The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-09-10
NEW HAMPSHI RE.
Hon. w. M. Evarts on Agriculture


CLAREMoNT, Sept 9-The second day Of the
Connecticut River Valley Agricultural Fair
was largely attenged, and the display of stock
and agricultural products was very fine. A
very large crowd of people was drawn to the
grounds in the afternoon to listen to the address
by Hon. VIM. M. Evarts of New York.
At2 o'clock Chester Pike introduced Hon.
VIM. M. Evarts of New York, the eminent
statesman and lawyer, as well rs practical
farmer and successful stock grower.
Mr.. Evarts began his address by congratulate
ing those present on tie success of the fair.
There seems to be nothing wanting. The wealth
er, the display and the enjoyment of the occa-
sion are nearly perfect, and from it we know
that in agriculture there have been taken no
steps backward, The great Roman poet, whose
inspirations were in so much unison with our
own, himself a farmer and the son of a farmer,
hit upon the true secret of the success of agri-
cultural shows when he said, ''rhese things
seen bp the eye make greater impression than
those heard by the ear" Whether he learns
this from the cattle shows of his own valley or
his own instruction, our farmers know it we'll
If any one thing characterizes farmers fairs it
is that they do not depend upon noisy conten-
tions. They bring with them their evidence
by the grth of the cattle and the weight of
their products. They settle thesquestion of ex-
cellence. Now, if all the assemblies of this
country, and we Americans are people of as
semblies, were to do away with speeches and
resolutions and compelled to show by results,
they would not appear better than the farmers.
An old English Admiral q native of New
England who became eminent in the British
service late in life, visited his native shores.
Having been born on Cape Cod he supposed he
knew all about the country, and on the voyage
entertained his fellow passengers with accounts
of it, and among Others told of Cape Cod lob
sters which weighed % pounds.
AS this was doubted, wager was laid that
he could not. on landing, find such lobster
When he tried he failed, but by hunting up
the old fishermen obtained some affidavits that
they formerly caught them of such size, but
the referees decided against him, saying, sAfi
davis are not Holsters"
What year the last would be if politicians
presented their work instead Of their talk. We
should have in conventions state governments
established by fraud and dissolved by injunc-
ton. Others like South Carolina, following
Moses and the prophets, and so on; but instead
of this we have speeches and resolutions. All,
that resolutions not acts, that affidavits are
not Holsters.
The essence and force of farmers lives are
what they show and what they say. Probably
the reason why Capt. Pike invited the speaker
somewhat of his going on farm, and knew
while he (the speaker) supplies large family,
giving the boys pair of boots and the girls a
new bonnet, yearly paying taxes and pew rent,
and keeping out of the sheriff, but driving no
oxen, sheering no sheep and tbreshng no grain,
these things were done it would be of great ad-
vantage to the farmers of the Connecticut val
ley.
I said VT. Evarts, CONFESS to an ambition to
succeed as gentleman farmer. There is one
fault with gentlemea farmers. He sees neigh
Dor farmers prosper just as they devote their
own skill and their own care to their farms,
and he thinks the way for him to succeed is to
show his own skill and thought in his farm.
This is the fatal mistake. The first thing for
him to do is to learn to let his farm alone and
leave it to the care of practicable and sensible
farmers"
He then spoke at some length on the life and
interests of farmers and gave many suggestions
which were Of much practicable, value to agri-
culturalists, his address being mainly Oh farm
ing interests.
In the course of his remarks he alluded
briefly to self government, dwelling somewhat
upon its beauties and benefits to the people,
particularly to the farming portions. "Oprs,"
he said, sis government of the people and for
the people and it is patent to all that we shall
retain this form of government as long as it is
permitted us to elect Chief Magistrate to pre-
side over the nation"
He also referred to the national finance,
speaking most decidedly in favor of hard
money policy or specie basis. A promise to
pay so long as 1T is kept by the government is
redeemable in gold but when broken he argued
is worthless.