Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1868-11-04
Aarieulturai.
For the Freeman.
For the Freeman.
The Importance of the Agricultural
Interests.

1t is interesting to trace the improvements
of society, and to notice by what succession
OF advance steps, our race has arisen from
the standardization of former time to it's
present comparatively elevated position In
dividual effort. displayed in the promotion of
different interests has ACCOMPLISHED this
work But among the different interests
which have received profitable attention, the
agricultural interest stands out in bold prom
inence and must, in reality, lie admitted to
be the most important. In fact it lies at the
foundation of all other interests, and il the
source from which they derive their support.
When agriculture Is attended to, and encour-
aged, and dignified, people are prosperous
and happy; and gradually rise in the scale
OF intelligence and importance; but when
the popular attention Is diverted from this
pursuit, or encouragement is withheld, the
people are in proportion miserable and de-
graded History affords SO many illustrations
os this face that i need not be doubted.
How it in ancient times ? Agricul-
ture was not encouraged. The tillers of the
soil were degraded Their calling was con-
sidered low, their rights were disregarded,
and they were plundered by oppressive laws.
and doomed to Il condition of ignorance and
vassalage. What WIS then the condition Of
the world? Blood and misery characterized
the age. War was considered almost the only
truly honorable pursuit. Thrones were held
by proves, IN ght was considered right, and
the sword resorted to on all occasions
ofnational misunderstanding. The people We're
oppressed and they Were Iust in condition
to submit to it They were not prepared to
assert their rights. They had physical pow
ers, but not mental capacity to direct them
for their owl advantage. They became the
willing tools of tyrants, and not only sub
mitted to oppression, but aided their rulers
carving ont their selfish SCIENCE.
Now could there have been, at that time,
some civil enactment, which would have en-
couraged the agricultural interest, by throw
ing into the hands of the multituGcS WHO
titled the soil, the profits Of their labor ;
could that calling have been dignifed and
rendered honorable, how soon the masses
would have begun to arise from their degra-
dation. How soon would mental culture
have given them an Importance and capacit
ated them to act and think lie men and
how soonIthe tyrant' poweriwould have been
broken
An intelligent people cannot be oppressed.
They know better than to submit to it, and
at the same time they. know better than TO
aggravate every little party difference, until
it becomes cause of war. They can appre-
ciate good government, and they can insti-
tute and sustain such an one. An intelligent
people, can. and will be happy people and
in intelligence, when they have the proper
facilities, and must naturally and necessarily
be followed by such results.
In our own country the interests of agri-
culture have been encouraged, and, as result
we have a native population of strong noble
minded men and wOmen-men and womer
who are educated and refined, and cultivated
and who beautifully exhibit those menta
qualities which denote the superiority o
md ,ISI. bf1,,
the lower orders of creation. Illustration
of this truth are noticeable at every turn. En-
ter one of our common churches, and gianc
around on the intelligent faces of the audience
notice the refinement of taste and manners
These our common people-men VIII
hold the pillow, and women who take care o
the dairy, and the and daughters VIII
have grown up, or are growing up, unde
rural roofs What other country can boas
of such people. Enter an Irish, OF even Eng
lish church, filled with thar common people
Do you see intelligent, or refinement, or cul
tivated taste? What makes the difference
Here, the agricultural interests encour
aged labor is regarded honorable, and TIL
people are permitted to work their way up
ward, to cultivate their minds, and refn
their tastes, and exercise their talents
There, the agricultural interests are not en-
cOuraged- Tie husbandman is robbed of til
proceeds of his honest toll by greedy land
lords, and the means OF improvement are no
within his reach
When common laborers from England an
Ireland come to this country, how general
they manifest elements of character, winch
in their own country, lay dormant and in
active. Although their habits are formed
and their minds are moulded before they com
to our shores, our liberal moral and socia
atmosphere, causes their intellects to brighter
ard their minds, in some degree, to expand
and their children, who are born and groy
up upon our soil, are often the finest spec
mems of men and women.
Agriculture is the great wheel which Civ,
life and motion to almost all other kinds
business and if the great wheel is we
supplied with water, and runs finely. it con
municates healthy motion to all the IN
chinery with which it is connected
P. q. W.