Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-01-15
Introductory.

this department has been connected with the
newspaper press, particularly as an agricul-
tural writer, it is not unlikely that his name,
at least, is known to most Of the readers OF
the Waterman and Journal.
With the view Of afFordiDg a means Of
consultation and cooperative action among
the farmers of the state we four years ago
began, in connection with printer who
controlled the necessary facilities, the publi-
cation Of the VERMONT FARMER, and for more
than three years bent all our energies to the
work we had at heart. The result proved
that we had neither underestimate the
need nor desire Of our farmers for such
paper. Probably no weekly journal in this
state ever 50 soon acquired so large circu-
lation, or so we'll recognized an influence,
and that, not through our own unaided ei-
forts, but in consequence OF the generous |
assistance volunteered, and in most cases !
gratuitously given us, from all parts of the
state. This support, Tar beyond our antlcl-
patton, not only greatly encouraged us, but
put us under bonds to maintain continuously
and honestly the principles at first set forth
by us, and in aid of which such liberal sup.
port was contributed. This we strove to do,
but in doing it we were compelled to 80
counter to the views Of immediate pecuniary
profit entertained by our business associate.
and this occasioned, some nine months since,
an evident necessity that we should either
have the entire control of the paper, or re-
tire from it altogether, as we did.
So far as this change was personal affair
we have no desire to bring it before the pub
| lie. That we parted from our chosen work,
so happily begun, with heartfelt paug, is
true but for that no matter. 1t we could
have seen it carried forward in the same
spirit and for the same end by other hands,
the personal grief would have been easily
assuaged.
But it has not been so. As an organ OF
agricultural improvements our old paper has,
being without any real editor, and solely
conducted by our late partner and the fore
man of his printing-ofice, (Mr. Wheeler)
neither Of whom own or ever owned farm,
nor have any valuable knowledge Of either
scientific or practical agriculture lapsed
into the ordinary newspaper with scissored
agricultural department" As newspa-
per simply it is better than we ever made 1t,
or ever desired to make it. But as an aGri-
cultural paper, and particularly as a repre-
sentative Of the distinctive ideas upon which
it was established, 1t is now but weak and
mischievous travesty. 1t could not be other
wise, since its managers care nothing for
that for which we cared everything. We
were compelled TO retire because VIC favored
the cooperative movement among farmers,
and thus got for the paper the illwill of the
advertising mercantile class. Yet We did
this without any hostility to that section OF
our fellow citizens, aud solely by advocating
entirely legitimate action on the part OF the
, farmers. When urged by enthusiastic
, friends to retort and retaliation, we repeated
, " declined, and maintained what We be-
lieved, and still believe, that when thing
should readjust themselves 10 the change, il
/, would be seen that all classes were benefit
ted aud at any rate we would not degrad,
our principles from the high level Of econo
4 mic reform to low quarrel with those witt
, opposed them from interested motives
As was easily to be foreseen, the FARMEI
/, was too deeply committed to the "Barmers
, Movement" to be withdrawn fromsit withou
losing its subscription list. A few weeks o
hesitatng experiment satisfied its manager
of that fact. To hold the paper to its oil,
u course without an editor firmly imbued wit
love for the farmers cause, was impossible
: But any smart writer, though at heart utter
" contemptuous Of that cause, could take i
u up as quarrel. A spirit of puguacty wa
g all that was needed, and ofthat Mr.. Wheele
T. has enough and to spare.
/ Pugnacity has, indeed, been the eharaC
d teristic feature Of the paper under his mar
10 agemeut A bitter and abusive quarr'
N with the merchants and business men Of s
81 Johnsbury was begun within few weeks a
ter our retirement, and it has been kept u
l. till now. The Messrs. Fairbanks withdre
le their Advertising and they have also bee
IN assaulted and DETAINED, though they hay
N been the means of more benefit to the farm
~ ers of that vicinity than the FARMER, undo
D. its present management, will ever be. The
are, indeed, large farmers and devoted no
n, ticulturists themselves, and their sole otfent
k is that they do not like the FARMER, as no
IN conducted, and will not advertise in its co
a. umns.
ne But it is in its political course that Il
TO FARMER has departed farthest from its orig
n. nal programme. Instead of urging upC
ID the farmer, Of whatever party, a lively iute
4 est IN the purity of its nominees, and ca
~. that they should also be friendly to the il
~ teresis Of agriculture, it has striyen to o
ganize the farmers into party by then
r selves, or, in default Of that, to transfer i
" influence to the aid of some party tactic
u. utterly regardless Of the farming interes
., Mercenary motives crop out in every dire
~ ton 10 the management of the paper, an
w. so far as it is influential at all, its inAuen
III is calculated to weaken and discredit all h
" efforts that have been so painfully and an
iously set on foot for the benefit Of the faru
ers Of the state, through cooperation. A
peals to passion, prejudice and ill-will a
. not what our people need. We have Il
much Of that already in our little state,
is not by fighting the merchants; it is n
no by abusing the manufacturers, or the RAJ
'e- roads, that the interests of the farmers
BIT Vermont can be best promoted, or that o
lu- state, in all its departments Of productive
We dustry, can be made prosperous. Such,
he least, have been our views, as put forth, DO
No orally and through the press, for the ID
* eight years.
nd In the most earnest manner, we shall G
ID deavor to stimulate the farmers Of both pr
'ur ties to work for reform in the conduct
public affairs not by the vain effort to {
90, ganize third party, which will be sure
DO fall into the hands of the oifscourings of I
ore political rings Of both the old parties, but
Pc active participation in the primary meetih
of and determination not to be dragooned
ian the riDg.masters into voting for unwort
md men.
,ed Finally, as we were not afforded an {