Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1876-11-01
THE RELATIONS,
OF
Poll I'll CS
AGRICULTURE
A WORE TO THE FARMERS

- 80 ~ "lN ays mas depended
upon the products OF our soil, whether
gathered from the crops on the face OF
the earth or from the mines of miuer,,
wealth under It's surface. The minioo
interest is an important and growing
one; but we are first OF all an aprl-
cultural country, and when the farm
ers prosper, all classes OF citizens pros
per with them, for the reason that on.
er three-tourths Of our wealth invested
in the growing, tie transportation and
the use Of orr crops. OF all classes
the farmers have to pay the taxes
with the greatest regularity, because
the Government has always Il sure lien
upon their land, and they cannot cs.
cape taxation by false statement OF
value, or by change OF residence. as
can the owner Of portable personal
property. The bondholder or stock
holder may conceal his We III, but
the farmers wealth lies in his broad
acres, open to the eyes of all. CoDse
quentIy, upon him falls the heaviest
assessment, and from him is exacted
the fullest collection 1t IS therefore
The interest OF the farmer beyond that
OF all other classes to see that taxation
Is moderate, and that the expenses of
government are so regulated as to fall
as light as possible upon the owners If
the land. The land owner is bart
owner ofthe United States on its act
ual soil, Beyond any other citizen. he
has an interest in the country because
his ownership OF part Of the country is
actual and physical The farmers
therefore, should he now, as they were |
IN all previous periods of our history, |
me foremost patriots in the war Of
the Revolution, they first resisted tyr
amy, because it overtaxed their
lands, and deprived them Of their i,,s
voice IN the management of the affairs
Of the Government, which they sup
ported. In the war for the Union
,,helr sons were the first to go to the
front, to shed their blood for the pres
'ryatlon Of the country their ancestors
lad established, and the last to leave
he field when the perpetuity OF the
Dnlon was restored. The questions
If taxation and economy in govern.
nent are questions which commend
themselves particularly to the farmers
t taxes can be lowered, and the bur
lens upon land reduced, the owners
If the soil will profit by the reduction
more speedily anG more constantly
han any other class. ,
There are two parties now present I
nS themselves to the citizens of the
United States the Republicans,
mo appeal to the passions and prpiu
ices OF the war as reason why thev {
hould be trusted with continued
over over all our governmental at t
hrs, and especially over questions OF |
sxatlon and the Democratic party.
'hich makes the issues of this canyass
he questions ofreuuion, rctrenchment t
nd letorm. The Republicans claim a
lat 1t would be injurious to the tut t
re welfare of thu United States to 5
'usI with power party, a portion Of j
hose members were once arraved in v
ostlllty against it. The Democrats d
AIM that the Republican party has, o
y long lease Of power, and con- s
nued fraud in government, become t
eXtravagant aud corrupt that TO c
ontlnue it in authority would be de. o
ructlve TO the financial interests of Il
tlzens, and by running individuals I
ould speedily ruin the credit and Ii
Of the United States. The W
eEocrats allege that, while it is true Il
lat great many who are now Dem o
rats were in rebellion, it is also true o
at great many who are now Re e.
lbllcans have contributed to the f. b
'nclal ruin of the United States and fl
citizens, and that not few who a,
ere favorable to the Confederate h
use are now, like Moseby and Long IL
rect, ardent supporters of the Ad- $,
lnlstratlon, becapse they prefer to Q,
lbrace that cause which yields them nj
e greatest personal profit and con- he
ieration. The Democrats say that SC
the war against secession they con- ID
buted no less of blood and sinew TO til
e triumph of the Union cause than he
their opponents, and that while al
ey have traded less, politically, upon nc
cir exploits from 1861 to 1866, their OF
vices were not less meritorious. In III
pport Of this claim of the general OF
lonlsm OF the Northern Democracy, ne
ey bring forward the signatures of dc
llutudes OF eX-soldiers and sailors. CT
10 declare themselves in favor OF IT.,
election ofTILDEN AND HENDRICKS. err
icy do not shirk discussion of any lal
ue, but insist that the people should
W consider those issues which are ia,
lctlcal to each individual at the in
osent time. The attitude of the be
o parties is then that one advocates pr
eviyal Of the dead and settled is wi
IS OF the past, and the other con- po
Grafton of the living issues of the raj
'sent, such as how much per acre tn,
cry man shall have to pay as tax on VI
land, and what profit shall be left by
after the liquidation of the public OK
'rges upon his industry. There is pit
mistaking the fact that our coun- Th
is not now in its normal condition in
prosperity. Our yet virgin soil six
IS not Weld sufficient remuneration an,