The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-02-08

service, labored indefatigably, day after
day, in his fields, was called the best
farmer of his age. There is volume of
meaning, which ought to be pondered, in
one Of his favorite expressions, with re-
gard !, to agriculture :s aThose, nsaid he,
E"who exercise that at, are ofall others,
least addicted to evil thoughts" Reg
ulus, in the midst of his African CAM
paign, asked permission of the Roman
Senate to return and cultivate his little
farm, which had been neglected during
his absence-wisely preferring the simple
wreath of a successful agriculturist to the
ornate crown of Il successful general.
And now what does history say of the
United States and its civilization? 1t
SAYS that the war of the Revolution was,
in great measure, fought aud won by
farmers. It says that the Union was, in
a great measure, formed by farmers. 1t
says that the government was in great
measure administered by farmers. 1t
says that Washington's highest earthly
ambition was to beconsidered one of the
best of farmers. In word, it says that
the fields, which God made, controlled
the town, which man made. And what
country was the result what a peo-
pie what government!
But history tells different story of this
country and its civilization to-day. It
tells that agriculture, although still, in
many respects, the leading interest, has
lost prestige, position aud power. 1t tells
that agriculture has been shorn of much
of its wealth. 1t has been fettered by
unwise and oppressive legislation. 1t
tells that by these means, assisted by the
aggregation of capital in the cities, and
powerful rings and monopolies, the civil
ization of the United States4is rapidly
changing from country to a city civili-
zation-from a country, under, and by
aid of which their liberties and greatness,
like those Of Rome, were achieved and
maintained a city civilization, under
and by the aid of which should the tran
sition ever become complete, they will,
like those of Rome, be assuredly and for
ever destroyed. Already evidences of.the
decline of republican virtues are every
where visible; in the greed and wild
huntfor ofhceand money lin the corrup-
ton which stalketh abroad even at noon
day, unshamed in the presence of the
world; in the lasciyious riot of city
wealth and luxury; in rulers being, what
the greatest Of the prophets denounces,
companions of thieves, lovers of gifts and
followers after rewards; and, above all
in the apathy and Indifference, with
which the highest governmental, as well
as individual, crimes are regarded by the
masses of the people.
Oh! while struggling mall other-ways
to uproot these alarming evils, the good
men of this country-the good men of
the cities, as we'll as the good men of the
rural districts-should not fail to take
those steps by which such. evils in q
State can alone be efectually and finally
removed. They must build up agrieui-
ture L They can abnild UP commerce =
build up manufactures; but let them
build up agriculture at the same time
build it up all the time; repair every
damage it has sustained; restore every
rampant it has lost; enlarge its bounda.
ries; lay its foundations broader and
deeper; and raise its superstructure
higher and grander; that those Of other
interests may be, as God intended them
to be, merely its appeudages-giying to
it, indeed, while deriving from it, beauty
and its strength, but never its superiors
never its equals.-Ertracts from an Ad-
dress by Col. s. S. Scott, Chairman of the
Erecuiive Committee Of the. Stote Grange,
of Alabama.