Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1874-02-04
The Farmer Pays for All.

Of the Patrons OF HuSblndry, and Its intro
duction among our agricultural commune
ties, there have not been wanting dema-
@ogues, who, for the purpose ofingratiating
themselves among the husbandmen, have
unduly exalted their calling on the one
hand, and have spoken in detraction of all
other classes of society. The case of the
farmer against government and society is.
moreover, embodied in the popular catch
word. which has been thoughtlessly repeat
ed by thousand tongues, The farmer
pays for ALL
it is oravelY asserted that not only all
the expenditures of the government. but
the entire expenses of society, are derived
solely from the farmer, and that all other
classes. like so many parasites. fatten upon
his toll Whatever merits this system of
demagoguery may have, it is not that of
novelty, because the fable of the revolving
members against the abdomen has come
down to us from the very dawn of written
history.
1t is a fact, as notorious as indisputable,
that those countries and communities
where the vast majority of the people are
solely devoted to agriculture are poor and
feeble. 1t is Greece and not Asia Minor that
has illuminated the pathway of centuries
nor is it known to us for its agriculture,
but for its craftsmanship, fine arts and liter
ature And imperial Rome, which has
sent down the echo of its name to be rever-
berated by centuries yet to come, achieved
its fame. not by agriculture. but by its
prowess III war
Modern nations like Spain. Portugal,
Brazil. Mexico and the South American
republics, whose people are chiefly engag
81 II coil a or Cay,t
able state Of society The reasons for this
are obvious When the husbandman is
compelled not merely to till the soil, but
also to ,onstruct his own plow and the cart
in whil he conveys his produce to market,
and the very garments which clothe his
body. his productive power is reduced to
the minimum by the variety of these tasks,
50 that he will be unable, by the greatest
bodily exertiOns, to raise himself above
abiUc. poverty.
1t is the division of industrial pursuits
and the organization of different classes to
act comparatively with each other which
has enabled modern civilization to place
% many comforts within the reach of the
poorest in the land-Our very pOOr-hOuses
to-day containing more solid comforts, and
even articles of luxury, than the abodes of
the Saxon nobility of the tenth century.
Unfounded and indiscriminate accusations
ofidleness and unproductivenessh have been
more particularly directed by political
Shv>ters against those classes of society
that do not perform manual labor; Yet
Liebir the author of the science OF agrlcul-
tuIul chemistry. has enabled the agricul-
turiSts of the civilized world to obtain
with the same expenditure of force a mil
lion times more Of products in single
season than he could have have produced
if he had held the plow for eighty days.
The numberless inventions of the pres
ent era, and, for illustration, simply cite
the steam-engine and the threshinS and
harvesting machines, have empowered the
farming communities not merely to multi
ply manifold their productions with the
same expenditure of labor, but have also
enabled them to dispose of their surplus
produce ut a profit. and to receive as an
equivalent therefor, such additional luxu-
rieS aS they may advantageOusly select.
In view of these facts it will take but the
slightest reflection to establish the cOnvic-
tiOn that the Inventor and man of science
are bestowing blessings upon mankind.
though they may not toll in the field, of
equal value to those of the husbandman.
4 team has run away, and farmer
who has been thrown out from the wagon
has broken his limbs. \ sympathiZing
crowd of neighbOrs gather about him, and
what Is their first thought? \ horse for n
messenger. Let him be swift as Sheridan ;
charger, to call surgeon, so that the
mangled limbs may be set, and the life
saved. 1t IS true, in the course OF time.
when the patient is once more hale and
hearty, he may forget to pay that surgeon,
and he may again rail against those class
- of society who toll not with their hands,
but he owes his life to that physician S
skill, nevertheless.
Again, death has set its seal upon the
brow IF Il beloved child, and we are
brought face to face with that awful chasm
that lies between time and eternity. The
form of the loved one is about to be placed
beyond our sight forever 1t is then we
take counsel with the minister of the Cos
pei. the representative of that Word which
in that solemn hour proclaims: - am the
life and the resurrection" Then the min
ister Is needed, though he may be scotfed
at in times of prosperity and health.
What can crude toll achieve when per
formed by man of ignorance? Did not
the system of slavery impoverish the land
in which ignorant labor was employ
edo Can the farmer do without the teach
er? Can he let his little ones grow up un-
able to plan and calculate, and to invest
with profit the proceeds of their labor:
Then we must have the teacher; and we
can not have him with the requisite COM
petence and ability unless we establish the
university and the seminary.
We care not how much the farmer may
toll in the field, or how hard the mechanic
may labor in his shop, if the laws do not
protect and guarantee to him the proceeds
of his labor, his industry has been IN vain
Thus. for the security of our civil anC
political rights the science Jurisprudence
is all essential, and the lawyer, not the
pettifogger, but the real jurist. is a neces
s.lrv, useful, and beneficial member O
society. The newspaper which announces
the state of the N trkets, and gives infor
nation of tiroughts and floods, so that tho
farmer may be enabled to secure the ful
advantage of the times, is also essential
A family paper, which is the herald o
both Joy and sorrow, aud which, by in
structing the youth. keeps them out of baC
society, is paying its way thousand fold
We venture to assert that no family car
either become or remain prosperous that l.
deprived of its newspaper. Real estate
and all other description OF property
would deprecate if an organized count.
should permit its local paper to languisl
or to die In fact, we know of no class o
men who pay their way so fully as the
conductors of the five thousand week.
Journals in the United States.
Powerful nations alone are respected
What makes it more desirable to be a
citizen of the United States than citizer
of Mexico or Venezuela? 1t is because th'
American citizen is member of a Repub-
lie of 100000 intelligent men, wht
know their rights. and, knowing them
dare maintain them. Without militar,
and naval power, we would be at tn,
mercy of other nations, to be plunderet
and ravaged. Quite recently our flag wa
insulted American citizens were sho
without due process of law, and at one,
the entire people looked to its army ant