Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1877-03-09
The Politics of Agriculture.

A writer under the above heading, alluded
to the diffidence Of the agricultural press in
dealing with political questions, aud espe-
cialy such questions as affect the interests
Of agriculture. desire to say few words
in regard to the course of the political press
of the country in dealing with the same ques-
tions. In times past the press has been the
most potent defender Of the peoples rights.
Through IL the masses have made themselves
heard VIXEN Senates and Courts, absorbed in
schemes of political grandeur, have overlooked
their interests and turned a deaf ear to their
petition. From it have been hurled more
terrible Philippics against the usurpations
and expressions of tyranny than Demosthenes
ever uttered. Corruption in public affairs
has been exposed to It's blighting criticism,
and spiritual wickedness in high places
withered beneath its scathipg denuucia tions
But when the influence Of the press is lent to
the promotion of mere partisan interests, to
tbs exclusion OF those that bear upon the
general welfare OF the masses, it has ceased
to be the people, and if not an instrument Of
opposition is at least dead letter in the pro-
motion Of public good. And such, to GER
tain extent, is the attitude Of the political
press of our country to-day.
The columns Of our partisan journals are
closed against all communications of politi-
cal character, which do not bear tho shibbol-
eth of their party blazoned upon their front,
or prescribe their regimen for all the ills
incident to the body polite And they al
most completely ignore the interests Of the
agricultural class. The contributors TO the
agricultural papers, on the other hand, are
either men OF wealth who do not feel the
pressure of the times, and who are yet able to
make their business a means of profit, or mon
who draw their incomes from other sources
and only follow farming as diversion. But
the majority of our farmers are men Of small
means who are not able to lay hold Of all the
grand improvements Of the ago, the most o
them making but little more than a bare
living and many Of them struggling Under tn,
burden of debt. Among this class there ex
lists widespread feeling OF discomfort, bu
political papers ignore their complaints, and
their only hope Of being heard is through thu
columns Of the agricultural press
The writer above alluded TO, rightly say
that legislation for the most part has been il
the interests Of other industries, aud opposed
to that Of agriculture, and that our law-mak
ers are the creatures OF great monopolies an
corporations, or the tools Of political clique
which would sacrifice the good Of the peOpl
to accomplish mere party ends, so that tn
wrong Of taxation, without representation
exists though in another form, the same a
} it did when our forefathers rose in rebellio
against Great Britain. But il legislation
one-sided, the Interpretation Of the laws i
I in many instances, much more so. Take, fo
} Instance, the law in regard to endorsement
J If man obtains goods on credit from a mel
chant in the city, through the recommends
ton of another, IN case of his failing, III
second party become responsible for the
payment, but in the rural districts nOthin