The Portland daily press., 1873-07-22
ERMS $500 PER ANNUM ADVANCE
Farmers Associations.

Thomas Wright calls the working-mer
"our new masters" meaning. for the most
part, mechanics and their helpers. 1t is iolly
to despise or disparage the working-men in
this limited sense, and no wise or good man
can fail to wish them all substantial emanci-
patton and welfare. But the largest and
most important class Of workers are the farm
ing class and their associates. The land is
our great heritage, and the true use of il is
our most essential need Our people ought
to be trained fJr this more Thorough " and
there are signs all over world of the awaken
ing of the farming interest to its rights and
its duties. The mechanics have made more
mark upon public opinion, perhaps, because
they hang together more closel y and live in
towns and cities, where they readily combine
with money and felow-feeling and have ac-
cess to the press and public agitation. The
mechanics have done great work for mod
ern llber y. and their guilds have been for
ages mighty powers IN the struggle against
the old feudallsm. Some of the associations
formed by them still alarm the organs OF des-
potism, and the ultramontane papers speak
with anxiety of the warfare OF the trowel
against the cross, and some sober moralists
share their solicitude. They that use the
plow and the pruning-hook can not tend to
any such warfare and so tar as we have read
the proceedings OF the oranges of husbandry
That are rising by thousands among our farm
ers, they promise wei for the future of the
the tillers OF the ground and for the nation at
large. 1t is well for them to guard them
selves against the grasping policy OF the mid
dle-men, who come between them and the
the markets, and take more than their share
of the farmers profits and exact more than
their due for the manufacturers products.
1t Is well that they seek 10 take their crops
more readily AMI eheaply to t. market, or to
being the market nearer to their crops. What
perhaps, is the most remarkable featu e in
their present movement is their eagerness for
more fellowship, more connection with each
other and with the press. and all the helps
and incentives OF society, art, and literature.
1t is a great thing for those who own and I'LL
the soil to bring true soul to their work, ami
even in the symbols and costumes of their as
sociatiors TO show their respect for them
| selves and their calling. 1t is well t. at wom-
en- as well as men JOIN in this movement, and
out of all this ceremonial OF the crook and
pruning-hOok, the sash and pouch, some sub
stantial gain for agriculture in ideal dignity
and social refinement will be won. Who
knows how much the Ceres, Flora, and Po-
mona OF the grange may do to give woman a
! style OF dress tat is good for something be-
| sides mere show, and which may join use
with beauty in he future of the sex? The
iarm surely has all the elements of the beau
tiiul if they are only sought out, and orchards,
groves, lawns. flowers, brooks, rocks, hills,
lakes, offer charms that need only good taste
and so cial sympathy to exalt them into agen-
cies of culture aud festivals of joy. How wise
it is to give the farmers the dressing Of the
church once year, as is sometimes done, and
what harvest-homes our America would show
next November it every farming village would
do its best to adorn its temple with the fruits
that crown the year! But this is great mat
ter, and we have only a passing word for 1t
now.-Editor's Easy Chair, in Hdrper's
Magazine for august.