Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-04-07
Why Farmers Should Cooperate.

In union there is strength. The pyramids
Of Egypt were built Of stone cut from quar-
ries hundreds Of miles distant, and trans
ported across the country. The stones are
very large and weigh thousands of TONS and
could not be easily transported by any means
OF conveyance in use at the present day.
Travellers and philosophers have speculated
in vain and suggested numerous plans by
which these enormous stones were trans
ported such distances. An explorer, year
or two ago, discovered picture among the
ruins Of an Egyptian city, which solved the
problem. 1t was representation Of part
ly finished pyramid, and at distance huge
stone with a rope around it and a rope eX-
tending apparently n long distance, with
thousands of men engaged hauling the stone
to the pyramid A better example of a
perfect union Of purpose and effort cannot be
conceived of.
The story of the old man and the bundle
of sticks is another illustration OF the strength
in union. The whole history Of the world,
of church, Of state, of great wars, Of all
great undertakings prove the truth Of the
assertion that "in union there is strength"
Let US apply the moral to the farmers.
United they are powerful for good or evil.
To accomplish any great undertaking they
| must be united, exert their whole strength
in one direction with common purpose as the
Egyptians did moving the enormous stones,
and must be bound together as were the
bundle of sticks Divided they are easily
broken, even used as tools against each other.
Singly no farmer can accomplish any reform
or change in the educational, social, political
or financial world. Combined with the
neighbor farmers he can exert some influence.
Millions Of farmers bound together with the
strong bands that bind organized bodies Of
men and women together, can revolutionize
the whole world If they all could unite
upon any one system of business or one plan
of Jurisprudence, their power would be om-
nipotent They could then form customs,
enact laws, reform every abuse, and protect
and elevate the farming interests.
| What prevents farmers from cooperating
thus? We reply, nothing, absolutely nothing,
except want Of confidence in themselves
and each other aided by ignorance and jeal-
ousy. The efforts of those men who have at.
tempted to Join the farmers in union have
|
Hard times, scarcity Of money, great monop.
olies and swindles, astonishing success on the
part OF other organized bodies Of men, pros.
poets of poverty and ignorance among the
farming population of the world, and great
wealth and power among other classes, have
opened the eyes Of the farmer, and he sees as
through glass darky, that his whole hope
in the future, for himself and his children
depends upon concert Of action among the
farming population Of the world.
Cooperation is our watchword. An oil
saying, "many hands make light wo ," is
synonym for the word "co0peration." Evory
other industry has a league or union or so
ciety to protect its interests In many case
it has been the outgrowth Of necessity. Ii
other cases it is combination to prey upol
all other classes, and more especially upoi
the farming population. Farmers have beef
compelled to organize to form society Il
protect themselves against the encroac hment
of swindlers, jobbcrs, leagues, spectators
willy politicians and monied monopolies
Farmers who refuse or neglect to unite will
their brother farmers In the great work, stan,
in their own light, fight against their owl
pest interests, anu really deserve the pity o
those who better understand his and thei
true interests.
Cooperation among farmers does not mea
to break down any class or trade or prOfes
sion conducting legitimate business, or in
jure the rights Of any legitimate industry
but to build up the farmer and every othe
honest, legitimate business in the land. Tn
intelligence, the social unity, the fratcrna
bond, the financial success of the whole farm
ing community, depends to-day upon organi
zation and cooperation among the farmers G
the world. The time will come, and is al
ready near, when every laborcr will under
stand and fully appreciate the Importance @
) cooperation, that their very existence dc
ponds upon it, and that it is their sole dc
fence against injustice and oppression.