The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1880-02-07
INDIFFERENCE OF FARMER

Every farmer who will thoughtfully
read and nwardly digest the following
| lines, taken from the HuSbdndmaR, will
go to his Grange meetings with steadier
purpose and holier zeal to accomplish
these very ends which are here so strongly
urged:
The strange indifference to manage
ment of public affairs manifested by so
| many farmers operates as great discour-
agement to others who are ready and
willing to exert all their force to bring
correction to the evils which spring from
a system that practically excludes the in
terest most deeply concerned in laws from
all part in making or administering them.
Every means employed to enlist farmers
in wise efforts to secure equal considera-
ton for their interests with all others is
neutralized by shrewd managers who are
able to divide farmers on trumped-up DO
litical issues, or in some way to divert at
tentIOn from the most important matter IN
which they should have deep concern.
Thus, there is failure to amend assessment
laws; the inequalities of transportation
| charges are continued; the cost Of civil
service permitted to exceed all reason;
| and legal services protected by law when
| extortionate demands are made The men
who produce wealth have really less to
say about its disposition than the men
who, by forms of law, feed and fatten
upon it without adding one whit to the
blessings that flow from we'll directed la
Dor. All this has been said so often that
it has the character of a well-worn tale
still it must be repeated in the hope that
farmers as class will realize the situa-
ton and the necessity for action on their
part, looking to correction of the evils Of
which they complain. One of their mum.
Der, in letter lately received, has these
plain words that may not be relished be.
cause they are highly seasoned with truth
w hat our farmers most need to-day is
some method or agency by which the
great body of them can be induced tC
open their eyes and observe, read, think
and reason for themselves If you fine
one making no progress on the farm it is
: because he will neither read, observe mol
think. If he is cheated in trade or poll
tics, it is for the same reason. If in or out
of office he becomes the dupe or tool O.
scheming, intriguing, corrupt men it i.
because he will not take the trouble t.
qualify himself to Judge of what is right
and best and then act intelligently on hie
own Judgment. | know that the truth is
not always hattering to either men OF
classes, and may give offense if / asser
what is true of our class-that they are
to be thoughtless, needless and stupid
Many of them do not manage their farms
or business at home with any degree Of
success or credit. In public matters they
often allow passion or prejudice to con
troll, and they divide so equally on i'm
portant questions that one faction cancel:
the other, and they have no voice nor in
huence. In public positions they are of
ten too ignorant and incompetent to per
form their duties well, and too indolen
and stupid to qualify themselves, and they
consent to be led and used to their owr
injury and tie injury and reproach'of far
mers as class. | can see no end to this
condition unless there is some method b,
which farmers as body can be aroused
from their lethargy and made to thinl
and realize the possibilities within reach
and the boundless reward waiting only
for union and effort net only made easy
but that all alike should enjoy. l know
of no agency SO likely or able to accom-
pish this work as the Grange, aided b.
farmers clubs, and the public press wor
king together with them. Let the worI
go bravely on. shall not see the end