The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1880-03-27
FARMERS IN POLJTIC


The interests of no class of our citizens
is more deeply involved in the politics of
this country than are the farmers, and yet
whenever the farmers undertake to have
ANYTHING to do with the political affairs of
the country, it is Immediately said by the
'Ering- masters" and office seekers that they
are departing from the legitimate business
of their calling, and consequently they
carry out the plans and the measures
which may be decided upon by politicians
This ought not so to be. The people
who pay most of the taxes, cast most of
the ballots which elect politicians to office,
and whose interests are more deeply in
volved in legislation than those of any
others. should come to the front, not as
politicians. as mere paftisans, but as pa
triotic citizens, and do what they can to
save the remnant ofthe glorious heritage
received from our fathers, and restore to
the people the right of self government,
which is now practically denied them,
and that the legislation of the country
shall be so directed as to inure to the ben
eft of the majority ofour citizens, instead
of being in the interest of rings, monopo-
I lies and rich corporations. We should see
to it, as farmers, that there be no more
class legislation, and in order to effect
this. the character of the men who do the
legislating will have to be changed 2'or
The journal of Agriculture - thus
writes on this subject: 17"..". ..s
sThe machine politicians of the day act
| as if they thought farmers have little bu-
siness to take part in discussing public
! affairs. and none at all in the selection of
the makers and administrators of the
laws. Even the average statesmen assume
that thew should have less TODD with pub
lie matters than other classes, especially
the legal fraternity. Both these positions
are untenable. If it be assumed that only
| the learned should control in State affairs,
# NAV be said and said truly there are
| more men of ordinary intelligence among
the agricultural fraternity than there are
| in two-thirds of all the other callings COM
bined. Besides, there are more thorough
! scholars in the various sciences among the
| farmers, than are to be found in any sim
| ole profession of scholars. Farmers, for
| this reason alone, should take at least as
| much interest in matters of government
| as any other one class. In addition to
| equal intelligence with Others, in this
| country.farn1ers are numerically the equals
Of all other. classes of our population.
Further still; the aggregate productive
| wealth of their labors by far excels that OF
the labors of all other classes. Compare
lively speaking, there are no idlers among
/ the agriculturists, consuming more than
they produce, and by so much impoverish-
ing the community. Leaving out the va
,rious mechan cal laborers, very large
per cent. of every other profession con-
sumo more than they produce, and are, to
| that extent burden upon society. 1he
mere capitalist, who has inherited the
wealth, or amassed it by specializing upon
/ the products of other industries, and ADDS
nothing to the general wealth, IS an Incu-
/ bus upon society and could very well be
spared if he ceased to exist