Connecticut western news., 1880-01-14
Farmers and Politics.

No class of people in this country should take greater interest in our American politics than the farmers, whereas as 8 rule they al low the political caucus and convention and very often the elections to go by default, thereby neglecting the first duty of an Amer. ican citizen and often jeopardizing their own p interest.
 This is an agricultural country, in fact the United States is the great farming country oi the world, and makes agriculture our leading interest, therefore no people are more affected by good or bad legislations than the farmers and it behooves them to sway their influence in every convention and every legislative body that meets.
 The agricultural interest surpasses all oth. CT American interests; more powerful than all bur manufacturing corporations, greater than all our mineral productions it competes with all our combined railroad powers. Just think for a moment Europe, with a total population of 297 ,0o0, ,00o produces 5, ,l47, ,396, 900 bushels of grain annually, or about seven teen bushels to each inhabitant, while the United States, with a population of A, 4,O0O,- 900, produces 1928, ,027 ,0O0 bushels annually, or about forty bushels for each inhabitant. The State of California alone produced last year. over 3, 900, 900 bushels of wheat
 Year after year it is plainly seen that agri culture is a fast increasing power. is adding to the nations wealth and making the United States the greatest producing country on earth.
 One,s country is next to his God, and he who says he takes no interest in politics of the nations affairs is really unworthy to enjoy the benefits derived from free government. The farmers voice should be heard and his influence felt in every political caucus, every convention, every legislature and every Con- gross of our country. If all farmers through out our land took an interest in the political situation cf'the country it would be much to their country's interest, and even perpetuate her prosperity as nation, in fact the farming interest could, defeat any detrimental measure advanced by any political party.
 Filling of the soil is the noblest pursuit of man, it is true that it is one of labor and toll, but then what avocation affords such room for thought or reflection; whether at the plough, sowing wheat, cutting the corn, or gathering the golden fruits of Autumn, the farmer can think, and think to the interest of his country.
 It is not necessary that the farmer should always enter the arena of American politics to the neglect of his own affairs and interests but it is right that he should remember that he owes duty to bis town, his State, and his country; that his country's interest is his in- terest; her prosperity bis prosperity.
 The farmer should consider his attendance at the political caucus or presence at the polls on election days duty almost tantamount to his attendance st church on the Sabbath.
 Very often the neglect of good men to vote will place unprincipled demagogues in power, and then these very same men by allowing the election to go by default cry out against the corruption of politics and politicians. Are they not in measure responsible for the re- sult2
 Let the farmer say that he represents the noblest as well as the greatest of American 1! that he will attend the conventions | of his party, help nominate candidates ard | slect them that he will have a voice directly pr indirectly ill the political affairs of his coun- :ry, let him crush political corruption by elect ng honorable men to office, and the day is not ar distant when the farmers vote of this coun- " would play most important part in the ield of American politics.
 The farmer knows that to be consistent Christian man must be good citizen, and o be an excellent citizen he must do his po- Itical duty The love of ones country is akin Q the love of God R. STUART WILLIS. AtGa5ord, December, 1879.