Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1873-07-16
uPATRoNs OF HusBANpRY.n

This is the name given to an organiza'
ton which has rapidly spread over the
Northwest, and has extended to various
portions of the South. 1t is professedly an
organization of farmers against monopo-
lies" 1t is eminently right and proper
that farmers should organize for the pro-
lection of their own interests. They COM
pose the most important class in our coun-
try. Their success means National sue
cess. If the farmers are prosperous the
country is prosperous. If they grow
wealthy the nation is growing rich. 1t is
a gratifying feature of the age, that far
mers are in more prosperous condition
now than at any previous time in the his
tory of the United States. Larger crops
are raised. The system of farming i'm
proves under the teachings of science. The
farmers are almost absolutely Independent
of other classes. They are decidedly the
happiest people on earth. They have a
right to be and we are glad they are. Their
calling is an honorable one. The time
will. come, and has come alrea dy
when man may boast of being farmer
and look with genuine pride upon his vo-
cation. We trust this condition of affairs
may not only continue but constantly inn
prove. Let the farmers organize them
selves into Oranges" Farmers Clubs, or
whatever they will, and let them pursue
their object with that honesty and earnest
ness of purpose for which they are proverb-
ial. Let the farmers control these organi-
cations and all will be well.
But if they do this, they must be on the
alert, They must keep sharp lookout for
defunct politicians, who will attempt to
control their organizations. Men who
know as little of farming as they do of
honesty, will attempt with their plausible
schemes to run these organizations in their
own interest and in the end bring down a
storm of indignation on the whole thing.
Farmers will do well to scan the list of
names presented to them as their lead
to worthless class of politicians,
who can never succeed upon their
own merits. Look at their past rec
ords, and see if there is anything to com
mend them to the favorable consideration
of honest farmers. Do not fancy every
man farmer who talks with assumed
wisdom about Berkshire pigs, COtswold
sheep, Jersey cows or Short Horn calves.
Any oily demagogue may do this. Any
designing place-seeker may learn enough
from agricultural books and newspapers to
talk eloquently about agricultural matters.
These detestable hypocrites care no more
for the true interest of the farmer than
they do for the horse the farmer rides, or
for the hog that ranges the farmers fields.
They are willing to array themselves in
the ranks of the farmers to accomplish
their selfish purposes, but would array
themselves with any other organization
just as soon, if they had equal chances for
success. They will come from all political
parties. They are the scum of all parties.
If the farmers consult their own inter-
ests and are mindful of their own self-re-
spect, they will spurn this class from their
counsels. Unless they do, their organiZa-
ton will do no good and will only serve to
increase the difficulties of which they now
complain. N1onopolies feed upon the la
bors of the class to which we have alluded.
These politicians can be bribed and
bought for small sums, and would, for gold,
betray the farmers with whom they are
unfortunately united. Rich corporations,
which would make slaves of the farmers,
want no reader instruments, no more will
ling tools to execute their mandates than
the demagogues who now appear in the
garb of the flock, but who when this Sarb
is removed, as it will be, will prove them
selves ravenous, merciless wolves. Their
exterior is fair to look upon, but in their
hearts they are enemies to farmers, enc
mics to honesty, friends of corruption, ard
will prove treacherous to their professions.
WE entirely agree with the Nashville
Banner when it says 1--WE would not give