Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1872-12-14
WHAT WILL THE FARMER Do :

do?' Aud under this caption, Ire pro-
cceds to point out the numerical
strength of the farmers, the power
they might bring to bear, in the inter
est of public virtue and honest gov
eminent, and reminds them that in
stead Of being the ruling power, they
arc ruled by cliqucs, taxed by dishon-
est dcmagogucs and sorely oppressed
by yillanous rings that grow rich and
powerful at the expense of the produ-
cling classes. What the farmers will
do, no prophet has foreseen; what
they ought to do, is question more
easily answered They ought to or
ganze, not only in sclf-defensc, but
for the acquisition and dissemination
Of the knowledge, so much needed,
for the successful development Of ag-
iiculture. They ought to educate
themsclve, TO the point of thorough
understanding Of its great Importance,
as the Que pursuit without which, COM
incrce would cease, the arts and sci
euces become valueless and life itself
extinct. Aud whilst thus preparing
themselves to play well their part as
the pillars Of civilization, they ought
10 read and reason, that they may I'M
dcrstand the structure Of their gov
ernment and their duties as citizens,
that they may be better able to reform
abuses and infusc into its administra-
ton that high integrity, the absence of
which accounts for the heavy burdens
they now bear, and the dangers which
threaten the liberties it il in their
power to preserve.
A knowledge of the important rela-
ton which the farmer bears to all
other voeations and Of the bcnifccnt
influence he may exert, politically,
morally and commercially, must be
acquired by education. As the blind
follower in the footsteps of his prede-
cessor and the unreasoning tool of
the dcmagogue, he can never rise above
the condition Of newer of wood and
drawer OF water for dishonest combi-
nations and designing politicians
Whilst the farmers are content to be
the drudgcs of the world, they ought
not to be surprised that all other elias
sss combine to cheat and Cypress them,
and so long as they are submissive, the
prices Of their products will be fixed
by grain and stock rings and the rates
of freight dictated by railroad combi-
nations. If knowledge is power, igno-
rance is wcakness--this simple truism.
any farmer can understand and deducc
from it, the the logical inference that.
80 long ~ he remains ignorant, he will
hc victinized by knowledge whether
acquired from books, or intercourse
with the business world. And since
iar@ers have not the le2urc, for the
acquisition Of knowledge 10y the latter
means, he must rely upon books and
newspapers for Information bearing
upon his vocation and the markets of
the world To be successful aud to
III Ike himself POKER in the land, he
must learn to cultivate his land to the
beat advantage and keep posted as to
the value 81 ia products.
IhA Hr.f a.. I'd al, -,
ton Of this knowledge il, in our opin
ion, the organization of a club in each
Civil District, to meet as often as prac-
t,rablc- not to discuss neighborhood
gossip, but TO Interchange views and
experiences; to investigate the rcla
tive value Of different. grains and
breeds Of stock aud their adapta
ton the first to particular soils. ant
the latter to the purposes for which
'hcy are intended; to consider tho
best means Of multiplying manurct
aud the time and mode of application
10 the soil. These aud many othc
questions Of importance will sugges
themselves to the club, but whethc
with profit, will depend upon the yea
oC the members for the work Of i'm
provcmcut and the carncstness wit
which each one will perform his par
lu the investigation Of tho subject
proposed for discussion or experiment
In addition to lie agricultural charaC
ser, the club should also coustitut
itaclf a newspaper club Tor procurin
m agricultural paper the Rural Su
Tor Instance which il tho ablcst y
know Of and best adapted TO this la
itudc, nor will it be amisa TO subscrib
Tor, aud circulate the Nashville JoV
nal OF Commerce, that the club ma
inform itself of what is doing ia rel
rStatc, immigration, labor, mining 81
manufacturing all of which suhjcc
are infinitely connected with a tho
pugh development Of agriculture,
Apr, from the increased prospcri
and 20 nj happiness that would rcsu
fem surh organizations, extended,
,hay should BE-, throughout the cour
Try aud pa, ia elvss connection wit
each other, the general knowledge d
rived from their proper managemeu
added to the compact power OF clio
association, would elevate agricultu
u liz proper diSaity aud give to iiru
or, the conservative infucacc ov