The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1881-12-28
AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY.

Tie following i an extract from the able
report Of the Committee Of Agriculture to
the NatioA4l Grange, recently in session at
Washington City:
The power that has established the credit
Of this people on q ffm basis, reduced in
terest rates, regulated exchanges, and guar
aLteed prosperity in all branches Of useful
industry, Is agriculture. During all the
years when these tasks we're Of doubtful
achievement its workers were quietly, stead
ily and surely effeeting purpose not fully
comprehendsd by the wisest statesmen.
Their productive industry was laying the
safe foundations of financial greatness and
comm areial prosperity, enriching the people,
multiplying aud extending the blessings of
peace, ana dignifying labor by proofs OF its
power and its 5enefcent ends La a single
decade this grand industry has added TO the
permanent wealth Of the people a sum too
great Tor contemplation. Even the small
proportion OF it, products that has gone into
foreign markets in that period portion
Of the surplus alone-is a contribution to
the material welfare Of the people incom-
parabiy greater than any other country has
offered in a like period in the history Of the
world. A thousand million dollars of bal
ance is inadequate expression of its com
merciai value, an insufficient measure of its
greatness, deficient estimate of its value
yet this is but the fraction of magnificent
production guaged by demands abroad far
exceeding in each year by home consump-
tiOn.
The grand industry that has done so much
is yet far within the measure of possiblli-
ties. Its rapid development has no visible
bounds except in the Indifference of the
millions engaged in production to the en-
crOachments upon their civil rights. Or,
in more comprehensive phrase, these mil
lions who till the soil with such benefcent
effect, have yet grander achievements in
prospect if they can he true to their own
interests. Their danger lies in neglect of
| civil duties, or intelligent appreciation OF
such duties.
1t is fact, supported by incontestable
| proof, that agriculture pays far more than
its just share of taxes for the support oi
government; and it is equally true that its
/ products are cheapened in the hands OF
| producers that they may yield larger per
centage of profit to the various interests in
| tervening before ultimate use. Let US con-
fess in full sincerity, and with plain under
standing of the facts, that these exactions
on agriculture and its products are in nc
Wise singular, OF strange DuG TaIueT tue III
.evitable consequence of folly displayed by
farmers themselves. They have titled theil
! fields, cared for their f0cks, garnered tbs
harvests and marketed the increase without
reference to influences constantly tending
to reduce their part in the rewards. They
have yielded to the direction and dictatior
of other interests with astonishing self
abnegation until at last the prevailing sen
timent relegates them to the soil as fixture.
| too low in the scale of intelligence to de
serve part or share in the administration o.
affairs. In politics they are willing, obse
quious slaves, ready always to heed the be
hests OF party leaders. They glorify anC
worship party idols, and at the polls debast
manhood in perfunctory articulation of the
party shibboleth, then go to their labo
hampered and worried by hardships invited
by their ballots.