Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1853-06-30

done. Farmers themselves have only tt
concede it, desire il, and vote for il. ant
we shall demand and have agriculture
chairs in all our colleges; national ant
State agricultural universities. and The
rudimen,s of agricultural taught in oul
common schools,as the rudiments of 9th
er sciences are.
My hopes are with our farmers, edu.
Gated, independent. self-relying. enter.
prislng, and public spirited; Farmers
who are anxious TO promote their own
well-being, and at the same time not in
different 10 the well-being of the com
muniiy, and The country; Farmers who
are proud Of their calling, and of their
class; proud of honorable labor, and anx-
ious for improvement; Farmers who are
jealous Of ihei. rights, censible Of the
power they WELD and can WELD for
good, and of the responsibility that rests
upon them. turn to our farmers for
the solution of all the great qus.ions and
problems, no. only of material well being
and wealth, but of self governments. OF
free institutions, and the moral, iniellec-
tual, and religious regeneration and ele.
va,ion Of the race. Politicians say to
our farmers that they are the bone and
sinew of our society; but | would say
to them that they are in facs the mind
of our society, the repositories OF our
public opinion; the source of our major
tiles; The supers,ructure in fact on which
the Republic rests. Hence the impor-
,ance attach to education. | would
have our farmers educated. not only that
they may better understand and apply
the laws of production and increase the
material well-being and wealth OF the
country, but because they are men.
desire their cultivation andimprovement,
mol only ,ha. the land may be tiled in
the most perfect manner; that we may
raise all the choicest varieties of vege,a
BILE, grasses, grain. and fruits, of which
our soil and climate are suscep,ible, and
the most profitable and perfect breeds Of
animals; but because they are citizens,
and as such hold the balance Of power,
the aggregate of influence, and WELD the
destines OF my country. | would en-
dow our farmers with learning not only
because through their skillful and sue
cessful, husbandry. the aggregate of the
Nations wealth is increased; our exports.
multiplied in amount and value. and the
work of progress a. improvement..iiereby
pushed forward with greater certainty
and rapidity; but because with the stream
of wealth which they are instrumental
in sending out, and with the commerce
which bears their products to the distan,
and the needy, there goes forth with
them their opinions; their character. and
their hopes, inpressing and encourag-
ing. or depressing and discou:aging hu-
manity everywhere.
Farmers of Wapello, would like to
address you more particularly in refer
ence TO very many and very important
matters ,ha, concern you and concern
our farming interest, did time permit
In tact there are none OF the very excit.
ing and very material questions of the
day bui what not only might with grsa.
justice and proprie,y find place here.
as appealing directly to farmers, and af-
fec.ing directly the farming interests Of
the coun:ry. but ought to find place
here. and be considered here in this So
ciety of Farmers. This is one of the
great objects of these societies. To ex-
anime. discuss and determine for them.
selves all the great questions which ef-
fec, the interests of production. of prop
erty, of progress should be purpose
of farmers. and of ,heis societies. wan,
to see our farmers acting more promi-
nent part in the discussions of the day
than they have done. want them TO
think more, examine more carefully, and
act more independently of other ella sses
about all those questions SO deeply and
seriously effectiug the farming, as well as
the general interests of society. Ii will
be better for them and for the world
when they do so. want to see all
questions brought more TO the test of the
farm, and Of The farmer. ] want to see
questions Of policy. State and National,
foreign and domestic, questions of i'm
ptovemen;; OF currency; Of revenue; de.
cided by that test. and then | shall have
no fears in relation to the wisdom OF our
policy, the expediency and justice of our
laws. or the prosperity of the country -
| want to see every farmer judging in re-
lation to every question as it effects his
inierests--the interests Of the farm, the
interest of the neighborhood, the local
interest, the home interest. II those in
serests, those local interests of the farm,
are well considered. jealously protected,
and yigilan,ly guarded; if the selfish, the
scheming, and the ambitious are no, per.
mi,ted TO tamper with those interests
they will be protected. and the in.eresss
OF the country will be protected, in fac
will take care Of themselves.
Permit. me TO allude, in this connection
to what | deem wide spread and grow
ing evil, affecting in the most serious
manner our agricultural interests, in this
very point. allude to the growing in
difference of our people to the plac,
where they live; disposition TO change
in other words weakening of the hom
or local feeling. ! have been often sur
prised, a. panied 10 find from time to tim
our most subs tantipl farmers: in the nos