Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1877-03-30

statement AZ general rule also our local
papers have but little carefully prepared edi-
torial matter to shape the public thought
among their readers, though Of course there
are notable exceptions, as the Waterman,
Messenger, Free Press, and Rutland Herald
and Globe, but these are local mostly.
Again these papers are not conducted
with special reference TO the agricultural
population Of our state, unless il is the Mes
sengOr. Indeed they regard the farmers as
below par they want the farmers votes for
their special projects but when il comes to
a real hearty fellowship for, genuine inter.
est in, and care for the occupation, burdens
aud prosperity of the tanners as such, they
do not have it; they are run for one OF these
two objects, to make money or for politics.
But the FARMER has no such object. If
there is paper in New England that is
operated for the good, the real interest Of its
readers, that paper is the VERMONT FARMER.
Its subscription aud advertising rates are
proof; aud as its managing editor for severa!
months had opportunities to get "consid-
GRAFTON" for putting worthless books and
other nostrums, its readers know with what
result. 1t may SAVIOR Of egotism to say it,
but with life of Eve and twenty years on
farm with an Unborn love for the soil and
those who till it, and with an interest in
agricultural people abd pursuits which has
grown in strength with every passing
year, took hold Of the FARMER with tho
controlling purpose Of making it, with the
grange, the most potent agency for the good
Of the farmers which exists in this state, but
its extremely low rates rendered the execu.
ton of that purpose impracticable, for the
time being at least.
Still further, there is no unity among the
farmers of the state as a whole in respect of
state and national politics. The farmers cast
probably over three-fourths Of the votes Of
the state, but six or eight lawyers and local
politicians direct the whole political conduct
of each county, aud the farmers, having no
organization, no unity, are lett to follow or
get along the best they know how, and so
the "politicians" have. their way. The local
papers generally would not if they could,
aud dare not if they would, come out and
expose these county rings; they have too keen
scent for their own bread and butter.
Now the farmers can never be united in
any or all of these matters till they have in
tho state paper which is and shall be true
to their interests one which neither fears
nor loves any of these rings. A great body
of men cannot be made to act together with.
out some leading, organizing head. 1t was
not our idea to tell the farmers what they
must or must not do, but from our
favorable position as editor, in constant in.
tercourse with men, by correspondence and
personal contact, from all parts Of the state,
to tell the farmers what was going on point
out, as best we could, the tendencies Of
events lay open the plans, as we'll as we
could of scheming politicians, and make such
suggestions as seemed wise and practicable (;
thus giving our readers knowledge Of what
was going on in all parts Of the state affect.
ing their interests. And then by its cor
respondence the thoughts of good, honest,
intelligent farmer of Addison county, for
instance, would reach all the other farmers
of the state, so that through the columns Of
this paper there would come to be an inter.
change of the thoughts and plans AMI views
and feelings, of all the farmers of the state,
aud nothing pleased US more during the win
ter than the readiness and intelligence with
which the farmers took hold of this matter.
As they gradually formed my acquaintance
in person or by correspondence they took
hold of it 10 a most satisfactory manner
OF course it takes time to make this thing
general all over the state, but the work is
going on.
The agricultural college is another matter
on which the farmers must be intcligently
united, and that will never be done by al
the local papers in the state. Many Of them
will not do it, others care nothing about it,
and others still could not do anything il
they would. A great many farmers Of the
state do not know anything about this agri
cultural college. They do not know thai
the University is spending several thousanC
dollars every year which were appropriated
for an agricultural college in this state, anC
consequently they are not prepared for any
action, though am happy to know that thu
number Of intelligent farmers who under
stand this matter aud have sound opinion
about it is growing larger and stronger CIV
cry week. All they want is to be made &C
) quainted with the facts in the case, and TO
that purpose if for no other, the VERMONT
, FARMER is needed among the farmers Of thi
state, and believe it has a future work il
} this respect which it will live to perform
. If the farmers will learn as much in few
9 months on this subject as have, they will
3 come to have pretty clear views of what j
! right in the case; of their privileges anC
duties also. For these reasons and others
) of which ! wish to write again--especall
A.. of the grange-the VERMONT FARMER i
5 most imperatively needed in this state.
3 Charlotte.
Some of the New York papers are worry
ing over ways to escape the granger deeI
y sions, but as a matter of fact the railroads
Q like southern democrats, have chad enough,