Juniata sentinel. [volume] (Mifflintown, Pa.) 1846-1873, 1871-08-09
FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.
FARNERS As LEGISLATORS.

A southern agricultural club has been
debating the question whether it would
not be wise policy for farmers to supper.
farmers and mechanics as representatives
in the legislature. This is subject which
we would like to have discussed in other
than Southern Clubs.
The interests of agri ulture are so i'm
meDse and are so vitality connected with
the welfare aud prosperity of the whole
country, that it is matter of great sur
prise so little attention has been given it
by our law makers generally. The i'm
preston appears to prevail largely
amongst farmers that their interests and
the interests of the community at large
can hest be subserved by sending lawyers
and other professional men to the legisla-
ture. In compliance with this idea, COM
paraiively few farmers are selected, aud
as a natural result, agriculture has come
to he regarded as matter of secondary
importance, so far as legislation is con-
cerned.
1t is proper that a certain number of
able lawyers should be sent to the legis-
la;ure, but 1t is proper also that the farm
ing interest shall be largely represented.
The fact that we have not had more of
this class IN our legislative halls. is due
maiuly to the prevailing impression that
farmers are not educated for the purpose.
This is an error If the cultivators of
the Foi! will forage these political pre-
ferences, and select from their own class
men of intelligence, ripe experience, and
superior judgmeut-and there are plenty
Of such in every county in the State
they will soon find that the claims of
their profession will be properly respect
ed Lawyers are theatrical farmers are
practical, and it is the engrafting of more
of the practical into our legislation that
is now demanded. This will never be
done until farmers properly estimate their
own Importance, aud the importance of
agriculture.
The sooner. therefore, that the cultiva-
tors of the soil take the position that they
are, by virtue of numbers and in the
the magnitude of the interests involved
in agriculture, entitled to full and fair
share of legislative representation, the
better it will be for all parties. Let them
agree to send as representatives. men OF
known practical ability aud thorough in
tegrity, and they can accomplish it with
out the least difficulty.
Another good result that would be GER
tain to follow such course, would be
the driving out from our legislative halls
the political charlatans who have no in
terests to subserve but their own, or those
of the party to which they belong =
Farmers, as a general thing, are honest
at least they are, taken as whole more
honest than professional politicians, and
more capable Of determining what legis-
lation is best adapted to promote the gen
eral welfare and prosperity.
We hope to see this matter taken up
and discussed in the North, as it is being
done in the South. Nothing but good
can come from it, even if they do not
determine TO send men of their own class |
to assist in making laws. The fact of
their moving in the matter at all will
compel the politicians to select better men |
for these important positions than they |
have been doing for some years past
Exchange.