Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-11-08

lGeo. William Curtis in Harper's Weeky.l
The address ntely delivered bv Senator
Bayard, of Delaware, at the Maryland State
Agricultural Fair is one of the best speeches
to farmers that have been made this year.
lie presents in a striking and suggestive way
the fact of the natural conservatism of rural
sentiment, which is especially needed in the
pending financial and economical discussions
The instructive feeling that this settlement is
safe reliance is significantly shown by the
universal disposition to withdraw the control
of local indebtedness from cities and towns.
and intrust it to the State Legislatures chiefly
drawn from the country. The dense masses
of town population are exposed to influences
and conditions which have thrown great sus-
picion upon municipal government, and
Wise system of such government is yet to be
adopted. Public sentiment among mutitudes
of men who have little in common and but
slight stake in The state" is very different
from that of a homogeneous community with
out great inequality of condition. In gem
eral, however, as Mr.. Bayard points out very
forcibly, 'the absence of legal ranks and
classes in the United States has created what
may be lkened to n broad -prairie-laud of
public sentiment, over which every gale that
becomes popular sweeps with unobstructed
force, and levels all individual opposition"
This condition breeds the political whirl-
winds and tornadoes that so often PROSTATE
parties and apparently reasonable expecta-
ton.
The defense against such mischefs lies in
vigorous independence. 1t is stout resistance
to party spirit and to the tyranny of uncheck-
ed popular opinion which are the true con
sentative elements in America. These are
fostered by the conditions of country life, and
the Senator earnestly urges upon patriotic
men whose lives are passed remote from
busy crowds" to consider their duty and their
responsibility. 1t is not upon those who are
fond of calling themselves practical politi-
clans but upon those who often take little
direct part in politics, that the real conduct
of affairs depends. The plain people +"
from whom Lincoln sprang, and in whom he
always trusted are men of this kind Lin
coin was their peculiar representative. His
power lay in his perfect sympathy with them,
so that his own convictions were the index of
the popular conscience.
This conservatism of independence, intelli-
gence, and sound sense is bred by what Mr.
Bayard calls the fireside virtues, and they are
nurtured by the conditions Of rural life. The
homespuu virtues of industry and frugality
of courage and patience, of self-reiance and
self-restraint. are found in the fields and the
pastures, on the hill and the country road
sides and these are the saving forces of the
tdlllls lAo ollttNAn " NAiAH NPineA 20
atsm. to the farming classes, the land-own-
ers. the hardy laborers of the soil. to give the
proper answer to the wild theories that no
more rent should be paid for land, no more
interest for the use of money; that the pre-
cious metals should be discarded, and ''abso-
lutte" money ordained by law be accepted as a
true mtasure of value ana medium OF eX-
change Who should so sternly resist all
schemes which would necessarily destroy pub
lie credit as the farmer, who OF all men iu
the country has so much and so regular need
of credit? Who so well as he knows that all
value springs from labor, and that wealth can
not be created by fiat or law :: The farmers
the man who especially knows the necessity
of steady, continuous industry; and who so
well as he knows that paper promises never
to be redeemed, and indefinitely multiplied
by political majority, can never be a stable
and trusty measure Of the value Of the crops
to the growth of which so much of his toll
anxiety. and life have been given? No Ma
rylaud farmer who has a mind as well as ears
could have heard Mr.. Bayard's quiet and wise
words without truer conception OF patriot
| ism and conservatism.