The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1880-02-14
THE PLOW

iii THE .PLOW. e ra
The Hon. Horatio Seymour, in a late
address delivered before the annual meet
ing of the Agricultural Society of New
ork, very graphically traces the influence
OF agriculture on the prosperity and power
Of this country. rsae.F - t9-
lie avs that in this country it has given
life and energy to all other pursuits and in
dustrles, 1t has lifted the burdens of debt
from our country. given it credit with the
world and honor in the eyes or ali. e.
A. home If has solved problems IN imam
ces which perplexed Legislators. I While
they doubted and disputed, the statesman
ship of the plow found the remedies for
our troubles. The tillers of the soil have
done the work. They followed Gods fiat
and not that Of men. The sweat of the
brow, and not the schemes, of the brain,
has rescued US from our perplexities. o.
This journal has uniformly, endeavored
to impress upon the agriculturists of the
State some idea of the dignity and impor
lance of their profession and the relation
which it sustains to the destiny of the
nation We are glad to know that the
Hon. Mr.. Seymour, though not himself
skilled in the technical operations of farm
life, is yet, one of the few great men who
are willing to award to the farmers of the
country that Justice to which they, are en-
titled as tillers of the soil. 9r.
But if the agriculturists of the country,
by the products of their labor, confer upon
the nation so great boons as to power and
influence, are they not entitled to like
consideration for influence on the coun-
ellis of the nation? That. they are SO en-
titled there can be none so simple as to
doubt. And more, if this great agricul-
tural interest be of such vast importance
to the prosperity and welfare of the
country, should it not receive the foster
ing care of that Government which it has
made and which it maintains? While APP
preparations are lavishly made for other
departments should not the Agricultural
department receive its proper share--a
share, such as can only be measured by
the importance of the interest which is to
be fostered and developed? These ques-
tons are of such magnitude that they
should be considered by the farmers, and
after they have duly considered them,
mark out policy to be pursued. and stick
to that policy. In order to do this, parti-,
sanry must make way for unity q action,
for it is by unity of action alone that we,
may expect to accomplish the desired and
necessary reforms. If we are to blindly
follow party, instead of pursuing that
course which will place our profession
upon that high plane to which tisentitled,
then we had as well abandon all idea of
elevating our manhood and wonanhood
as agricultural people-as good and free
citizens-and pc content to remain the
"bone and and sinew'' of the country, but
without any brain. Now, no men having
any self-respect, or desiring to see his
children occupy a high position in life,
will be satisfied with any such position in
society. Yet such has been the case for
10! these many years, but it is to be hoped
that new era is dawning upon our
country, and that in this age of progress
the farmers of the country do not mean
to lag behind on the highway to advance
ment The light has been kindled in the
Grange organizations, which will dispel
the darkness which has for long time
hung over the farmers pathway in life, and
the lessons inculcated in the Grange are.
teaching them to abandon the idea Of re-
lying altogether upon muscle and not at
all upon BRAIN 1t is doing more; the
principles of political economy which
touch the pocket of every man who is
engaged IN tllIlnS the SOIL, are sDeing Det-
ter understood, and are leading the vota-
ries of agriculture to look somewhat into
the methods of government, and watch
the progress of Legislation. So soon as the
farmer is fully convinced that he is an
important factor in government, and that
it is his ballot which gives character to
Legislation, the subject is brought SO en-
tirely home that he will be prepared to go
himself,h his fellows and his country. Then
it will be that he shall know it is the
pillow, yes, the craftsmanship of the plow,
which makes this SO rich and powerful a
nation, and if the liberties of the people,
the perpetuity of the Government and the
happiness of the people are to be dreserv-
ed, it will be due to the conservative and
patriotic farmers of the country.-,Vir-
ginia Granger