The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-07-04
MOVING ALONG.

mers club of Virginia did at their
last meeting. "The club closed It's
work by the appointment of Mr..
&. VI. Robertson and \. q. llolli-
day as Il committee to report the
particulars of their Many county
expenses. pay of county Judges,
treasurer, attorney, road surveyor
&c"
We have often heard that far
mers were a very independent class
of people. But really we have never
been able to gather this sentiment
and fix it into ta~ngibility. In grim
experience we have always felt it
was an 'airy nothing and without
a local habitation. Though the ac-
ton of those farmers does look, as
they say, a little ''like busin S."
We shall watch with some interest
the history Of their voyage-the
dangers they encountered-the
evils they discovered, and how in
agricultural bounds they propose to
correct them.
Next we read of a pure and I'M
adulterated type of farmers inaugu-
rating a first class blowing match
to determine in their own way and
under their own supervision what
manufacturer it is that is offering
them the best plows.
Next we read of farmers deter
mining in council that they will be
represented in legislative halls by
members of their own calling. OF
this however in hoping we cannot
forbear to utter Il word of caution.
1t is a cause of congratulation we
think to see this spirit exhibited by
the farmers. But we cannot help
thinking unless kept within bounds
there are seeds of danger to the
welfare of the country in it. Any
section we think having an honest
and capable representative from
any Of the professions or callings
would make a mistake to throw
one out and put in another simply
because he was a farmer. That
district would just cripple or lose
its influence that's all. There are
not many men raised as farmers
these days who have the education
or commanding character to make
influential Legislators. 1t must be
borne in mind that where farmers
are sent to the legislature OF to con-
gress they often become politicians
too. OF course where farmers can
be found to fill all the high qualii-
cations of Legislators, we would pre-
fer to see Il majority of them III our
councils. For we do not believe
I'VE much IN brilliancy and genius
in law makers. We prefer to make
capacity, honesty, caution aid con-
servatism the test. But in .'moving
along" here We think is the longest
and last step taken. Col. Warirg
of the celebrated Ogden farm aft I
a scientific expenditure of S125. 0O0
on about % acres summing
up the assets of the Farm
thinks that In a loss of $685. 600 he
is entitled to a SO, 1000 cretit Of
good will" The perspicacity OF
} tn is claim is in the fact that it Is
the good will of failure. Anal
ogously considered, we suppose the
! good will of success would have
been worth double that amount.
W e are a believer n the good vii
theory, but what farmer ever be-
S fore had the temerity to palm of
such d commodity upon the public,
= But we have no derision for Col.
a Warirg's operations. Such expert
a ments us he was engaged in hell
: the cause of agriculture. They arr
S eminently useful in developing The
t theories of scientists and exploding
impracticables. Besides being I;
n fine vent for the surplus funds Of
y city gentlemen. We clod-hoppert