The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1879-05-24
THE FARMER AS AT-Aw -c7I,s-

AS soon as the changes in pol;t;o.iI X!
dependence begin to be felt, which NJ
slowly but steadily advancing, and uh: are
will detach farmers, OF rather free -
from the blind party serviity which b;" eH
such multitudes hand and foot, thev nus
begin to assume the leadership in STAT WI
fairs, in place of what they have been at a.,
largely are at present, Blind follo,.an 'a
Their interest in good government neaar
and low taxes, is vastly greater than as
other class. Their investment in the soS
is fixed; they can neither hide it nor sn;r;,
it out of reach of the assessor. They bars
less to tempt them to promote bad Gov
ernment than any other class. They ~.
nearer to nature and less artificial than sne
other class. Practice and independ.n,
thought will make of farmers the wis.,,
statesmen and safest politicians.
In urging the necessity of more port
cal independence for farmers, it must No,
be inferred that we advocate "rarn,er,
party" distinct, isolated and antaoon;st;.
to other and existing political! parties bu
through more culture and sympathy &c
mutual interests, they may see at least tba
necessity of self-poise, and the policy ~
holding in check the race of political,d
vcnturcrs who have run the goyerr,ncr,
of the country, State and National solcly
with a view of making it a business which
administers to their personal wants.
No candid man who examines orr in
stitutions as organized and managed. can
reach any other conclusion than that they
are controlled and directed in the main by
professionals in the business, who ar.
really political adventures, whose sole
dependence for the enjoyment luxurieS
and necessaries of life-what the world
calls living-is based on managing the
government in State and nation.
This fact being conceded, the sequence
is easy and natural, that the GROWING
motive of every man is to make his cho,
sen business pay the largest income DOS.
sible. This is clearly the solution of the
question why every part, parcel and de-
tail of the government from the greatest
to the NEST trifling, costs so enormously.
gagged by private business requiring like
expenditure of time and ability to accom-.
plish.
Let every man who has eyes look among
the towns and villages of his neighbor
hood, and he will see men who go, or have
gone into politics as a business. They have
some small establishment where they fol.
low nominal business, but their main de.
pendence in life is party politics, and what
they can make out of it in solid cash.
Some of them go up to the halls of legisla.
ton as senators and representatives of the
people, while others stay at home to 'man.
age" They legislate to multiply Offices
officers, and an endless system of fees, of
red tape and circumlocution. Our courts,
it is patent to every man, are enormous
shams for justice, are nicely adjusted sys-
! TENS of delays, with expenses and fees
multiplying at every delay. This immense
drain of expense comes mainly from the
soil.
When will farmers learn, in order to
save their hard earned money, that it is as
important, aye, more important, to lay hold
| of and master the political pr oblems of the
country, than it is to raise crops? They
must, in place of choosing law-making
composed of penniless adventures, pick
ed up in the towns and villages, who have
literally nothing at stake, send up their
own men. Let them go as republicans, as
democrats, as greenbackers, or what not
but above all, let them be sent as farmers,
with well understood measures of reform
in the interest of more simple, economical
government, which shall first receive their
united attention; and the squabble over
party measures shall be last in place OF
the first, second, third and fourth acts OF
the play as at present.
Farmers may easily accomplish all OF
these reforms if they will heartily CO.
operate, and learn to believe in themselves.
1t will put thousands of dollars into their
pockets annually, command respect for
the agricultural class from the public, and
inspire confidence in themselves, both Of
which they have ever been strangers to,