The patron of husbandry., 1882-06-10
Speech of
HON. H. L. MULDROW,
OF Missfssippi.

HON. H. L. MULDROW,
OF Mississippi,
On the Bill to Enlarge the Powers
and Duties of the Department of
Agriculture.
The House having under consideration
the bill III. R. No. 442o) to enlarge the
powers and duties of the Department of
Agriculture
Mr.. SPEAKER: If | have hobby
it is the creation of a department of
agriculture with a Cabinet minister
at its head.
When I took my seat as a mem
Der of the Forty fifth Congress I
was impressed with the fact that
although the people engaged in ag-
ricultural pursuits in this country
are more than one half of the entire
population, they seem to be singu-
larly Indifferent to their own inter-
est. They have made fewer de-
mends and exactions, have peti-
toned less for what they need than
any other class, and seem to be
generally indifferent to their own
welfare.
I found that the desks of mem
bers of Congress were covered
with expensive gilt-edged publica-
tons urging the importance of
railroad enterprises, of manfactur-
ing interests, of canal projects, of
subsidies for ocean steamships, all
asking for protection and aid, and
yet comparatively nothing was
urged before Congress designed to
foster and encourage this primary
and paramount industry, upon
which all the rest depend, and it
was then, seeing this, l offered the
first bill, the object of which was
to elevate this department and
make its chief an executive officer
with the right to place in the Cab
met of the President.
The measure was criticised by
some, was ridiculed by others, the
New York TribuKe asserted that
"it emanated from a member who
hailed from State where shot guns
were the principal Implements of
husbandry;;" but I am glad to know
that it had the effect of drawing at
tention to this subject, and was
supported by some of the best
men and leading journals of the
country. The ranks of its advocates
have been steadily augmented, un-
til we find to-day but few politi-
clans representing agricultural dis
tricts disposed to run counter to
the all-prevailing sentiment of this
people. l have from first to last ia
ken the position that the prosperity
of our country is principally depen-
dent on agriculture for the devel-
opment and growth of all its great
interests, and that this Department
should have a voice in that branch
of the Government which exercises
supervisory power to the extent OF
a veto over the legislation of Con
gress, and by and with the advice
of the Senate to make treaties with
foreign countries.
IF the true interest of this great
industry were consulted to-day the
treaties with foreign powers would
be revised and altered so as to give
greater facilities for trade and ex-
change in the products of agricul~
ture than now exist. Reciprocal
exchange is the life of enterprise
and wealth. A political body can
no more exist without it than hu
man body without blood. You
had as we'll stop the flow of blood
to and from the human heart and
expect life to remain as to cut off
the arteries of trade from communi-
ties and expect prosperity to fol-
low.
The wealth of nations as we'll as
of individuals in great degree is
brought about by the exchange of
commodities, and our treaties with
foreign powers might be SO en-
larged in their scope as to give
greater facilities for trade among
the commercial nations of the world,
and thus enhance, in great degree,
the value of the products of our
fields.
1t is in no quarter denied that ag-
riculture is the primary interest in
this country, and yet great jealousy
has always seemed to be manifested
on the part of other industries
when its rights are sought to be
given or its interests subserved.
When we seek to elevate it in a de-
gree commensurate with its impor-
tance the country is asked, why
should it be preferred to other indus
tries2 Sir, my answer is that there
is no comparison between this and
any other industry in our land. 1t
gives labor to the forge and anvil;
the great arteries of traffic are de-
pendent upon it the world over
the ship, the railroad, and every
species of commerce and trade,
from the bare foot vendor of match
es to the great operations of a Gould
or Vanderbilt. The great manu-
featuring interests, too, are depen-
dent for their success upon it.
Its utility must be confessed, its