The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1880-08-14

Education of Farmers.

There is no class in the community
so much interested in education as
farmers; and no class stand in need
of its protection as the agricultural
class, and yet no class is so slow to
avail themselves of its benefits as
they. Professional men, merchants,
and others among the non produc-
tive classes, may change their bust
ness pursuits or residence at pleas
ure, readily become naturalized to
any situation in which they happen
to be placed, carry their goods, tai,
Tents and capital with them, and
soon take root wherever they chance
to fall. Not so the farmers. His
farm is immovable, he is a fixture to
the soil, he cannot if he would, sep
arate himself from his country, and
all his interests are involved in its
welfare and condition Real prop
erty, the farm the capital Of the far
mer; that remains fixed and exposed,
without the possibility Of with
drawal, or concealment, of shelter,
to all the changes of the political
sky. All that he calls his own is
fastened by an invisible chain, for
veal or for woe, to the destinies of
his country. To what class in the
community is it so important that
| they should understand their rights,
that they should have a Just percep-
ton of the true interests of their
| hn
well qualified for the intelligent dis
charge of their duty as citizens of
this rising country, who must al
ways have the deepest interests in
its destinies and fortunes, and who,
so long as our free constitution is
sustained, must have its government
and condition within their control7
Nothing can effect this much for
them but education. This only can
secure to them that respectable
standing in the political community,
to which they haye just claim, and
to enable them to exert properly and
successfully the important influence
which belongs to them.
| L lie lCIlIl Cuu(dlIOII uoNd
professional men and merchants has
a meaning. 1t means nothing less
than the knowledge that is power
to them. Their first purpose is tc
understand their needs, and thei
second is to provide for them
They make it point to hold ant
control most of the offices and will
such advantages, of course they fine
no difficulty in securing Legislative
+ and otI4~l ;is.-oro. but hoo the ---e,,
t education any Specification for farm
ers? Everybody, instinctly at least
+ comprehends the fact that labor pro
, duces all, but farmers as a class finC
their dilligent, untiring efforts com
paratively fruitless. The wealtl
created by labor is gathered in most
~ by few who are not toilers
[ Many who feel this unequal distri
button ascribe it lack of edudatiol
! but never dream that the only rem
+ edy is in their own hands. 1t ough
, not to be hard to understand tina
with the ballots they hold legislator
, might be chosen that are in. sym
! pathY with the interests of the indus
| trial classes, so that one half tn
, property of the country shall nc
! bear all the burdens of government
The laboring classes ought to deere
! that many of the offices shall b
$ abolished and the salary ofthose re
7 manning should be cut down to
t just compensation.
7 Oftentimes the farmer, not sati:
fed with his success in life, resolve
r that if his best endeavors can az
o complish it, his sons shall have a
education that shall be barrier t
q the exactions and encroachment
i from which he has suffered, and
n pursuance of this determination h
Il gives them such means for boo
: learning as circumstances will pc
: nit But the chances are that instea
of resisting the aggressions of othe
4 classes with. the strength thus al
a CURED, they will forsake their ow
!, cause AMI espouse the opposite. 5
n education for farmers is not strengt
+ for themselves but others. Educ;
| ton is desirable, but it should ha,
the elements of common sense an
f manhood in it. If the agricultur
class will free themselves from the
= preiudices and the servitude tn;
. blinds them to Others they will /
7 in a condition to receive an educ'
, 49,, +lo+ will he an effectI1al StrenUt
q to farmers. Education is what the
want but it is the education tn;
: makes them worthy farmers and n;
! that which furnishes recruits fl
! other classes.-Dirieo Rural.
e 1t has been said of the farmer tn
o "as producer the agricultural ella