The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1853-09-21

A Chapter on Humbugs.
RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED TO THE UNIVERSAL
YANKEE NATION.
BY one of the Editors of the Ohio Cultivator,
We are moved to indite few lines on
this topic for the purpose of setting our.
selves right on the record, in the eyes OF
such of our friends as take sufficient inter-
est to look after any of our opinions.
While of late the public and the press at
large have been very much occupied with
several exciting subjects, coming natural
ly within the scope of our publication, we
have expressed ourselves very briefly,
without explaining our reasons for not
leading off, or following in the wake of the
multitude. There is great deal of harm
less humbuggery in the market, which a
great many people aciH buy. Many OF
them get the worth Of their money, not in
the articles of purchase to be sure, but in
the experience which they buy along with it.
Very many of the marketable commod-
tiles called humbugs, are not so of them
selves, bur become so in the hands OF
gambling adventurers. Among these the
Potato Rot has been fruitful source of
speculation, and the various species which
have been hawked about. are not without
their value. Chief among these is the dis
covery of Mr.. ROBERTS, of Mich When
this was disclosed to Us last spring, we
promptly informed the agen. that he had
told US nothing new-that we had known
the practice for twenty years, and it was
not new then, and further. that though the
secret was worth knowing as fact in sci
ence. yet it could not be relied on as a
precept Of general application. This hav-
ing potatoes sin the natural ,cay," is not
the course to be pursued in raising edu-
Gated Spi:zenburghs from native crabs.
Mr.. ROBERTS did not mean to be hum.
bug when he asserted that leaving the seed
potato in the ground untouched over win.
ter was specific for the rot; but the hawk
ing OF his new discovery of an exploded
idea, was both humbug and nuisance
Vi piece with this, is the discovery Of
Terra Culture, a fact open to all observers.
since agriculture arose from its cradle.
We should as soon apply. at This age, for
patent upon the discovery that Temper
ance is conductive to health. as upon any
of the pretended discoveries of Terra Cul
ture, which though salulary fact in itself.
has been made the vehicle Of most i'm.
pudent humbug.
Many of our public men seem 10 act on
the supposilion that a certain amount OF
clap-trap is not only admissible but essen
tial in carrying successfully forward any
Of our great schemes Of public improve
ment. At the last annual meeting of del
egates with the Ohio State Board Of Agri-
culture, one Of the officials said with great
assurance, that in order 10 make our State
Fairs successful. the best premiums must
be offered for such articles as would get
up the best show! The relative scale OF
intrinsic merit or utility, was openly dis
carded for the trumpery of show. Il If this
be SO, the State organization has outlved
its usefulness. and it may as well be hung
up and Notwithstanding. But of these
two propositions we are not yet prepared
TO believe either the one or the other; and
we hope the future of this organization
will not force any other conviction up.
on us
The Agricultural Department, of the
U. S. Patent Office, has been used as a
soothing opiate to stop the clamors of a
class of society, who from their number
and importance. suppose themselves enti-
tied to some recognition in the general
government. This department has fully
demonstrated that it is both inadequate
and efficient to the ayowed object of its
existence. and unless largely remodeled,
may as well be locked up. and have the
word, humbug. chalked upon its door.
The Smithsonian institution, is more
imposing establishment, in more ways than
one! Endowed with a princely munif-
cence, it has reposed in the grandeur OF a
Lying in State, instead of going forth in
an active discharge of his duty, in the in
ten, of its philanthropic founder, by ''the
diffusion of useful knowledge among men, -
There is hardly a county newspaper in
the nation, which has not in the same num-
Der of years done more for this object than
the Smithsonian Institution, with all its
wealth Of wisdom. This. like the Patent
Office. we fear, is to be little better than a
political hospital for the hungry pension.
ers Of government.
The United States Agricultural Society,
was famed into kind OF apochryphal,
"numerous" existence, not unlike the tail
of comet. through which even feeble
stars could be seen by the naked eye. In
the hands of its political managers we had
no confidence in this organization. 1t
pandered meanly to power. instead of
standing up honestly in the unity and in.
tegrity of its own legitimate strength, and
we despised it tor this. Noble men there
were who assisted in its INCEPTION. but as
it now stands, they are powerless to direct
its course. Political advenlurers hold the
reins which were so tamely yielded to
their proffered grasp. and the falling out
by the way, of some Of the expectant bene-
fciaries, has served to reveal the selfish
ness which lay at the foundation Of the
enterprise. The first Quarterly Journal
of this Society was issued year ago, the
second is yet to be announced! Some
people are simple enough to ask what has
become of their money-the two dollars
head, for membership. Wait little
lonrarl ah;o hod 1a1aco&ao he 1oe 81