The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1855-08-17
ritultur al.
THE FARM SUPPORTS ALL.

comparative usefulness OF different pursuits
and occupations. We will not quarrel with
any man, because he insisis that a trader o1
broker is as useful man as the farmer. bu.
We ,riH' quarrel with Q man in gentleman
ly way, who will not admit that the faru,-
er's life does possess a, much truo dignity
and utility as any other. We will, for civ.
ility's sake, admit equality, but cannot &C
knowledge superiority.
Agriculture Is tho basis Of all natural
prosperity. A child may sec that il the
earth is not cultivated, the whole popula-
tion in single year, or at most, in two
years, when the cattle are consumed, must
literally starve, while society could eIist to
IN indefinite extent, were the labors Of any
other interest 10 cease ut once. Observe
the course Of trade, and inquire Of the
merchants even in our own country, and We
shall End, that upon the products Of the
soil does oil the prosperity Of trade depend.
II the cotton crop is short, the Southern
trader cannot order goods from the North,
or having ordered. fails, and cannot pay for
them. He fails because the planter having
fed to his negroes all his corn and bacon, has
nothing len wherewith to pay for his fam
lily supplies. II the wheat crop fails, the
Boston and New York merchants at once
feel the effect OF the failure. for the West
ern merchan, cannot meet his liabilities,
nor incur others.
When all things are prosperous, the farm.
er is almost forgotten. He labors hard and
brings the produc. Of his labor TO full
market. lie is met by sharp spectators
with the cry, that the market Is glutted,
and his supplies are not wanted, and is
compelled, because he cannot enter into
combinations to meet the banded monopo-
fzer, to sell at price which gives him but
scanty pay for his industry. He feels that
all the world is prosperous except himself,
and the trading public, forgetful or careless
that the farmer maintains and even produces
oil this prosperity BY his quie. pursuits, look
down upon him perhaps with contempt
To be sure he has at such times, in com.
mon with others, enonsh Of food and cloth
ing. He does not want, but his abundance
and success seem to proh, others more than
himself. Indeed, he hardly participates in
the general prosperity which his own hard
work and waichful care has created.
But by-and-by the scene changes. The
crops are short in some sections Of the
country, Supplies are no, forwarded to the
great ma-ts Of trade for the adequate sup
ply Of the inhabitants of,he cities themselves,
or to meet the demands Of commerce. Rusi.
ness is deranged, merchants fail, the cOun
try traders are discouraged, the whole
country lapguishes, and there Is genera
cry Of hand times. But the farmer does
not fail. He raises his own food in abun-
dance still. What he can spare brings him
an increased price in the market. The
traders and spectators come TO his very
doors, and entreat him to sell them at any
price enough to meet the present necessi.
lie, Of their business. And 80. when the
sar,b /, laid waste and labor diverted from
Its legitimate pursuits, by want, then the
s,m.r ;r,,.,.s. n, .,.,,;or. u. .ow.
mor. h,ood,v h. ,,ho,. nor. s,,ns..,v -
II. s..,. ,h,t m.D n e,,s;,n ,,,d, uho a..
a,,,,os by h.rd m,,,s,, from ,b.;, homs.
10 enyo,, in bloody battle, are dcn.nden,
a, him for their daily bread Sill hi, own
,unplv !, abundant, and other, demand a
,ba,c and Offer him n seuerou, reward for