Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-11-10
A Noble Traitor.

In the attempts made U organize the
farmers Of the country for seli-improyemant
scf-ass,rtion and scIi-protection against the
cncroachmonts Of other classes, the greatest
difficulty has been a want Of leadership, So
modest. so timd, so wanting in energy and
a Willingness to suffer, If necessary, in be-
half Of the interests Of their class, have our
so-callpd pleading farmers shown them
sslve, to be. and on the other hand, SO jealous
or Indifferent have The great body Of farmers
shown themselves toward their own natural
leaders, that the " farmers movement bids
fair to accomplish little, where it has the OPP
portuuity to do much, for tho elevation OF
the agricultural interests of the country.
1t would seem almost as though we should
be compelled to look for active aud efficient
leadership to some man or men from the
business or professional classes, whose SYM
pathies for right, justice and progress among
the masses should stimulate them to exert
their energies in our behalf. As the great
Italian, Napoleon Bonaparte, became the
leader Of France. so perhaps we farmers must
look to some great merchant, lawyer or
preacher to organize rs and inspire us with
the spirit Of true progress and self-respoct
We have sometimes held up to ridicule
the fashion which has been followed nearly
everywhere, Of establishing our agricultural
colleges with a Doctor of Divinity for presi-
dent and a corps of professors drawn from
the literary colleges for instructors. We
have had little hopes for industrial schools
under such management. We know the
strength of class feeling aud the Prevailing
contempt for manual labor aud manual
laborers among the professional and literary
classes. We have ourself been stigmatized
as "a traitor" because, with literary train
ing, and a college title at the ond of our
name, we have so strenuously sought the
elevation of agriculture to a level with the
so-called learned professions, and insisted
upon the right and duty of farmers 10 make
themselves felt socially and publicly as be
comes the most numerous class in the com
monwealth. Bat some recent speeches 10y
professional men ia the West, who have
taken an interest in and studied the phil
osophy of the farmers movement" show
that other and far ADLER traitors " than W,
are coming to the rescue.
We have before us a recent speech by the
Rev DR.. Anderson, President Of the kausa
Agricultural College who takes hold Of thu
greatquestions at issue between the industrial
and professional classes with so nervous Al
intellectual grip, and espouses the right sid
with so hearty sympathy, that if Of sucl
were the kingdom of Doctors generally W.
should say, give MS also a Doctor Of Divinit!
10 lead the farmers of Vermont
DR.. Andcrson's address was made befor
the State Teachers Association, aud deal
with the question OF public education, an
its practical use and value to the publ
whose money pays its cost. After stain
the total sum of money collected from tn
people to support the public schools of Kan
sas for one year, he undertakes an approx
mate division OF it, according to the cost q
each branch of study, as follows