The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1880-07-31

| gust there is poem from Henry w
| Iongfellow, entitled "Robt. Burns,
two stanzas of which | quote:
81 see amid the fields of Ayr
A plowman who, in foul or fair,
Sings at his task
SO clear we know not if it is
The laverock's song we hear or his,
Nor care 10 ask"
"But still the burden of his song
Is love of right, disdain of wrong;
It's master-chords
Are Manhood, Freedom, Brotherhood
Its discords but an interlude
Between the words"
Whoever wishes to draw a pic
ture, or carry an ideal man, in words
Of beauty, descriptive of true genius
selects his picture scene from rural
life, and his man holding the pillow
Longfellow is but one from among
thousands who have paid this trib-
ute to our class. Often, very often.
have I wondered why this should
have been the custom of authors IN
every age, and every CLINE.
Ny amusement comes from a
knowledge of the actual condition
of the agricultural people in every
land warmed by the golden sun %
Heaven. Manhood! how much
have we? AS a class of people,
numbering more than one-half OF
the entire population of this coun-
try, we should have the natural pre-
ponderanCe of numbers. The vital
importance of our vocation should
engender sufficient self-esteem for
us to claim equal consideration with
the one-tenth of the people engaged
in trade and transportation, or the
two tenths engaged in mining and
manufacturing and be equal with
those who render personal and pro-
fessional service.
That mankind are dependent up
on the agricultural people cannot be
denied. The added wealth of the
world comes from the cultivated
earth mostly. There are indigenous
productions that answer a barbarous
and semi civilized people. The civ
iization that develops the higher
qualities O. human beings could not
exist but for the labor and sacrifice
that ever attends the removal of the
forest and settlement of a wilderness
country. Herein you see the truly
useful avocation.. of the farmer to the
entire population of any country.
In comparing our farming people
with those engaged in trade, how
do we rank? What are our oppor-
tunities contrasted with the mer-
chant prince or country storekeeper?
L have not time or space to draw the
picture. Look around, my fellow
farmer, and see for yourself. The
invitation is not given by me for the
purpose of arousing your envy or
create dissatisfaction. No! far from
it In all that | have ever said upon
this subject my only purpose is seen
in the equitable division of the prof
its of labor in which there is no dis
parity that has not been occasioned
by artificial means.
The vocation first in importance
to mankind should rank its votaries
first in every country.
There are notable instances in
trade, where men began their voca-
tons without capital, employed such
credit as they could inspire by their
habits Of industry and character for
integrity. Indeed, the more sue
cessful of all the millionaires, whose
fortunes were made in trade, began
life poor and owe their success in
life to strict attention to their bust,
ness and by following rules that
have been laid down by organized
bodies oftheir class. The merchants
of every grade have their organiza-
ton in which they study out the
methods that will the most surely re-
suit in profits. The hours Tabor, the
scale of profits, every minute and
detail, has been the subject of con-
sideration in their Chambers of
Commerce, their Boards of Trade,
in which they have the full benefit
of past experience and the result of
associated mind With the honora
bic record for fair dealing, the char
table disposition of their acumula-
tons, their potential influence in
everv country, the merchant never
added farthing to the wealth
of the world. The man of trade la
bors to make his profits upon the
article of necessity or luxury that is
consumed by the mass. Supplying
himself always at the lowest whole
sale rates his effort is to make all he
can out of every one he can attract
to his store of supplies.
Now, farmers, in all of this there
is lesson for you. The merchant