Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-03-19

said "he thought he could Gil quarter
masters BERTH" Mr.. Baxter said, III liked
his impudence and got him the appointment.
His cheek or merit, or both, brought him out
at the close of the war as Gen. Dodge.
Having lost none of his impudence during
the war, he went TO Mr.. Baxter and told
him "he should like to 60 to some foreign
country as minister or consul" He gave a
big supper at one of the most fashionable
hotels in Washington, inviting senator's
members Of Congress, &C., &C., and they
found he was just the man to 60 to Bremen
as consul. Now this is fair sample Of the
way that thIee-fourths Of the offices in the
gift Of the people are obtained; that is by
intrigue and wire-pulling, the person seeking
the Office. Is this what the American peo-
pie want7 Most assurcdly not. We want
the office TO seek the man, and not the man
the Office. We want TO educate ourselves
to a proper understanding Of what We want
for men to represent US, and then elect them.
We have had wrong standard in the past
by which to judge Of ability to represent us
we have thought we must send educated gen.
tlemen TO represent US in high places. Thus
far we were right, but wrong in our standard
Of what constitutes gentleman. Is he a
gentleman who Just before election uses
bribery and fraud to obtain votes, grasps you
by the hand and inquiries after your family,
but when ho has obtained his office for a
term of years and you meet him and pass
the time of day by addressing him in court
'cous and gentlemauIy manner are met with
supercilious stare with the cut direct, as
much as to say, l have got all want you,
| only tolerated you before election because
| wanted your vote? The true gentleman
is courteous alike to rich or poor, old or
young ever thoughtful for the comforts and
welfare of those with whom he comes in con-
tact. All men lose the right to be called
gentlemen when they allow laws to be made
(if in their power to prevent itj that infringe
upon the rights of any class, especially if they
tend to make the rich richer and the poor
poorer; they should stand by all just laws
and not allow them to be trampled under
foot; nor public offences to be hushed up, if
their vote, voice or pen can prevent it.
But no; the reverse is too many times
the case and quote few words from
the Rev. John Hall as pertinent to the case !:
"Shall the country be left, or any part Of it.,
to the cruel and pitifu sel6shness of knaves
and schemers? Are its public interests on
ly understood and served by drunken, venal
aventurers? Are our institutions 80 wretch
ed and degrading that, like the galleys of
olden times, only criminals and slaves will
work them Are we a nation to touch
whose ark and altars and temples is polu-
ton? Are we, are American gentlemen, so
effeminate or broken spirited as 10 stand afar
off and whine forth Intellectual complaints
over bribery, lying, fraud, and corruption,
for which all but the perpetrators blush,
while brains and tongues and pens and bal
lots were given for the very purpose of
guarding integrity and liberty2 And when
gentlemen whose education, intelligence,
standing, and honor, properly should make
them the guardians of public and private
honor, slumber and sleep, the creatures that
prey on the community roam at large, conf
dent that If convicted they can escape"
What more stirring and applicable words
could be found than the above for the times
aud in view Of the lamentable state Of pub.
lie affairs, what noble and honorable work
we, the farmers of this beautiful country,
have before us and as weather vane tells
the way the wind blows, so the signs of the
times indicate reform, and that the people
are not going to take back seats in this glo.
rious cause but having ohcelgrasped the pillow
handles they will not look back, but keeping
the eye of the mind ever on the object in
view turn a straight and broad furrow, COW
ering up all corruption aud fraud and bring.
ing forth a glorious crop of men, who will
honor themselves by dealing justly with the
people. To this end let us improve all those
faculties given us by the all-wise Father,
aud not consider that the accumulation Of a
few dollars (tor our children to quarrel over
perhaps, after we are gomez is OF more con-
sequence than the Improvement Of the mind
and our higher natures.
Then let us educate our children not only
in the art of agriculture, which is the only
one of divine origin, but give them slso a
good academic education, aud if their incli-
nations lead them to desire more education
land our means will permit) give them col
lcgiate education; being very careful not to
improve the mind at the expense OF the body !;
but bring them up to manhood and woman
hood if, possible with good digestion, as no
amount of education can make up for con-
stitution broken down in obtaining it.
Above all let us educate our children to
be temperate, and that the only safe way is
TO Touch not, taste not, handle not" that
deadly poison which carries down thousands
every year to fill drunkards' graves, makes
more homes desolate, causes more misery aud
crime, than all the other causes combined
then let us fight it as we would the plague,
making it give way inch by inch until the
accursed stuff shall be banished from the
land then and not till then will the millen.
mum come, when sin shall be bauished from
the land and peace, prosperity aud happiness
prevail | think farmers as a class are less
addicted to the use of intoxicating liquors
than any others, but we al need cleansing
as by FIRE. But now to touch more partio.
ularly on the last part of my question, how
to make farming pleasant.
There is an old aud true saying, namely
"God helps those who help themselves ,
The word "honors might be substituted
for helps" and have it equally true. Then
let us use every effort in our power to honor
our calling. Let US remember that it al.
ways pays in farming to produce the best Of
everything, pays not only in price obtained
but in ready sales; then let our motto b(
Excelsior" in all things pertaining to the
farm. In our deal with our fellow men lei
us " be Just but fear not" ever daring to Dc
right, remembering that good name is thu
best heritage we can leave our children, anJ
that clear conscience is better than the ap,
proval Of men. Let us use all those mean
in our power to make farm work (which i
hard enough at the best) more easy anC
pleasant. Let us remember that it is NOR,
pleasant to NOW four acres per day with
good pair Of horses, than it used to be to NOV
one with the scythe also that one man cal
rake that four acres quicker aud easier will
a good horse rake, than four could with hanc
rakes. Then let Us have our moving ma
chimes, horse rakes, hay tedders, aud a thou