Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1858-02-06
For the JeuNpal,

To the Farmers 81 Muscatinc Co.
Fellow FAaxKRs As the present is one
Of the most momentous periods in the com
mercial and financial history Of our country,
SO is it likewise an important one to the az
riculturists of Amerioa. While We see our
fellow citizens in other pursuits in life stand
ing appalled, and terror-stricken at SO fear
full scene Of ruin and destruction, the far
mer can pursue the even tenor Of his way,
unharmed and unmovcd amid the stagnation
around him. But since the day that the
Norman landed in England and reduced the
Saxon race to be the ti|lers Of the soil and
established that system Of reform that has
reflected its blighting influence through so
many ages on the tiller of the soil, there
never has been period of brighter promise
to the farmer than the present.
Now is the time for the agriculturists of
America to claim that position in society
that of right belongs to them, and by SO do
ing achieve greater victory over prcju lice
and bigotry than tho revolutionary heroes
did over tyranny and oppression.
Now it is melancholy fact that the edu-
cation of the farmers of this country, q
mean professionally has been too much
neglected While our colleges have their
law schools, schools for divinity and medi-
cine, none of them pay any attention to ag-
riculture. 1t is treated as a subject beneath
their notice. Hence our children, from
seeing the subject treated with so little re-
/ spect, if they possess any ambition, prefer be-
ing lawyers and doctors or even wearing out
their lives in the drudgery of the store, to
thae healthy and enrolling pursuits of agri
culture.
Now the question naturally arises, how is
this to be remedied? In my opinion, the
power to overcome the evil is in our own
hands. We, as a class, are, and must be,
the great leading interest in the State. Then
let us fit and prepare ourselves, by every
means Of instruction within our reach, by
the use of all the practical knowledge we
can bring to bear on our pursuit in life, by
educating our children with view to their
being agriculturists and early implanting in
their youthful minds that agriculture is one
Of the most noble and virtuous pursuits in
life.
In the first place, we ought to have more
social intercourse with one another. That
can best be done by the formation of farm
ers clubs in every neighborhood throughout
the county. At these clubs, we can assem-
BILE, exchange our views, receive mutual in
struction, and take such steps for the ad
vancement of agriculture as may seem best
All other classes of the community have theil
associations for the advancement of theil
various pursuits in life, and see no reason
why We should not do so likewise.
There is another point In all your so.
cieties, where the interests of agriculture
are concerned, never elect any person to fill
the various offices or represent you unless hi
is practical farmer. There is no Other
person who will take as great an interest il
agriculture as man that follows it, And
am one of those that believe there is more
talent and ability amongst ourselves than in
any other class in the community. We lack
confidence in ourselves, but mutual inter.
course will soon remedy that. Let our mot
to be Progress" and our reward will be
prosperity. SUB-SOIL.