The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1872-11-23
THE SILENT VOTE.

liberties of this nation. Being remote
from the crowded marts of traffic, the
corrupting influences of those teeming
hives, the great cities, are not felt to any
great extent by the agricultural population;
and being widely scattered over vast ex-
tents of territory, the men who have brought
to perfection the art of managing voters
and manipulating elections in cities, where
large masses of men are easily brought to-
gether, are powerless to act on the scattered
populations of the rural districts. Their
numbers make this class of electors far
more formidable and impossible to control
by central managers than any other.
All these circumstances point to the
great Importance of higher education
for the farmers of the United States
The sons of farmers should be taught more
than to hold the pillow and WELD the
hoe, all the education it was thought ne
oessary, by large majority OF the fathers
of the present tillers of the soil. A boy
who had an ambition above the multiplied
ton table and spelling in three syllables
was dedicated to one of the professions,
and was sent straight way to compete
with others who were already crowding
and jostling for meagre subsistence in
those already overstocked pursuits. A boy
who essays one of the professions, must
needs try his powers as public speaker
and writer, and in short time he enters
the arena of politics as a teacher of his
companions whom he left on the farm or
in the work shop, many of whom possess
infinitely more of all the valuable qualities
that go to make up a practical, valuable
man, but lacking in early training, and
hence in confidence, tamely submit to be
dictated to, taught and led, by their in
ferior in every thing of stirling worth
This lack of early training, and a proper
education among farmers sons who have
the life of a farmer before them, is one of
the greatest evils connected with the cul-
tivation of the soil. Farmers sons should
have fair opportunity to receive the rudi
ments of a good education at school and
have opportunities of completing that
groundwork of knowledge, provided by
the fathers and mothers too, who hold the
destinies of the rising generation in their
hands, at the most critical moment of its
existence. An effort in the right direction
at the proper time by the past generation,
might have placed the present one infinite
ly above what it is in knowledge, influence
and political power; and the present gen.
Grafton who are the actors on life's stage,
hold the destinies of the boys and girls
who look up to them for advice and sup
port, in their hands for good Or for evil
We wonder if the old farmers and many who
are not so old, have not often been brought
to reflect when they have gone to political
meeting, and ask themselves why it was that
some sprig of a lawyer whom they had
attended school with and had never dis
covered that he was much of a prodigy,
should be standing up and presuming to
teach them in reference to the workings of
their government, explaining intricate
political questions and advising them how
they should vote. Why should not the
brother Of that man know as much about
State affairs and be as competent to make
as good speech from the stand as he can
There is no reason for it but the one which
is a reproach to the parents. Opportuni-
ties for early training has not been afforded
the silent man. And when men are want
ed for the Legislature and Congress, the
professions must be sought for spokesman
and leaders, while the farmers are thrown
in in a majority of cases as makeweights-
merely for the purpose of making up the
constitutional number and to vote aye and
nay, when their names are called. And
herein lies the reason why agriculture,
though so mighty at the polls is invariably
found so feeble in council.
This is all wrong, should never have
been suffered and should be reformed
Every father who is master of his indepen-
emit acres would like to see Tom at home
as ready and as able to express his opin
ions on questions in public and credita-
bio manner as John who has been in town
few years exercising his ingenuity and cul
tivating brass in trying to clear criminals
at court from the punishment their crimes
deserve.
The boy in the country can be taught or
encouraged to teach himself to think and
express himself as clearly, as fluently and
as ably as the boy in town. But he needs
to be brought into contact with his fellows.
He needs the proper incentives to study
and express his convictions and thoughts
publicly. Combination and &C. operation
among farmers is the end by which all
these desirable ends can be achieved for his
sons and daughters too. When the rural
lad or man feels that he is competent to
beard his city bred rival in the debate, let
the subject be what it may-in the field of
science, art, politics or what not-he will
feel more self respect and self reliance, and
life in the country will have more of hon.
est pride and dignity to support it than it
now has.
/ If the farmers of every section of the
country form permanent societies, gather
suitable libraries anu seek 10 eSCdDllSn unelr
business on broad and intelligent basis,
| as merchants do, who have their exchang-
es, where the knowledge of whole COM
munity Of interests is concentrated in a
focus, and the thoughts of the many be-
come the common knowledge and exper-
fence of every member of the society. If
every agricultural community had its per-
manent association and hall fitted up for
the purpose, discussion and investigation
would be the inevitable and natural out
growth of such institutions. Associations
of this kind would not merely be places of
| idle resort to waste time, but would in time
prove centres of wealth and influence, and
speedily become part of the farm econe-
my, and as truly valuable to agriculture as
the exchange is to the merchant.
Parker's Breech.Loading Shot.Guns.
After considerable practice with one of
them we have no hesitancy in recommend
| inc them as inst the thing for Snortsmen