Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-04-24

union to protect our interests as farmers 10
elect legislators who are honest and pledged
to see that expenses aud salaries are cut
down to a farming basis; to exercise what
little power is left us over railroad charges,
so that roads that we have mortgaged our
farms to build may be compelled to recog-
nize that they exist for us as we'll as we for
them.
Farmers complain that they are in bond
age. We must be free Some one has said
that " He'll hath no fury like a woman |
scorned, " and it can be said with equal |
truth that there is no fury equal to that Of
the great industrial masses when they are |
once aroused 10 earnest. Farmers are hon I
est, orderly and quiet. Their highest ambi-
ton is to build churches, educate their chill
dreu, and perform all the duties of good citi-
gems. They are as still as the breeze. but
when once aroused they may become as terri.
BILE as the storm king. Like well behaved
pack horse, they endure all the burdens
plundering demagogues pile upon them, but
when they begin to stagger under the load,
their voices sweep over the land like a
mighty aud awful tornado.
The speaker here paid an eloquent trib-
ute TO the patriotism aud public spirit OF
| the farmer and the necessity Of his avoca-
ton to the existence Of other classes. He
has no one TO blame but himself for not Civ
ing an exalted dignity to the profession upon
which all the world depends. The man who
respects himself will be respected by others.
But the humility Of the avocaton has be-
come so proverbial that if politician makes
stupid speech, nine in ten will say he had
better go back to the pillow, thereby ac-
knowledging that inferiority Of talent is sufh-
cient fer the great science Of farming. But
an organized policy will give dignity and
that power which the farmer should long
since have welded everywhere. Why is he
not successful, Because he has not har-
messed science to his pillow; because unjust
laws have Disseminated against him and d.
miuished his means of support nearly one:
half. This shrinks the entire business ofthe
country. The laws and the monopoly pow.
er they create aud protect have been bent to
impoverish the people, and now he hoped
they would begin to feel that they have
killed the goose that laid the golden egg.
When will farmers begin to consider the ope-
ration Of these net0 StaUe taics
Here the speaker followed with state
ment of the actual cost aud the selling price
Of many patented articles, such as sewing
machines, costing Sl2 and selling for $40,
the same being sold in Europe for $50
reapers costing $50, and selling for 5000 ;
threshing machines costing 800, and SELL
ing for 500. Now we pay the difference
for being the most patient and gullible fools
that ever pretended to be freemen and farm
ers too. Let us agree to send honest men
{ to the state and national legislatures, ignore
all party politics aud put the right men in
, the right place
} Farmers need union because capital is be-
ing steadily and surely concentrated. The
few who hold it, use it to make more, anC
r they often look upon the farmer as their Ia
borer servant, slave 1t eXempts itsel
y from all taxation wherever it can, and thu
farmer pays the expenses of the government,
. which are constantly increasing. The prod
a ucts of the farmers hard labor should b,
. the means Of happiness to him. but it is crap
r pied, 6lched aud legislated away from him
a The maker should rule, and not that which
4 is made the farmers own most Of the coun
E try, and of course should rule it. BY q
e union of farmers We eau exercise more thai
a n blank opinion as to the value Of our butte
r aud cheese, and can protect ourselves bette
n from public and private plunderers. w
a have been patient till it is no longer vir
a tue The farmers of the West are movinJ
A as one man and we ought to here. Blu
e some old fogies may say that nothing can b
v done, or that these wrongs will right them
= selves or, in other words, that the monopo
v lies will repent and adopt liberal policy
q This is about as reasonable as it is to sup
!. pose that large fish will quit eating sinai
"a ones Some say these societies do no good
If | say they do all sorts of good il we atten
, TO them. The professions are crowded wit
4. second class men and the farmer support
them. We are willing to do eur part
m others will do theirs, and treat US well.
ar In some sections there is much oppositio
n TO the union Of farmers. The monopoli'
fears for his craft politicians cry out, "wha
,r are you farmers trying to do You naught
u things, you. You ought to be satisfied
IS You can make your butter aud cheese, rails
"A corn, hogs aud hominy. You ought certain
n ly to be satisfied with such privileges as "
AZ grant you. You will hear other brainle'
10 tops say that the people of the rural dis
Is tricts have not sufficient intelligence to d
"a anything that would hurt the better class
in society. Better class " Even our lit
"a village politicians are terribly exercised
n think that common clod-hoppers should hay
"a the presumption to claim any rights thu
I'd they should respect But the ball is in mi
n. ton. The cry is heard from mountain to
n. to mountain top aud will pour through IL
" vallies like the voice of many water
:! Ilraat annlauaaA