The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1873-09-11
Enrmers, Interes1s.

E'.armers' InGeresIs.
An address read by II J. Stevens befor
the Locust Grove Farmers Club, Char
ton county, Mo.
It seems almost appalling to stop an
gaze for II moment into the deplorabl
condition into which the farmers, by dc
grees. have fallen. But how came it so
Have the farmers Of the country bee
outeeneraled, or have they simply lai
still and permitted others to bind then
hand and foot? 1t seems absurd to thinl
that such a host of intelligent citizens a
compose the forming class would sit still
and unconcerned, while the many cliques
rings. and monOpolies were being formed
TO ensnare and enslaye them, and often
times almost force them to elect men t.
office who, while pretending great friend
ship for the farmers, showed that they
cared more for their own interests than
the interests of those who elected them
and not only this-the combination form
ed have been powerful enough to control
our State legislatures. To permit such a
state of things to go on unchecked, can
not but be productive of the most dis
astrous results. Let US briefly consider
few of the more important points
Taxation-Taxing the farming interest
10 build railroads, and fixing unreason-
able rates, simply because it is in the
power of railroad companies to do it.
2. The manufacturers of the many
articles for family use, and machinery of
all kinds come forward with their extor-
Tomato prices and call such prices their
scant. honest and just earnings" when
ut the same time they and their agents
double, treble and sometimes quadruple
The cost of the article
3. Our country affairs generally are in
N bad condition and how came they so !?
n Simply because, like those things already
noticed, these have not been attended to
Us they should have been by the farmers,
n who are made to feel the effects most
Severely, and should show the most con-
% ern,
4 /. Neighborhood and home affairs
Il have gotten into an unsound state, and
all cry hard times" What has made
them so? Is it the above mentioned
state Of affairs alone? | confess | can
not see it i'll that light The burdens
pressing so heavily upon the farmer,
which have just been presented, are, in
+ my opinion, light, in comparison with
these which, in conclusion, | shall briefly
glance at
First in the list, though not first in
&importance, is the usurious rate of inter
est the farmer has to pay when he is COM
PEELED to borrow money, often as high as
\ 20, %, 30 and even 80 per cent Oh,
farmers, how long will YOU submit to
such impositions? How long will YOU
stand as if palsied, and see each other
thus imposed upon ? Where is that
brotherly love and kindness towards one
another you so much profess in words
Again, why see each other go, and why
go yourselves, to the high priced stores
70 buy when, with little capital and en-
ergy you could so easily and effectuaIly
#apply such a simple remedy and remove
|at once the chief source of your many
Troubles, and protect yourselves against
Fuch outrages.
Farmers, arise Go forward and act
fle part of wise menl Organize your
pub for work; act with energy. Build
storerOom mt some central point. and
#buy your goods and machinery at whole
pale. Hire an honest man to take care
OF the store, to deal out the goods as YOU
severally need and to keep the books. for
which you can afford to pay good wages
and still save money. Next, and lastly.
IN regard to borrowing and lending; in
corporate in your bylaws rule to lend
money to each other, if necessary, for
certain fixed rate per cent. Manage SO
Vas to not have to borrow money of any,
fone outside of the club, and then, instead
N OF the gloom that now overshadows the
Farmers heart, light, joy and happiness
will be visible, and you will not then
complain of the doings of others when
you find yourselves We're Chiefly to blame.
The story of David and GOIiah.
The Cumberland News of August 20,
pays While on the Union Grove camp
ground, Yesterday, and present as spec
tator at the children's meeting, an anus
g incident came under our observation.
FNn eloquent divine-whom we will desig-
iite as the Rev. Was addressing the
boys, and sought to impress upon them
ne Idea that each one of them was capa-
PIE of accomplishing some great or good
pct. To illustrate his proposition, he re-
ated the story of Jack, the youth who
. tAAC 0A Tic OCdu-SCalk. and
NHade Jack out quite hero, evidently
leeply interesting his youthful hearers.
he interest, however, was dashed when
khe minister remarked that the only
Drawback to the story was that it was not |
rue. He tken asked: "Boys, do You
Peleve the story?" With one accord the |
ads cried ont, d No. sir no, sirl" The
nlnister then said he would illustrate his |
llea with another-st ory-from the Bible |
pms time-and related, with all the en-
Pelishments of detail, the remarkable &C
punt of how the youth David slew the |
pant Goliah with sling, and thereby |
sslsted in vanquishing hostile army,
he boys were again deeply interested, |
nc 11t listened patiently through the recital. |
fhen he had concluded it the minister |
gain inquired: Now, boys, do you |
Relieve that story?" With one accord |
ne lads again shouted, !" No, sirI no,
NnrF The apparent discontinue of the |
everened gentlemen did not detract bit
rom the amusement with which the in
ldent was received by the older persons
re sent. Although he quickly and neat
" acaped from his embarrassment, we
Pon Guided that when he wants to q illus
g q any more to the boys the Rev. Mr..
Will not connect the marvellous in
|n9 hnd the fiction 70 close together.