ft.
* Cbc Conservative 9
patriotic Edwin M. Stanton was allowed
to die broken-hearted from witnessing
men of no real statesmanship and less
integrity and patriotism being exalted
over true patriotism and loyalty to prin
ciple of justice and truth. This is the
result of the lack of the common people
for self-government and also results
from the undemocratic spirit of hero
worship on the part of the American
people. I also witnessed this same
manifestation of the lack of the high
moral sentiment that professedly gave
birth to the republican party in the acts
of other members of Lincoln's cabinet
even that early in his administration.
The Bible snys , "A wounded spirit , who
can bear it ? " The Hon. Wm. H.
Seward , next to Horace Greeley and
Charles Sumner , felt he had personally
done more in creating the irrepressible
conflict than any one man in the party.
To be turned down and the Illinois rail-
splitter preferred before him , was
not to be atoned for even by the first
place in the railsplitter's cabinet.
Seward and Senator Baker ( who as
brigadier-general was killed at Ball's
Bluff ) were bosom friends and in
many conversations that took place
between them ( as early as June ,
July and August , 1861 , in the pres
ence of the writer at the warehouse
at the foot of G street , Washington city )
I also learned that personal ambition
more than true patriotism or loyalty to
principles of liberty and freedom had to
do with the organization of the republi
can party ; and I fear that the desire to
reform the boodler republicans out and
boodler democrats or some other spoils-
seekers in their places , lies at the root of
all our political reforms and I question
if a real reform of the abuses of our pa
ternalism and boodlerism is desired by
the American people. If they did they
would create a new party on a platform
of reducing the number of our public
offices one-half and of reducing the
salaries of all of them ( from the presi
dent of the United States to the public
school teacher ) one-half and what
would be better still wipe out all
our state governments and instead of
a Babel of fifty governments have one
single government resting upon an in
telligent exercise of the sovereignty of
the people by educating men in the
science of political economy to make and
administer our laws , instead of bankrupt
merchants and legal shysters to make
and execute our laws. A higher order
of statesmanship and political economy
would prevail in the counsels of our na
tion , but this would be bringing a clean
thing out of an unclean an impossi
bility. So I think your hope of seeing
any higher order of things under our
American experiment of manhood suf
frage is already foredoomed to disap
pointment , and you may as well settle
down to endure the administration ol
Wm. McKinley's "criminal aggression'
or of Wm.Bryan's"cheaper digression. '
Intelligence and integrity are not dis-
inctively American traits of character.
Neither are they the creatures of polit-
cal dogmas. Yours respectfully ,
J. B. COREY.
FKEE SEED KUKEAU.
HcHoliitloiiH Urging the Abolishment of
Government Sued Ditstrlbnllon.
Wo , the members of Clyde Grange ,
P. of H. , No. 88 , Clyde , N. Y. , believe'
; he government free seed distribution is
ill advised and wrong.
1. It is a waste of public funds in
pretending to aid the farmers and ' 'pro
mote the general interests of horticul-
jure and agriculture throughout the
United States. "
2. Almost the entire distribution of
over 10,000,000 packages annually par
take of being used by representatives
and senators to win grace and support
of agricultural constituencies , being
franked in the mails , and seemingly as a
gift from a chief to his well chosen ,
when really all of the people together
are the givers. And if the gratuity is
anything else but cheap plunder the
seeds should be given out equally and
to all.
8. It is certainly a crude and ineffec
tive measure , if test of seeds and trial of
quality of varieties are really intended ,
not over one recipient in a thousand re
ports an experiment.
4. It is inconsistent , in the face of ex
periment station affairs , instituted by
congress especially for this work of test
ing seeds and plants authoritatively.
And the office of experiment stations is a
division of the United States agricul
tural department , having oversight
through visiting inspectors , and even
supervision of the expenditures of the
stations , now located in every state and
territory.
5. The seeds sent out , in the past if
not the present , are often notoriously
common and even inferior varieties , and
when so are illegally distributed so de
cided by United States department of
justice.
6. There is incurred wasteful ex
pense and hampering of United States
mail service in deadheading nearly half
a thousand tons of this stuff.
7. It is not a function of government
to make gratuitous distribution of any
material thing.
8. The grange has never supported
this old scheme , and the grange senti
ment everywhere is directly opposed
to it.
Resolved , That we recommend that
the legislative committee of the Na
tional Grange formulate a bill for in
troduction in the next congress to regu
late and define the distribution of seeds
by the United States department of ag
riculture so that none but new varieties
of seeds and plants originated in the de
partment service , or in the experiment
stations , or acquired from foreign lands
bo distributed , and these for first testing
only to the state experiment stations and
jy them to farmers and gardeners.
Resolved , That we censure the United
States secretary of agriculture and the
assistant secretary , both prominent
members of our order , in their course of
lelping along this foolish waste of pub
ic funds , in recommending appropria-
; ions for seed distribution , furthering
its extension and abuse by others , which
srecludes a possibility of new seeds
being the bulk used , and soliciting ap
plications for the seeds.
Resolved , That wo as members of
Clyde Grange hereby agree to have no
part in this ill-advised and ill-featured
plan of free seed distribution , and we
will return to the department such
packages as are received , the cost and
trouble to be paid by our subordinate
grange.
Resolved , That copies of these resolu
tions bo sent to the parties mentioned ,
also be sent for publication in The Utica
Press , American Grange Bulletin and
lionie papers.
These resolutions were , adopted by the
grange at a meeting March 25. They
are the result of a discussion of the seed
bureau , occasioned by receipt of a letter
by the grange from the department and
congressman instructing the procure
ment of a list of persons applying for
seeds thereby. And wo urge every
grange to co-operate in demanding this
reform.
W. L. DEVEUEAUX , Lecturer.
ARKOR DAY IN IOWA.
For more than a decade Arbor day
has been observed in Iowa schools.
Each year its value and influence has
become more evident. Says Superin
tendent Barret in a circular just issued :
' 'As school premises have been beau
tified , interest and enthusiasm have in
creased. While it has been deemed best
to modify the official bulletin this year
relating to the observance of the day , it
is hoped that the awakened interest in
tree planting will continue to grow un
til all school grounds are beautifully
shaded and ornamented. Since 1887 ,
101,996 trees have been planted on Iowa
school sites by and through your work
and influence. It is of far more impor
tance as a factor in education that
school yards be improved by the plant
ing of trees , than that buildings be lav
ishly ornamented. In all may you seek
to make each pupil feel a sympathetic
interest in that which surrounds him
and his daily life. He will soon take
pleasure in studying those things he
loves. Teach pupils to have pride in
the good name and beauty of their
school. As a result of your labor may
each pupil not only be inspired to 'go
forth under the open sky and list in Na
ture's teachings , ' but with strong and
noble purpose be determined to aid in
beautifying and bettering the world. "
Sun , Sidney , Iowa.