The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1865-10-14

4 r.
weather gauge of fate. it seems to have been
given to ~cu. Let me suggest this question.
| If the stormy and sterile lands of New
England can be made to yield to the de-.
mands or thought and labor, such nagniii-
cent returns as have there crowned tcr hill.
slies and valleys, with the abodes of wealth
and refinement; have made war aud poverty
ost unknown names i'll her rural districts;
have erected in every neghborhood the nsti-
| tutions of learning and the temples of a pure
| ialth. what measures of prosperity, will
| equal thought and eqnal labor expended upon
our virgin and productive sid, yield to us ?
| The future of the State is to be as the f,'
mers and mechanics Of the State make it.
As the great agricultural interests of the State
are developed, 30 viii the progress Of the
State. If | can do any goodlwhatever in this
| address, it will clearly be by making TO you
| some suggestions in relation to the manner
| the responsibilities resting upon vou can
properly be met, and in doing this you wiil /
am sure expect me to speak candidly and
plainly, and as believe the truth to be.
That a farmer needs but little knowledge
is theory that influences perniciously the
whOld lives of many men, Content to do rs
| their fathers have done, they never realize
the existence of the treasury of knowledge
of which they might freely share, patiently
| ploddlng in the OLD beaten paths with no ex
ercise Of their own intelects, such are not
the men who will make the occupation of
a farmer honorable; profitable or pleasant all
of which it may and ought to be. 4 farmer
should be an educated man his occupation
demands it, and affords full opportunity for
the exercise of all his faculties. DO not
misunderstood me. When | say he should
be educated, | do rot mean that he ought
necessarily to s.udy for many years in col
lege, or TO become acquainted with ancient
| languages. BY education | mean that nee
essary discipline and training of the intellect
which enables a man to think accuraceK
and quickly, which enables him to gather
lessons of wisdom from the eXI erimcnts. the
failure, or the success of others as well as his
own that makes him IN a word. {. sagacious
selfrcliant man. TO DO this, it is apparent
that farmer should not depend entirely upon
the results Of his own limited experience.
His store ol practical knowledg ge OF his caii-
ing should be increased by every praciicsrl-
means. prominent among which are meetings
and exhibitions such as this, where farmers
meet aud compare the results of different
systems of culture. and their different ex peri
ments upon practical questions, and by wit
Messing the success OF others become stmu-
lated to greater energy and activity them,
selves. Such means OF knowledge viii no.
by earnest thoughtful men be neglected or
overlooked, and every reasonable effort should
be made 10 add to the interest and usefulness
Of your county fairs. and TO keep them free
from all evil Influences. Nor is the farmer
fitting himself wisely for the discharge OF lb.
duties resting upon him IN whose house
valuable and useful books and newspapers
are not found anI read. 1t is laraentab.y
true that in many farm house no. books or
papers of real value are found. Yellow
covered literature: and books OF wholly usc-
less fiction, instead OF = well selected family
library. 1t cannot be pretended that Z. man
who is thus dcpr.viug himself aud his children
OF the means of knOwledg ge II whom. the
stirring events Of the passing time are known
only from the tongue of pubic ranor, l.
wisely fitting hinseli OF his children to dis
charge the duties Of lie. some men com
plain OF IT,. influence exertei bY what they
style priests and lawyers, without remember
ing that professional men must spend wears
in hard careful study, and then must neglect
no opportunity afforded them OF increasing
the knowledge Of tLe.r business. Is il luss,-
be that q man engaged in the business Of
agriculture, rqui-Ing so accurate a knowI-
edge Of the soil. and its adaptucss 10 the
eyes to every sourc, o: Increased kugw'e igr,
and still hope TO compete VIII tho who to
the utmost Of their ability aud by al she
means i'll their power, are ;rai1iHgthemsc.y.S
TO their work There is uiuch here that needs
reform. The farmer should always be educa.-
ing himself for his dates. hayy heard At
said that professional men have greater saciii-
ties afforded them Of educating themselves
for their work than farmers have. Il So
whose fault is that. Having 4 Controlling
power in the State, the agricultural interest
can arrange these things as it rleas -. | f3r
one, am in favor of the est;tbIishmtnt in this
State, OF an agricultural college, where men
shall receive a liberal education III branches
of knowledge most important to them as
farmers place where men can learn the
science of agriculture. and that a fair proper
ton OF the public fund devoted 10 he educa-
tiOnal purposes, should be used lor HAT object.
SO that the most advantages OF training and
culture may be given 10 the men engaged in
the tilling of the soil; believing ;lhJ in this
way The occupation Of farmer will rank rs
It should in this agricultural State, forcIn1 Il
in dignity and usefulness. ItIs Indispensable
that the farmer who would do his part in
making his business honorable and pleasant.
should cultivate a taste for the beautiful. 1t
true that the home Of a farmer easy in his
circumstances, and lacking no ability to Sc
cure the means OF comfort, presents a cheer
less comfortless appearance. Ii has house Is
large, it will be i'll shaped and inaonyenicnt,
without well arranged clean yards and garden.
without fruit and shade trees, the barn on the
wrong side Of the house, and perhaps without
doors repairs not male in season, panes OF
glass broken. and their places filieI by old
hats or garments, fences diaridated and un-
slightly. 1t rests with you whether your oc-
cupation shall be considered BY enlightened
and judIcious men foremost III dignity and
Importance. In community of flrmSs,
where there is no order Or Ecatness or taste.
wherree lie crops are scanty anl lily tended,
the a.-.,.o,a ,ve.,, Kept, and no evidence OF
the exercise OF energy and intellect, 1t is
difficult to separate the nature of tie bust
ness from the mannerin whichltis conducted.
But on the other hand, in a community where
each man yies with his neigLbor in industry,
enterprise and skill, where every acre is made
to'coutribute to the pleasure o. profit OF the
owner; where order, neatness and good taste
prevail, and where the earth is sieldihg to
the skill OF the hUsbandman rich supplies of
grain, fruits and flowers, the conclusion is
irresistible that farmers life IS one OF Dig
nifty and happiness. There are many other
suggestions that might be made in this con-
nection, did time permit. One wish to make
: nd to asl. you 20 consider 1t thoug ghtfully and
candi,ily. 1t is not enough that those
things that contribute to the true dignity
and happiness of the farmer should be
earnestly sought after. Evil Influences
should be resisted and oyercl mc. Of
one Of these influences OF evil ! wish to
speak, and | must speak briefly In this
city are some eighty saloons tor the sale of
intoxicating drinks. They are supported at
an annual cost o. over one hundred and fifty
thousand dollars; considerable portion of
this sum Is drawn from the farmers of this