long 
give to the farmer his right position in politics, and fit him for the 
highest responsibilities in the government. 
I do not expect, I do not know that I wish to see the farmer a 
professional student of politics or literature. But I should like to 
see him sufficiently thoughtful of his own interests, to be able to 
afford sufficient time and money, whereby to gain the intelligence 
necessary to guard those interests. And I should still more like 
to see him encourage in his home, in his district school and in the 
grange-hall, the study of standard literature, and especially works 
on political economy and political history, so that his children and 
his neighbors’ children shall obtain a greater knowledge and a bet¬ 
ter understanding of their duties as citizens, thereby gaining a 
greater assurance and faith in their own judgment, when the time 
comes for them to apply that knowledge; for with their minds 
