The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-08-29
Col. Polk in the West.


CITIZEN, accompanied Col. l. l. Polk
IN his -trans-montane tour. We take
the following from the CitizSn
Il write from Mondays, on Nanta-
hala, having accompanied Col. Polk
through Cherokee and Clay. He has
spoken = good audiences Of farmers.
and farmers wives and daughters at
NaH~rytown. Murphy. and liayesville.
At each II these points have a gocdly
number been in attendance. and i'm no
instance has Col. Polk failed to take
complete possession Of his hearers
Speaking a. a North Carolinian 10
North Carolinians. a. one whose heart
desires and impulses earnestly and
honestly seeks the Improvement and
prosperity Of that great class and those
great interests he specially and eXclu
slNtIy represents. lie touches chorus
III tie hearts which respond in deep
est sympathy.
lie began by telling the people he
came 20 them as a farmer to talk to
farmers, as one whose training and
vocation through life had taught him
10 SympathiZe with them in their eve
ry interest. undertaking and need.
lie was, perhaps, the first mar who
IN a. Va 1lIN u
Ridge to 10 address them upon mat
tiers OF public concern who did not
come To seek their votes. and whose
personal interest III their immediate
welfare did not cease as soon as their
votes We're deposited in the ballot-box.
lie gave a detailed aCcOun of the
department of Agriculture, of Its
being the child OF the farmers of
the State, established by the last Leg
lslature upon the special and earnest
recommendation of Gov. Vance, who
never loses an opportunity to do or
say what he can TO stimulate and fos-
ter every interest of our people.
The designs and purposes of the
Department comprehends the foster
ing Of all the material interests of the
State. 1t is necessarily and essentially
non-polltlcal in its character, and I'M
der Col. Folks administration. parti-
IAN bias, influence or manipulation,
will never be charged to 1t.
1t IS more comprehensive than any
department. of similar design in any
State of the American Union. Its
duty Is to introduce and encourage the
use of all improvements In Agricul-
ture, such as the best seeds, stock,
~ OoOt Iid1IIlllCIN
for the farm. home, or mechanical
use. improved methods or formula for
making home the cuitiva-
ton of the best fruits. restocking our
streams with such foOd-tiShes as are
suitable to aid in bringing in a good
class of immigrants, and to assist them
in finding suitable and satisfactory
homes and emplOyments, to protect
our farmers against frauds IN the pur-
chase of fertilizers, to collect and pub
llSh such Observation-Disclosures and
Other-as Will best promote the inter
eStS of the State, u lmpart a more
general knowledge of its merits, to
urge a higher education of the masses
at home and in the schOOl-rOom, to
infuse both a higher life and higher
ideas of life among the people. speci-
ally to elevate labor to its true dignity,
teaching its true worth and import
ance, and to insti,l into the laboring
classes a full and true sense of the
character Of their v%ocations.
& cannot give even an outline of
his admirable speeches, but have allu-
ded simply to some of his more salient
points. The most noticeable and graf
flying feature is the impression made
upon the crowds of people who hear
him. They show and express their
sympathy with him and his noble IN
d~ertaking. His plain manne of tell
ing them great truths and urging them
to arouse from their lethargy eXcites
expressions and demonstrations which
show that they begin to feel that at
last there is one department of the
State government established for their
benefit, and managed by T. who has
the energy and ability to do his full
duty. | believe truly new era dawns
up on u people and State, and the
most efficient instrument OF success
will be Col. Folks department. Too
much gratitude cannOt be given to
that true son of North Carolina, Gov.
Vance, and these farmers and legisla-
tors for this department.
AT Hayesville an Agricultural Club
was established after Col. p. finished
his splendid speech to a crowded
courthouse, which is destined TO be
an auxiliary to the Department. This
is right, and they should be organ
lied in every township and county in
the State. Township clubs should CO.
operate with county clubs, with the
department of agriculture. Forty OF
Clay's best farmers joined this club,
and evidently mean business. 1hls
little county already shows more Of a
progressive spirit than most of our
counties. and this club will do much
to encourage this spirit.
AT times we shall speak of the De-
partment of Agriculture and its work,
because we feel that in So doing we
will not only please a large majority
of our readers, but will be doing a
cnyrIan 70 ~ .nf tho mast mnOrf2nt
interests of the State. In the near
future its benefits will begin to be seen
and felt Col. Folks Will
arouse an interest and an immediate
cooperation which nothing else would
enlist. Verify he will receive his re-
ward. the highest he desires, OF a
consciousness that he has done some
thing towards advancing the interests
of his State and nannle.