Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1874-05-14

. farmerf Most. certainly not. Such
work is losing business. and farmer.
who adopt fhaf course Of labor win end al
the end OF the season that themselves,
their wives. and children are corn aud
discouraged. and have not accomplished
as much as had been attempted or expec-
ted. Why! Because they have worked
like oxen and Dot like men. and have de-
pended on muscle alone instead of making
it an auxiliary Of the mind. and they treat
themselves to the luxury Of a good. long.
hearty growl at members Of all other in.
dustries for combining TO oppress the poor
farmer. They growl at The shoemaker;
they growl as the s,sssLsns;- -tasyzE09l
. The railroad; they growI At the COM
mission men; they growl at every body and
everything that lives BY using its wits in
sponging. cheating. and expressing the
hard working farmer. This horde OF cor
morants are growled at, whined at, and
snarled at. because they ilch from the
farmer his hard-earncd dollars and live in
luxury and ease thereon. Speakers at
agricultural and political meetings. and
writers in agricultural papers repeat these
complaints. and ring the same charges
over and over again. in season and out of
season. until themselves aud most farmers
really believe that the tillcrs Of the soil
are the most Industrious. moral. intelli-
gent. hard working. abused. prosecuted
lambs in the world. aud everybody else
are wolves. seeking whom they may de-
vour.
Now. as one who was born on = farm,
reared on farm. has spent the flower Of
his days on farm. aud still earns his
bread by tilling the soil. know NY broth
er farmers will forgive me it do not fol-
low in and repeat this strain. but tell
plainly the naked. disagrceable truth
Many Of these complaints are true. aud We
ought to be ashamed ofourselres that such
is the disgracetul fact. Here is class Of
people exceeding any other in numbers
and wealth. aud claiming superior indus
try. intelligence. and morality. complain
ing of being oppressed. We. ought to be
ashamed Of ourselves, and either cease our
OOastinS OF our winning.
Let US take a candid look at the situa-
tion. and see If we cannot discover what
is the matter. Let us try and see ifthere
is any good reason Why Tie great mnjori-
~ should be governed aui oppressed by
a small minority.
In human affairs effects follow causes
results are accomplished by action. even
when the actors are unseen. Look at our
State and national Governments and who
are the men to rhom me entrust this great
re.J,onMLiliy Look at our boards ol
trade. industrial expositions. and in fac,
any great project for the Advancement Of
science. art. liberty. or industry. and you
will find at its head and the the moving
spirit thereof lawyer. doctor. preacher
student. merchant. or. in fact, almos
anything but a Turner. These men rule
the nation. They shape the laws; they
trade in its channels. They build ships,
harness steam to their wagons. make light
ming carry their messages; they compe
rivers TO turn their saws. twirl their spin
dies. and throw their shutties. They as
their brains, and mind goreras the ,corld
just think Of competing against sucl
men by s,upidly hoeing corn fifteen hour
day and selling it a, 90 cents q bushcl
aud then laying awake nights. growlin,
at railroad men and merchants. The do!
who barks at the moon comes nearer &C
complaining his purpose than sucha grow |
or. Why have not farmers taken q posi-
tion Of influence and power in the coun
ellis Of the nation aud otherwise. in pro
portion to their numbers and wealth
Simply because We have not used GU
brains.
The world pays homage to intelligence
to intellect. aud puts i, in places Of honor
Of trust. of responsibility. The worl
, is not partial to lawyers. ministers. an
doctors. but the world acants to use brains
and accepts them wherever found. an
uses them to promote its wishes. and
We farmers want to be placed in the fore
most rank in the nation and in the world
il We wish to be pu, in position where "
can have power TO aid cur fellows If "
wish to have influence aud make our mar
on the institutions Of the land If We wis
to stand where VIC can do something
towards governing the price of our com
modiIies; ii We wish to weigh accordin
to our size in the scale Of public opinion
il we want to have farmers in deman
for places Of trus, and honor and profit
and for husbands for beautiful, refined
aud intelligent women /; it We want to c.
care from cur rrcsen, vsssalage. We ma
furnish some trains. sound in qualit,
liberal in quantity. polished with cons,al
use. refnei By study and thought. Sho
ne such a farmer as that, and will sho
you a man whom his !ellow-men Kill sra,
to use in places Of trust.
Ispeak i, in sorrow; admi, i, with dee
and burning shame. that the farmers ca
furnish but comparatively few men who's
minds are fitted to organize great ep,e
rri.es. Lsok at the farmers in our le,
i>la,ure. In numbers they are very sma
in proportion to the reputation of Il
State. and smaller yet in she inHuen,
they have upon the legislation. Whc
they come in con,ss, with men who al
in the habit Of close aud logical reasoJ
ing. they. with q few exceptions. pro,
ransing. 1t may. and probably will.
said that headxo,k viii not hoe corn ,
feed the pigs. Granted. Blu, prove
me that an intelligent uaa is disssal
fed FROM performing the duties Of q IA
mer aud yen will prove I" me thar farm
ing is business which il is di.g,acef
TO fo'lor, and that it is grossly unjust
say aughs to induce any young man
common sense to become farmer.