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

Every farmer who will thought
fully read and inwardly digest the
following lines take from the Hus-
6andman, will go to his Grange
meetings with steadier purpose
and a holier zeal to accomplish these
very ends which are here so strongly
urged;
"The strange indifference to man
agement of public affairs manifested
by SO many farmers operates as a
great encouragement to others who
are ready and willing to exert all
their force to bring correction to the
evils which spring from a system
that practically excludes the interest
most deeply concerned in laws from
all part in making ar administering
them. Every means employed to
enlist farmers in wise efforts to Sc
cure equal consideration for their in
terests with all others is neutralized
by shrewd managers who are able
to divide farmers on trumped-up
political issues, or in some way to
divert attention from the most inn
portant matter in which they should
have deep concern. Thus, there is
failure to amend assessment laws;
the inequalities of transportation
charges are continued: the cost of
civil service is permitted to exceed all
reason; and legal services protected
L. l. "a dc
are made. The men who produce
wealth have really less to say about
its disposition than the men who,
by forms of law, feed and fatien up
on it without adding one whit to the
blessings that flow from we'll direc-
ted labor. All this has been laid so
often that it has the character of a
well-worn tale: still it must be re-
peated in the hope that farmers as
| a .laos viii realize the situafiOn and
the necessity for action on their
part, looking to correction of the
evils of which they complain. One
of their number, in letter lately
received, has these plain words that
may not be relished because they
are highly seasoned with truth:
"What our farmers NEST need to-
day is some method OF agency by
which the great body Of them can
be induced to open their eyes and
observe, read, think ard reason fol-
themselves. Ifyou find one making
no progress on the farm it is be-
cause he will neither read, observe
nor think. If he is cheated in trade
or politice it is for the same reason
in or out of office he becomes the
dupe or tool of scheming, intriguing
corrupt men it is because he will moi
takd the trouble to qualify himselt
to Judge of what is righf and best
and then act intelligently on hi:
Judgment. l know that the truth
is not ays.hattering to either mer
or-classes, and may give offence if
assert what is true of our class-tha
they are too thoughtless, needless
and stupid. Many of them do no
manage their faams OF business a
home with any degree of success O
credit. In public matters they otter
allow passion or prejudice to con
troll, and divide so equally on i'm
portant questions tha- one factor
cancels the others, and they have NJ
voice or influence. In public posi-
tons they are often toe ignorant ant
incompetent to perform their dutie
} well, and too indolent and stupid t.
qualify themselves, and they con
sent to be led and used to their owl
injury and the injury and reproacl
of farmers as a class. | can see n
end to this condition unless there
some method by which farmers as
body can be aroused from their leth
ergy and made to think and realiz
the possibilities within reach, an
the boundless reward waiting onl
for union and effort not only mad
easy but that all alike should enjoy
| know of no agency SO likely to &C
complish this work as the Grange
aided by farmers CLUBS, and tn
public press working togethere wit
them. Let the work &c bravely or
T shall not see the end"