Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1872-01-04
Farming as a Moral Force.

THIS was the topic treated by the Hon.
]. V. G. Smith. He alluded to the fact
that in the pleasant month of September
he had an opportunity for making general
examination of farming regions, which
opportunity was improved with a view TO
examining into the Characteristic external
and internal condition of those exclusive
ly devoted to that most important of all
pursuits, the culture of the earth There
is, he said, one popularity discoverable
among farmers which time is calculated
to correct, that is to deny themselves
full enjoyment of the fruits of their in
dustry. Too many of the craft seem to
be ambitious to sell all they gather and
put themselves and dependents on a
coarse regimen that would not be satisfac-
tory were it imposed upon them by others.
To CLEAN the land and deprive oneself of
the luxuries that constitute the pride of
market is voluntarily exchanging what
their stomachs require for money, which,
when that is a governing principle, is
gathered for others to enjoy who neither
know nor care from what source it was
accumulated. Prudence is a virtue, and
should be encouraged both by precept
and example, but avarice is a vice when
disposition to hoard discards the comforts
and conveniences of well-ordered home.
SOhOAOdoAy Oh
best products of their domain If their
tables are served with what will
not sell, their minds will never develope
to a standard of intelligence on which the
success of farming positively depends,
and their children will have transmitted
to them an incapacity for attaining dis
tinction in any of the high relations of
life. There is but feeble exhibition of
brain power where the stomach has been
restricted habitually to inappropriate diet:
Nutrition must be constantly varied and
abundant to supply the various organs of
the body with elements necessary to the
full perfections of their functions. The
| farmer, therefore, who mainly subsists on
a few articles of food, because he imag-
| ines he cannot afford to consume anything
/ that would sell for profit, loses far more
| than he can ever gain by such policy. IL
1 is said one reason why farming is not
! looked upon with more interest in Ireland,
but perhaps unjustly, is because those en-
/ gagged in it are not remarkable for inielli-
| gence Certain it is that field laborers there
are fed principally on potatoes; but when
they reach other countries, and especially
the United States, where it is customary
! to have a variety of condiments and a
mixed diet of meats and vegetables, in
/ stead of an exclusive diet of potatoes and
salt, they change entirely in mind and
body, and exhibit traits of character, en-
terprise, and bold determination quite be-
yond what would have been their social,
political, or intellectual status had they
remained in their own oppressed native
land. In order that a farmer may adj
vance the interest of society, he must
possess those qualifications which COM
mand respect. His knowledge of the
business TO which he is devoted, is re-
garded with attention by those who wish
to improve their own condition by fol
lowing his example. Next, with reputa-
tion for being discreet, safe counselor
in what ever appertains to the manage
ment of his property, makes him man
among men, whose requirements give
stability to institutions with which he may
be connected, and thus moral force ac.
companies all his acts, and his moral in
fiuence is a rich investment for his pos
terity.
Dr. Smith continued at some length in
the same strain, and in conclusion ex.
pressed the belief that farmers should
I have more social intercourse with each
other 1t would immensely rebound to
their advantage to visit farming districts
at distance, for the purpose of seeing how
other people fare, and learn, by obserya
ton, their process and modes.-N T.
FrImerS' Club.