The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1880-07-10
Partisanism aud Farmer Inter-
BY f. ESHBAUGH, MASTER MISSOURI
STATE GRANGE


BY f. EsHBAUGH, MASTER MISSOURI
STATE GRANGE.
What are the political duties and re-
sponsibilities of Patrons and Farmers?
This question is of such vital importance.
affecting the great interests of the nation,
that it is not strange that farmers are
considering it closely. They begin to
realize its Importance. To show the rela-
ton it bears to the general welfare of the
people, we need only mention as a proof
of its importance, that over one-half Of
the entire population are engaged in its
enterprises. 1t furnishes the prosperity
enjoyed by all others; it employs 70 per
cent of all labor; it pays 70 per cent of the
direct and So per cent of the indirect taxes;
it furnishes IS per cent of inla nd com
merce. and So per cent of our export
trade. 1t is, indeed, the fundamental
basis upon which rests the prosperity hap
piness and welfare of the people 1t is
the foundation of our greatness. And yet
with all its vast importance, it has been
shamefully tampered with by legislative
discrimination, until it is overloaded with
unjust burdens, that have crippled 1t to
such an extent that it is much less remu-
nerative than equal capital and labor en-
ployed in other enterprises of much less
Importance.
Great attention and care have been be-
portance than agriculture. Politics and
legislation has, for years past, been man
aged in the interest of corporations and
monopolies, such as manufacture, COM
merce, banking, bonding, railroad and
other corporations. SO attentively has
these been looked after, nursed and petted,
as though they were orphans of high born
blood. tender health and entitled to draw
support from the earnings of others.
While these received the tender Parental
dotagc of politicians and legislatures. agri-
culture, the great wealth producing inter
est of the Nation, was not only neglected,
but defantly treated as though it were a
pauper-and an -outcasts-------=-
+ The wealth producing elements of the
nation are agriculture and labor and these
are Disseminated against until the. have
become non prosperous aud it will event
ually lead to a species of serfdom and
slavery unless a change for the better is
effected. Fifty years ago millionaire
was unknown in the United States. Now
we have them by the hundreds, and even
thousands, worth not only million, but
hundreds of millions. In majority OF
/ cases their wealth was unjustly extracted
from agriculture and labor. These things
are incompatible with our boasted free
| American institutions.
These, with other evils, are the out,
| growth of selfishness and the greed for
wealth and power Much of this illgot,en
gain and usurped power is used for sti
greater evils and greater expressions. Tn.
Farmers see but little that is at all prom
ising in the near future. They have no, ec
until patience has ceased to be a virtue
They now feel justified in making demands
of all parties tor redress, in a manner no
to be misunderstood. The demands o
corporations are readily complied will
by all parties. Schemes unjust and full
of evil are acceded to and granted. Farm
ers are not scheming for any undue ad
vantage or for selfish purposes but are de
manding justice for every class and inter
est. fheir rights should no longer be ig
nored; their reasonable demands must b,
respected, and they can not with their ad
yanced intelligence longer submit to b'
trifled with.
Longer submission to The control o
selfish corporations and cliques, virtually
ignores the advancement we have made
If we have educated ourselves, as we claim
we have, to understand the affairs of gov
ernment; if we have elevated ourselves tc
higher manhood; if it is true that we
are oppressed with wrongs too greivous tc
be borne, then, why not, like men of in
dependence and intelligence, take bolc
stand to maintain our rights and secure
Justice? 1t matters not with what polit
cal party we may be identified. five car
accomplish the good so desirable in oul