The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-09-16
KEEPING FARMERS SONS AT HOME.


KEEPING FARMERS SONS AT HOME
TIE idea of Judge Dunton's address be-
fore the Rutland county agricultural soci-
ETY., yesterday, was, that an effort should
be made to keep farmers aons at home, on
the farm, to counteract the inducements
now held out to them to embark in pro-
rcssonal or mercantile life. He argued,
with great deal of force and truth, that
farmers do not sufficiently honor their
calling, and reminded farmers sons that
agriculture was justly entitled to front
rank among professions, pointing out to
them that "the country is full OF lawyers
" without clients, doctors without patients.
" and that the mercantile business is very
" hazardous, it being only few who sue
" coed among the many lie urged that
higher and better education should be
given by the farmer to his SONS, that they
should receive more broad and liberal
culture, that the farmhouse should be
made comfortable, pleasant aud altrac i've
tNhh hAi w wv Shh iAilb tliN Dp1b may NC
kept at home, and that q well educated,
scientific and practical class of farmers
may be obtained.
70 a certain extent, we agree with all
this, but We cannot go to the extreme of
the speaker, in holding that the best inter-
csts OF the state and country demand the
retention of these farmers Sons at home.
on the farm-that is, that farmers shall
only produce farmers. We believe that it
would BE- a sorry day for the state and
country If guch an idea should practically
prevail. We want our farmers sons lib
orally educated. They cannot be too high
ly educated whether their business life ia
to be passed on the farm, in the office,
store, or shop. The hope of the country
rests on these young men, these farmers
sons. They furnish the life blood to every
profession, to every calling, to every pur-
suit. They have saved the country once,
should ii be placed in a similar state again,
its only hope OF salvation will be these
farmers sons.
The childien of other professions, of the
physician, of the merchant, become ener.
waited. The race if we may 30 term it, is
constantly detegiorating. We see it all
around us. 1t is an every days expert
ence. Take the lawyer, the physician, the
merchant, and trace the families TO the
thlTd or fourth generation where the same
pursuit or profession has BEEN followed,
and how have they developed? Have they
gone on increasing in strength and power
from generation to generation, or have
they rapidly degenerated, aad, to Use an
expressive though Slang phrase, ''pclered
" QUIZ 1t ought not to &c so, perhaps,
bat it is so. With the farmer it seems diff
ferent. 1t might be the same, we are not
sure but what it would be the same, if the
simple pursuit of farming was kept w
rom generation 10 generation. But as il
IS, the m )st eloquent of divines, the best of
college presidents, professors and teachers,
The a5lest of lawyers, the most skillfnl Of
)hytlcians, the most successful of mcr-
'hauls are farmers sons. The cabinet, the
5ubernatorial chair of the several states
ne balls of congress aud of state legisla.
tures, the diplomatic service, are filled
with these farmers sons, and must con.
laue to be 50 filed for all time to come.
We would MT have it otherwise if We
could. We would not that the profession:
If law and medicine should deteriorate
IA the trades and professions should b.
illed with enervated young men. Yet
uca would be the result it this idea of re
lining farmers sons on tho farm should
prevail. The farms are not plenty enough
for their sons, and, even if they were,
hey are needed as much elsewhere. The
pulpit needs them, the bar calls tor them
Ill trades, professions and pursuits oper
tnelr arms to them and invite them TO theiI
midst They need new, fresh blood &c
keep up their vitality, to give them re.
acwed vigor. They cannot furnish it them.
elves. The farmers sons alone can fur
lish it, and to them they anxiously look
for the life giving blood. They say to the
armcr, your profession ia honorable, but
is ours educate your sons so that they
nay ennoble not only your calling, but ours
etain as many of your sons on the farm as
nay be needed, and as show a peculiar ap
titude for your calling, but give us our due
propnrtion give US that alone which car
save us from deterioration, from contempt,
your sons to take our places, your daugh.
ers for wives. Your sons and your daugh.
ters now Gdorn every station, they have
| carried Vermont principles, Vermont
norals, Vermont manners and customs
Vermont schools and churches everywhere
let them continue so to do.