The patron of husbandry., 1882-06-10

importance admitted, and it is sim
gular that it was so long before
this government gave any recogni-
ton of its duty toward it. The
first distinctive recognition was
that made by Mr.. Thompson when
he was secretary of the Interior.
during Mr.. Buchanan's administra-
ton, when he appointed special
superintendent of agriculture
That being done, no other effort
was made to enlarge the powers and
scope of this department until in
1862, when the present department,
as it now exists, was established.
In the discussion then of the
measure it was contended by the
opposition that ultimately an effort
would be made to elevate it to an
Executive Department and give il
the right of representation in the Ca,
binet of the President. It's timid
advocates seemed then to fear to
boldly declare that if such an effort
should be made it would be justi-
fed by the importance of this the
greatest of all industries, demanded
alike by sound principles of politi-
cal economy and Justice to the chief
source of our greatness.
Its opponents also attempted to
defeat it by the subtle and adroit
statement that the farmers them
selves needed no such recognition.
Mr.. Speaker this Government
has done less for the encourage
ment of agriculture than almost any
other respectable civilized country
on the globe. Go across the wa
ters and look at Europe! Take a
glance first at Austria, with but
six executive departments, we find
that one of these is the depart
ment of agriculture" Hungary,
with her nine departments, she has
minister of agriculture, industry,
and commerce" France, where
the first Napolean declared agricul-
ture the body and soul of the en-
pire, with her ten departments, has
her minister of commerce and ag-
riculture" Prussia, one ofthe most
cultured nations on the face of the
globe, who in recent years has ex-
hibited her wonderful prowess in
her war with France and now
Justly regarded as one of the most
powerful of all the nations of the
world, the home of arts and arms
and learning and philosophy, and
with but twenty five millions of in
habitants, we find in her ten de-
partments a minister of agricul-
ture, domains and forests" ;" lust
below her we have vine clad Italy,
not unmindful of the source of
greatness for every people, has her
minister of commerce and agricul-
ture." Canada, too, just across our
own border, with all her kingly no.
tons of government, seems to be
more alive to the interests and well
being of her farmers than we with
all our boasted republicanism, has
her minister of agriculture"
These, sir, are but some of the
countries to which my attention has
been specially called which have
dignifed this great industry with
a special department to represent
its true interests and encourage its
laborers.
To make a people patriotic, the
government must be ust. No peo-
pie will even love a government
which is regarded as oppressive in
its legislation, or which, for the want
of legislation, seems Indifferent to
the happiness and welfare of the
great body of the people, and this
principle should never be forgotten
in dealing with our large agricul-
tural population.
Mr.. Speaker, it is nothing new
to make a Cabinet minister or an
Executive Department of this Gov
ernment, when either the needs or
the interest of the country require
it. There were at first in this coun-
try but five Executive Departments:
a Secretary of State, Secretary of
the Treasury, Secretary of War,
Postmaster General, and Attorney
General, at the head of which, re-
spectively, were Thomas Jefferson,
Alexander Hamilton, Henry Knox,
Samuel Osgood, and Edmund Ran.
dolph. 1t was many years even
then, while there existed these five
Departments, before the Postmas-
ter General was recognized as en-
titled to a place in the Presidents
Cabinet. The times, however, sug
gested that in view of the vast in
terests of the country involved in
the postal system, the intricate ma
chinery which was necessary to be
put into successful operation for
the carrying of the mails for dis
semination of information among
the people, and to facilitate trade,
and commerce and intercourse, it
was found to be expedient that this
Department, which before that
time was not entitled to its place in
council of the Chief Executive of
the Government, should be accord
ed one, so that his attention might,
through this instrument of the pub
lie service, be called directly to the