The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1879-07-26
A Subject isr u Osa.iasraiIon 4 Farmers.

have been directed to this subject BY a
recent article in the Maryland Farmer,
entitled . Maryland, the Home for Imni-
grants That article assumes the need
Of more population, and Of agencies to set
forth the resources and advantages Of our
State IN order that much denser pOpula-
ton may be established upon orr soil and
her produesiveness more fully developed.
The question has arisen in our own
MAD whether the want Of population Is
one Of our greatest needs1 Have We not
population sufficient already, ifthat pOpu-
lAtion were employed to the extent il
might be in developing the resources Of
the State? Why do our landed prOpri-
etors want to sell their lands? Why do
they not hold on to them aud divide, sub
divide, and improve them, and establish
their sons and daughters upon them, in
stead Of being 50 DESTROYS Of selling their
estates to immigrants or other purchasers,
and exchanging the freedom, independence
and happiness Of the landholder in the
country, for the illusions, failures and dis
appointments Of life in city, Let us
speak the truth, in all plainness-the great
est need Of Maryland, to-day, is Industry,
and the next IS economy With these
qualities more thoroughly infused int our
young men, Maryland-SOuthern Mary
land espeeiaIly--would soon blossom as the
rose, and her desert places would soon
vanish out Of sight and become fertile
farms where handsome homesteads would
rise up on every hand. A kinder soil, a
more genial climate, and greater facilities
for the transportation Of produce to the
best Of markets, eau no where be fOuad.
Bot the bane Of cur population IS lack
Of industry and economy, the lingering
results Of false pride and eoatemptfor
labor aud the practical issues Of life. Ma.
rylanders are famous for assemblaScs,
speeches, resolutions and plans anything,
but to fake hold ,ciiA their Aasds When
they make up their minds to do that, they
will End that they have no need to eOur,
an influx Of immigrants or establish agea-
eies and ibstrumeutaliiies to develop the
resources Of the State, in accordance with
the Suggestions Of Gov. BoWie's message,
50 highly commended in the Aaryiaad
Earmey. A dense population IS not the
sHMmum toaum Of the body polite. Cheap
land is reekoned among the blessings Of
free and prosperous people. MOutesquieu
in his Spirit Of Laws lays great stress
on this important subject. Room ought
to be left for the natural growth and ex-
pansicn Of our cwn native population.
The best writers On political economy agree
that people rooted to the soil, or posses
sors Of the soil, are the freest, happiest and
most prosperous people on the face Of the
earth, asd mos. likely to uphold and main
tain the frcesi, most economical aud best
Of governments. Snail farms and snail
farmers are highly commended By Ger
tain class of agricultural writers, bat there
i kepps neaa, in this respect, as in
everything else.
Ia ancient Rome seven acres were c0n-
silered enough, bat al labor was then
performed BY hand aud improved agrieul-
tarsl machinery was unknown. A certain
amount Of machinery Is nov required for
the most successful farming, and the pro-
prietor Of farla Of one or two hundred
acres can better afford 10 purchase such
machinery, al things else being equal,
thaa the proprietor Of forty or 6fty acres
only If We 60 on encouraging immigra-
tion as nc have done, another century viii
Cad our population too dense for the high
est sam Of enjoyment and prosperity. Oar
increase, as shown By the census, IS about
5,e00, 600 every successive decade. Lat
tcriy il has been nearly 10000, 900. We
nos nunber about ii, 1000 900, or rather
that Is believed to be within bounds as an
estimate Of our population, which i Is
Supposed viii be verified BY the census Of
1880 II this be only proximAtely true,
how soon viii our country TEEN with
populaiioa Of one hundred millions Then,
faresesH 10 cksaP taa,fs, fsr land win be
beyond he reach Of men Of small means,
and ycsr sons must necessarily become
hcwers Of wood and drawers Of water, or
must depend upon the trades and PrOfes-
sions to much greater cxtent than they
do nov for Subsistence. A dense popula-
tion puts up the price Of land aud makes
il much more difEeuIs for young men to
become And owners. This state Of rhings
IS deemed disadrsntage 10 any people.
We ecnclude, therefore, that i Is better
for the Prines George Gasses and
all otheEs, to 90 % work and endeav-
or to utilize the popula,ion we have,
than to introduce immigranis. We also
deem il better 10 improve and caltiFate
the had, than to establish sgeneies
10 hunt up purchasers. that We may
RIM apay from Il ana lsaxs 4 Is TIE bands
Of eshera We mighs snlafee upon this
zubjees, but shat 70 havcs sid above must
sal6es for lhs rseseas We hops i viii
inducs diseussion, - that the SUBJECT may
be more generslly considered and more
sbososshly understood anosg our agricnl-
tural population especially. ID xonla be
: god thens FOR nc eonsiaesasion Of az
ricsltual slaks rsd Tie Oranges. ia sl,eir
rasalar meetings
Cool READssa roa IIor wEArnxn.
The saew sas not Al gone fsem The
Adi1hdaeks There has bean fall q