Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-10-15
7HE F4RKER AND THE STATE
EXTRACT FROM THE ADDRESS OF Gov. DlNeLEY
AT THE WEST OXFORD AGRICrLTuRAL sHo"
AND FAIR AT FRYEBURG Ocr IL.

AT THE WEST OXFORD AGRICULTURAL sHo"
AND FAIR AT FRYEBURG OCT IL.
Rather than attempt to give an abstract OIL Tue
whole Of Gov. Dingleys address at Fryeours' we
print entire his remarks as to the causes "nen
make agricu tural life in Maine irksome ana hhSe
resulted in a movement Of population 10 ''e V'''''
anufacturing towns and the West
CAUSES CT pEcAY-HAsrE TO GET RICH
l. Tue growing intensity, reaching almost "
madness, which marks the pursuit Oh iiches and
| the p;eyalen mt belief that wealth can ne secure"
much more rapid y and successfully IN traae' COM
/ ,ne,ce and acknowledgements which necessa-
rily copce u rate population, even II not lor con
venience located originally IN ci'ies.
In new countries where nature is TO be subdued,
and uubounded resources developed, the natural
desire of men for money and the objects which 1t
will secure is inevitably strengthened. There Is
some hing in the atmosphere OF Tree institutions,
where every man has equal opportunities to carve
ont a fortune and ime for himself which stIl iuf-
Their stimulates activity. Instances OF the rapid
rise of real estate and timber lands consequent on
the unexampled growth Of new cities and develop
meut of business encouraged speculative business
habits and fostered the desire OF hasty accumua-
lions. The opening of gold mines fed the hrc,
and young and old alike became impatient with
the old slow and sure methods of life. :,
Then came the war with lis gigantic expend.
lures and inflated and consequently deprecated
habits and create an increasing distaste for every
occupation. and particularly agriculture, from
which all opportunities for speculation were shut
out. The healthy, old-fashioned method OF ac-
curing property through slow accumulation Is
sneered at and the men who talked anout in
every hamlet, who become the ideals OF the boys
on the farm and who are too surely moulding the
business ideals of thousands, are the Jay Goulds,
the Daniel Drews, the jim flsks and the hais,ohs'
who fortunes were made in short time by those
mysterious and questionable methods known as
Operations
it is not surprising that, growing up under such
influences, the young men and young women IN
our rural communities should seize upon the mrs
opportunity TO make their home in the commercial
centres, where they imagine everything will turn
into god under their touch. If we would counter
act these mischievous tendencies, we must strip OH
the gliding from these youthful air castles, and
show our Young men that they only hear OF the
few successful men who draw prizes IN the great
lottery of traffic; while few hear OF the multi
tudes who draw blanks and 60 down to poverty,
and too often to disgrace. Take even the ranks CT
legitimate trade and commerce, and statistics
show that only five merchants out Of a hundred
succeed, while ninety-five fail II this be true OF
the more healthy departments of trade, how small
must be the proper ION vi spt culators who draw
prize.
1t is capable Of demonstration that a thousand
farmers in any district will accumulate as much
property lifetime as thousand merchants
and manufacturers, on an equal capital But IN
tract attention, have the larger proportion OF the
wealth accumulated; while in the case OF the
farmers the accuAulations are more equally d.
vided. Few men who acquire wealth rapidly, long
retain riches secured in defiance of natures great
law OF equivalents. Those who have accumulated
slowly have also accumulated surely.
But back of all these corrective considerations
there must be steady and more persistent lncul-
cation among all classes of the great truth that
the his hest success in life is by means attained
BY the accumulation Of wealth, but by the forma-
ton of a noble and elevated character, and by
shedding abroad such an example of intelligent
industry, tempe ance, purity, benevolence and
Christian living, as will make ones life an atmos-
phere of sunshine and influence for good In
this word.
soL1TARINEss OF FARM LIFE.
. Another cause of this tendency TO abandon
the farm especially in the case of our young men
and young women, arises from craving Tor excite
ment-for society, recreation and all other adyan-
tages which aggt egated population brings. 10
certain extent these advantages are real, and can
not be suppled in rural communities. And to q
greater extent than is usually found, they may be
had. Religious privileges need not be withheld
| in any rural community where there is proper
rccog milton Of their importance. Educational ad-
vantages may be secured to rural towns in salts
factory measure. The rural and ess>populous
portions Of our towns should demand schools Of
the same length and same character as the village.
With two-fiiths of the cost Of our public schools
paid by the State, no town can excuse itself Tor
b wing poor schools. And then comes in the free
high school system, adapted TO the most sparsely
settled rural town, and supported in part by the
State, to meet the wants Of our farming towns IN
the direction of advanced instruction.
1t true that the necessarily solitary life of the
farmer deprives himself and his family of some
of the social advantages Of village and city.
These, however, are overFated by those to whom
distance lends enchantment to the view. And
whatever there is substantial in them may be in
measure supplied If farmers will use the opportu-
mites within their reach to make the homestead
attractive to the children. So far as pictures,
flowers, news papers, books and attractive sur
4 roundngs can make home pleasant, the farmer
has everything hand that the denlzen OF the viii
lage has. The district scbool-house and his own
paror afford all needed facilities for frequent gath
erings for recreati d. social aud culture.
In short, rural communities afford innumera-
bic opportunities for social njcyment and culture,
if they only sought out. The truth is that the
too prevalent sotarncss and dearth Of advantages
of country towns arise from neglect rather than
from necessity.
THE DESIRE TO AVOID WORK.
3. Still another cause of the tendency TO aban-
don farm life is the belief on the part of many
that other pursuits ale less laborious. The truth
Is that man has never taken kindly to the injunc
s ton, in the sweat OF thy brow shalt thou eat
bread. In short, the shirkers ounumbcr the
q workers. In every sphere OF life We find large
minority, to put the best face the matter, strug
cling to get a living by Sinking. Good honest
WORK was always at discount, and particularly so
I in these DAYS of shame, shoddy and mushroom
aristocracy. The class of men are trying to live
by their wits, is increasing. 1t is curious to note
how much ingenuity and etfolt are emp Logged 10
get living in an illegitimate way VIXEN it really
;. seems if half the labor, honestly and squalely
a put forth, would yield immensely better returns
a 1t is no wonder that farmers, devoted to a call
: ing in which the returns depend so largely upon
honest but intelligent work, should sometimes be
!. begued by the thought that after all skirk ing
| pays as well as working, ana should seek some
I other employment. We take it, however, that
generally speaking, no one ever leeiiimatey sue
| ceeded in any calling without hard and constant
work. 1t is the price Of success in any profession
or business. Tue student Who AGNES that there
e is a royal road to learning soon learns his error
The professional man reaches emnence only by
years of exhausting abors. The merchant who
succeeds, labors not simply from sun to sum- hut
on through the hours of night. The story goes Of
a young man, a few years since, who wrote to an
eminent divine to help him to an easy position in
Il New York, and received in reply the information
p that he knew of easy position this side of the
grave. Whoever leaves the farm with the idea
l. that he will fad place where success be OBJ