Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1874-01-23
How Reform is to Come.

The result of the Republican state Con-
vention in New Hampshire illustrates the
wisdom of the farmers in pursuing the
course so often urged by the Inter- Ocean.
The farmers of New Hampshire, as in
deed the farmers of almost every State in
the Union, are largely Republican in
principle. They love the record, ven.
crate the history, and believe in the fund
amental doctrines of the Republican
party. They desire to reform abuses, but
to reform them inside the organization TO
which they are attached, and to this end
have come forward, taken prominent
part in the primary meetings of the party,
and finally, with the assistance of those
who sympathizc with them, have carried
the State Convention and nominated their
own candidate for Governor.
We do not know whether the selection
of MIR. McCutchins is wise one or not !;
but we have confidence to believe that the
man nominated as the choice of the
farmers of the Granite State is one
eminently fit to be chosen, and who
deserves the warm support of
every Republican. And this leads
us to say few words regarding the selec-
tion of candidates in general. The agri-
culturists, as class are more numerous
in the United States than any other body
of men. OF the 100000 of persons
over ten years of age engaged in the vari-
GUS occupations, agriculture claims near
ly 100000. While this is true, it is also
fact that smaller per cent of farmers
is represented in the public offices, espec.
tally the legislative offices, than almost
any other of the prominent classes of So
ciety. In looking over the Congressional
Directory, it is only at rare intervals that
a farmer is found, while the professions
abound in great profusion. This is not
strange, considering the fact that hereto
fore, at least-and we do not say that the
rule should be entirely abandoned-men
have been chosen to Congress because of
their exhibition of some predominant
trait or requirement that, from the nature
OF their education and advantages, pro-
tessional men were more likely to
possess than those whose time had been
occupied in other directions. 1t is not
singular, for instance, that a lawyer
who has devoted years to study, whose
life has been spent among books, whose
daily experience gives to him fluency of
speech, should, under ordinary circum
stances, be chosen to represent the people
in position which his experience quail
fies him to fill, and where it is known he
will meet shrewd men of his own ilk
who will take occasion to measure swords
with him. For the same reason we are
not surprised to see our Legislatures
plentifully sprinkled with editors who,
from the nature of their occupation, must
necessarily have an intimate knowledge OF
legislation and the political history of the
country. AS judicial offices must be filled
by men versed in the law, so, in a lesser
degree, has it been thought advisable to
fill offices where more or less discussion
must arise with those familiar with cur.
rent topics, and consequently better
able to stand their own ground
against attempts on the part of thos {
of a given section, or those having a joint
interest in some given legislation, to over
come men whose lives had not been de
voted TO study. These men have been
elected, not because they were deemed
better qualified naturally to attend to
such matters, but because they had made
such subjects their business, and the old
rule of "every man to his trade was
deemed a good one. Other things being
equal, it cannot be doubted that the man
who has spent his life in the study of any
particular subject is better qualified tC
consider and legslate upon that subject
than he who has given it but superficial
attention. But just now new era has
dawned, and questions nave arisen which
perhaps, the farmer is better qualified tC
consider than any one else. And we dc
not mean by this theoretical farmers, bu
those actually engaged in the work oI
agriculture.
OF late years, too, the agriculture,
classes have taken immense strides tor
. ward in education and general intelli
gence. The arm-house, once compare
lively barren Of libraries, now compares
favorably in the matter of books with
more pretentious homes. The newspaper
that great educator--is found in every
house, and, 1t Is safe to say, is more care
fully read and considered in the country
than in the town. Upon every prcminen
question the farmer of today has decided
opinions, and opinions which are intelli
gently expressed, And his views are moi
the result of theoretical reasoning alone
so apt to be at fault, but have been gained
by hard experience, that most efficient oi
teachers Under these circumstances Il
is not at all singular that the farmers OF
the nation are coming TO the front and de
maading to be heard in the legislation Of
the country. Neither is ii strange thai
they should choose the Republican party
in which they are in such vast majority
as the medium through which TO speak
and act, Having its hrmest hold and its
greatest strength in the agricultural homes
of the country, the Republican party can
look with conplacenGy ON the elevation
OF representatives of those homes 10
power We therefore welcome the result
In New Hampshire, and commend the ex-
ample there as one eminently fit 10 be fol
lowed In other States. Not that all public
offices should be filled with farmers. They
are not the men to ask a monopoly of the