Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1882-01-12

been at work to make the American
farmer not only the agriculturalist b,
is, but the man, the citizen, be is to-day
In this outline have thus far purposel.
left out the pervading and molding in
iuence of the occupation itself in th'
qualities and character of men. But M
just estimate can omit-sO formative il
their infiuence-that they have been re
cognized by the thoughtful historian, il
all ages. Herodotus, writing more thai
two Thousand years ago, gives us phil
osOphic and most graphic picture Of thu
differences in mind and character be
tween the dwellers in cities, and thOS,
he Justly calls "the beantiiers of th'
earth.' Schligel, in his Philosophy o.
History, says, ~perhaps it is not too much
to assert that many of the qualitie:
which fitted the Romans for conquering
the world, and perfecting their so cele
brated Jurisprudence, was acquired, OF
ut least, nOurished and matured, by the
skill, foresight and perseyering indus
try so needful for the intelligent an6
successful cultivation of the SOIL" These
differences are subjects of tie notice OF
every careful observer of men and
things in the present day, and are among
the causes which combine in making up
as he is, the American farmer. He is a
wonderfully compound structure. He
is the aggregated result of race, blood
climate, sell, labor, freedom, culture
government, and Farmers Institutes
AS class, they compare, not unfayora-
bly,, with any portion of our people. But
it is not my purpose in speaking of that
Orderto which have always been proud
to belong, to indulge in mere commenda-
ton or indiscriminate eulogy. Many OF
you may not believeit, bulieven farmers
are not always absolutely without fault.
Both in their chosen occupation, and as
citizens, We are constantly not only ne
gleetful of duties aud responsibilities,
but absolutely blalnable for disregard
of imperative obligations to the interests
of agriculture-tO its dignity and pro-
gress, and no less of obligations as citi-
Zens, enjoying privileges such as no 9TH
er people ever possessed. Often, indeed,
the obligations of the American farmer
to the order and to the best interest and
development of that great industry
which is the primeyal source of our
wealth and prosperity, closely blend,an
often merge themselves into his duties
and obligations as an American citizen.
He who aids to give the country pros
porous agriculture, adds to its wealth,as-
sists its progress, and as hope to show
presently, serves its still higher and
gFander interests. Thus it follows, with
inexorable logic, that bad farmer can
not be good citizen-and yet it would
not do to conclude that good farmer is
always good citizen. The duties of
the citizen are so many and so varied,
that they include vast scope of obliga-
tions. Yet, it is most auspicious start
in that direction for any man to excel
in that work which he has especially as
signed to himself. Now that we may
get some practical benefit from the dis
cussion of our subject, let US first con-
slider for moment the scope and aggre-
gated value of the work. of the Ameri-
can farmer. We are all accustomed to
say and hear constantly that agriculture
is the real source of our supplies and
our comfort and our wealth, but it is on
ly when we examine it more in detail
that it is possible to form any just con-
ception of the vastnesS of its resources.
l will not weary you with mass of sta
tistlcs, but few striking facts will
serve my present purpose. By the GEN.
sus of last year, not yet published fully,
the farmers of the United States raised,
in 1880, 54,449,4 ,435 bushels of corn,
nearly 1-3 bushels to every inhabitant
of the whole earth. Of wheat, 459,667,-
O22 bushels, of which, after home sup
II. hat vaor 0I0A
SAC, 900 worth, besides S43,000,000 worth
of fiou., $5O,O00,O00 worth of corn, $14,-
$1,000 worth of cattle-S245,oO0 worth
of cattle exported-$12,00 100000 worth of
beef, $S,O0O,O0O worth of pork, and $685.
OOO, 900 worth of lard, all exported in
1880. Of the great total of more than
5000, 100000 worth of our exports for
1880, S73O,O00 worth were the direct
and unmanufactured products of the
farm. During that year the farmers
of the United States enlarged their busi
ness capital $416,O00,000. OF the fruit
crop of 1880, alone was sold more than
5000, 100000. The aggregate value OF
the various agricultural products of the
United States for 1880, by the most reli-
able estimates, makes the grand total of
So, 1000, 900 900, or 76 per cent. of the total
products of the country. Mainly from
these products has come the restoration
of our prosperity, and of that national
honor which is the very soul of national
life. Only few years ago, when our
commerce was stagnant, our manufac-
lures, overwhelmed by the late panic,
were PROSTATE and pulseless; when our
great financial fabrics went down, bury
ing fortunes and enterprise in their ru-
ins, then Agricultural this great and endu-
ring force, with creative energies, dis
played the full measure of its benenifi
cent power. and came with the meas
ureless affluence of its vast resources, to
bring back prosperity, and to fortify
The nations credit with the bounty of
the nations surest wealth. Thus, Amer
lean farmers feed, clothe and educate
support mainly the burdens
of State and national governments, and
then Gil the commerce of the world with
the multiform products of their labor
and their skill. Thus, they have large
ly contributed to make the wondrous
of our resources the mar
velous growth of our industries, wealth
and power, one of the most important
and amazing chapters in the whole his
tory of our civilization. Now having
done what we thus see they have, for
the country, is this great order of Amer
lean farmers entitled to full recognition
of themselves and of their interest by
the Government? This is the first prac-
tical question press on your attention,
and which beg of you to constantly
bear in mind. This has been called the
Farmers Republic" and the title is a
good one, If it is intended to signify that
they largely support it, while other
classes and other interests govern it.
More than 81 per cent. of our whole pop
ulation is engaged directly in agricul-
ture. However commerce may enrich
or art adore our progress, the nation
dwells largely in the cottages and farm
houses of the country. By the general
diffusion of education, this class is not
inferior in intelligence to any other por-