The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1880-04-24
Let Farmers Choose.

for the people of the class to which
he belongs to be so fully absorbed in
party politics as they have come to
be. We often hear it srated that
this is a government of the people
and that beyery individual should
make politics a careful study, and
thus be prepared to give their infiu-
ence and support in favorsof such
measures as are best, calculated to
insure good government to the PEG.
pie. This, injunction has been SO
well needed that we have become a
nation of intense and chronic politi-
Clans, and the whole country is thor
ughly honey combed7 with politics.
During weeks and perhaps months
before each recurring election, each
party vies with the other in its en-
beavers to excite and draw away
the people from the pursuit of their
regular avocations; and together
they have succeeded so weHin some
of the late campaigns that business
has been sadly neglected and almost
suspended to follow the behests of
party, leaders. And after all the
turmoil and bitterness of the strife.
is there any better understanding of
public needs, or will they be more
faithfully ministered to by the lust
and wise legislation of those who
have succeeded in getting the Of
fees? Or is party success of itself
so valuablest to individuals. 'ati h
Politicians cultivate not our rea-
son but its opposite-our prejudice,
and this subtle passion is often most
predominant where it is least per-
ceiyed. w hen it once ,pervails to
any great degree, we and our reason
grow subservient, and instead of
checking and opposing, it stoops to
fiatter and authorize it; instead of
opening our eyes and setting us
right, she confirms us in our error,
and evenlevels the mounds of our
folly and smooths the constructions it
is her province and duty to inter
pose. When blinded with partisan
prejudice, our cause is always the
cause of right; the banners of our
leaders are the heralds Of patriotism
and true reform, and like the Mos
lens we fight bravely under them,
thus verifying Mokanno's famous
declaration, that ao s7se
''Faith, fanatic faith, once welded fast, .a
To neidear falsehood, hugs it to the last
Our party leaders would have us
believe that they embody all the
virtues and statesman-like qualities
of Washington, Jefferson, Jackson
and others, eminent in public life;
tut how have they established such
claim? With credit-mobilier, sal.
airy grabs, Tweedism, bull doing,
returning boards, presidential and
State steals, cypher dispatches bril-
berry, fraud and corruption? The
Mohammedan Janissaries, the Pre-
tonian bands of Rome andthe Nam
elukes of Egypt We're once re-
nowned bodies but all degenerated
into the most lawless and licentious
Very few of our public
men speak out as freely as did the,
then, Senator Poland, a few years
ago to a correspondent ofthe Boston
AdOertiser. The Senator was asked
what he thought of the condition of
things in Louisiana, to which he re-
Piled 81 think the other side all
id rascals, and / know our side
are An honest Democrat would
have been constrained to make ex-
actly the same answer.ns1staf q. 90.
.HChaose you this day whom We
will serve" twas the last exhortation
of the venerable Joshua to Israel.
The whole of his vigorous address
was pointed, and nothing more so
than this command, and its words
are just, as forcible and timely now
as when addressed to that chosen
people who were so often breaking
out in idolatry and rebellion to their
own interests and the divine COM
mands. Our life is all a service
from which there is no escape, and
it is for lus to determine whether it,
shall he-gixen-ia-the interest of our
class, or where il can do us no good
and perhaps incalculable harm. Po-
litics like the Asiatic god, Brahma,
has many faces--all false, and all
lurlng US to strife and sacrifice. Ag-
riculture has but one face and that
is wreathed in the smiles of its ov n
peaceful pursuits. Partisan service
costs the farmers of this country
millions of dollars, every year, in
time and money, to say nothing of
the infinite mischief done to society,
to temperance, and to religion, by
destroying the sympathy and good
feeling that should exist among,
andseharacterize all, the associations
offarmers.o saelsiE 40 s3 i92ai =
ai3Are not farmers with their nu-
,merical strength indirectly response
BILE for the widespread and rLinous
effects that stare them in the face
sonsevery hand? Let us understand
ourselves and search into the causes
that conspire.against US. Are these
the fruits of our boasted civilization
gOrLis another crisis, the work of po-
,liticians, upon us, that viii cost mil
lions of lives and billions of proper
sty; all drawn from the industrial
classes Now is the time to choose
Our generous,4 warmhearted iinpul-
sive people cannot always be dfvi-
ided into parties, bylintfiguing dem
agogues, to abuse and Witty each
other and heapicalumnies enc party
a. Il ., L 9