Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1873-09-11
WORD TO

gence, virtue, honesty aud moral worth of
the country 20 one will presume to deny.
But that the possession Of all or any one
OF these elements Is entirely confined to
the farming community we suppose no
one would be bigoted enough to assert.
II is also true that farmers have suffered
from the dishonesty and corruption which
has charactized SO many Office holders in
tie p ,st. On the other hand they are not
the only class who have been from time
to time the victims of the predatory
proclivities Of Office holders. All have
suffered the tradesman, the mechanic the
professional man as well as the farmer,
the learned as we'll as the ignorant have
each contributed their share toward the
support Of this class Of d~epredatOrs on
the public treasury.
Again the thieves themselves are con-
fined 10 no particular trade or vocation.
They bave sprung from all classes many
Ofour most successful politicians have com.
menced life on the farm and success in
politics is too often promoted by the ju-
dicious use Of public plumber.
We have lately heard q great deal about
Farmers organizations,' Farmers Clubs
and Farmers Oranges" and the move>
ment has created q considerable stir among
politicians generally and among that class
known as demagogues and political wire
pullers in particular. Many Of these res
yersing the sentiment Of the old negro
melody,
Throw down de fiddle ana bow
And take UP de shovel and de hoe
declaring themselves farmers and deter
mined from henceforth to labor in the in.
terest ofthe "hones, yaomanry" the "bono
and sinew'' Of the land, &C., &c. Many
too who know no more about the real
needs Of the farmer than they do Of the in>
habitants Of Jupiter; many indeed whom
it would puzzle to distinguish a corn mill
from a cutting boz, or a fertilizer from the
fiddle they have 30 suddenly thrown aside.
These men as we'll as q few real farmers,
or rather would be politicians, have mis-
taken the object Of the farmers movement.
They believe it to be designed simply for
the purpose Of hosting every one else out
of Office and putting none but farmers in.
Surprising they would do this? The
farmer isa producer Of the necessaries of
life. Who would look after the interests
oc the great consuming class without
whose aid the farmer could not thriys2
Farmers know their own wants and are
very capable of looking after them, but
they do not, and can not know the wants
and grievances which others suffer. Con-
sequently in q Government like this it is
necessary that all classes should be repre-
sented. This is the view all intelligent
people take Of it, farmers as we'll as oth>
ere. and those who think they do not will
End themselves mistaken. We are glad
TO see the farmers organizing, it is right
and proper hat they should and if their
movements are kept within the bounds of
reason and common sense they will accom-
plish great good both to themselves as q
class and to the country at large. But
they should conduct tier own concerns,
and steer clear Of "cross road" politicians
altogether, whose only object is to worm
themselves into Office by stirring up an
unworthy and damaging prejudice against
other classes from whose ranks they have
reason to expect and fear opposition.
The farmers clubs, oranges and other or
CARNATIONS have a large field in which to
operate and in which they must achieve
success before they can hope to succeed in
any other undertaking. They must i'm.
prove their system of farming--they must
encourage general intelligence and i'm
hroycment, and above all they must fos-
ter edacation among their own children.
BY 90 doing they will ct them for that po>
.sition both social and political which they
are 30 anxious 10 zee them GIL and in no
other way can it be achieved. So long
as Ignorance prevails among farmers 80
long will they remain 10 that condition Of
social and political degradation which they
wish to avoid, If they wish their children
to excel in other departments Of life they
must ct them for it by 0 well arranged
system Of education. henever they
make up their minds to do this they may
rest content. Their 81 ildren will take
care Of themselves They will be quail
fed to cope With oil classes Of politicians
come from what class they may. And II
they give them in connection With 3 gen.
sral education 4 proper degree Of moral
training, they may expect TO produce that