Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1873-08-01
Farmers Associations.

ing-men our "ncw masters" mean
ing, for the most part, mechanics
and their helpers. 1t is folly to de-
spise or disparage the working men
in this limited sense, and no wise
or good man can fail to wish them
all substantial emancipation and
welfare. But the largest and most
important class of workers are the
farming class and their associates.
The land is our great heritage, and
the true use of it our most essential
need. Our people ought to be
trained for this more thoroughly,
and there are signs all over the
world of the farming interest ava
kening to its rights and it's duties.
The mechanics have made more
mark upon public opinion, perhaps,
because they hang together more
closely, and live in towns and cities,
where they readily combine with
money and fellow-teeling, and have
access to the press and public agi-
tation. The mechanics have done
a great work for modern liberty, and
their guilds have been for ages
mighty powers in the struggle
against the old feudalism. Some of
the associations formed by them
still alarm the organs Of despotism,
and the ultramontane papers speak
with anxiety of the warfare of the
trowel against the cross, and some
sober moralists share their solicit
tude. They that use the pillow and
the pruning hook can not tend to
any such warfare; and so far as we
have read the proceedings of the
oranges of husbandry that are rising
by thousands among our farmers,
they promise well for the tillers of
the ground and for the nation at
large. 1t is well for them to guard
themselves against the grasping
policy of the middle men, who come
between them and the markets, and
take more than their share of the
farmers profits, and exact more
than their due for the manufacture
er's products. 1t is we'll that they
seek to take their crops more readi-
ly and cheaply to the market, or to
bring the market nearer to their
crops. What, perhaps is the most
remarkable feature in their present
movement is their cagerness 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
till the soil to bring true soul to
their work, and even in the symbols
and customs of their associations to
show their respect for themselves
and their calling. 1t is well that
women as well as men join in this
movement, and out of all this GER
emonial 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 Pomona of the
grange may do to give women a
style of dress that is good for some
thing besides mere show, and which
may join use with beauty in the flu
ture of the sex? The farm surely
has all the elements of the beautiful
if they are only sought out, and Or
chards, groves, lawns, flowers, brooks,
rocks, hills, lakes, offer charms that
need only good taste and social
sympathy to exalt them into agen-
cies of culture and festivals of JOY.
How wise it is to give the farmers
the dressing of the church once a
year, as is sometimes done, and what
harvest-k homes our America would
show next November if every farm
ing village would do it's best to
adorn its temple with the fruits that
crown the year! But this is great
matter, and we have only passing
word tor it now.-Etlitor's Easy
Chair, IN Ha'per's Magazine for
17fu2iSf