The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1882-07-29
Words of Wisdom.

words of wisdom.
We reprint portion of speech
of Hon. H. W. Lord of Michigan,
upon the bill in Congress to enlarge
the powers, etc., of the Agricultu-
raj Department. This speech will
repay careful pursual:
Mr.. Speaker: 1t goes far to pur-
suade and convince me of tho pro-
priety of the bill before US when l
contemplate the extent and COM
manding power of the source
from which it emenates.
1t may be regarded as an axiom
in politics that those who own a
country will govern it. The ag-
riculturists of the United States
are so largely the owners of the soil
that if they shall with substantial
agreement, demand in their inter
ests an officer of the Cabinet, /
feel bound as a legislator to accept
the demand as an instruction, and
in answer thereto proceed only to
to assure myself that in the prepa-
ration of the act the wisest manage
ment as to detail shall be adopted
to carry into effect the measure
proposed.
Owning 80 large a part of the
country as the farmer does; produ-
eng as be does, more than three.
fourths of all the property that is
moved for commercial purposes on
rail and water ways; polling votes
in number immensely in excess of
those of any other class of citizens
that can be indicated by industrial
classification, and of course with an
interest in the country proportioned
to numbers and products and own
ership, it appears not only exactly
just but eminently appropriate that
he should desire a counselor especi-
ally near the person of the Presi-
dent in Cabinet and closest consul
tation.
If, for instance, the President is
about to recommend to Congress
the consideration of new treaty
with some foreign power, it will ev-
identity involve questions of COM
merce in which the farmer will not
only have general interest as a
citizen, bnt special interest pro-
portioned to the extent to which
his particular proprietorship and
industry may be involved.
If it shall be some new scheme of
finance having to do with banking
and currency, and the medium Of
exchange that shall be the measure
of and afford means to market the
farmers crops and other products,
he certainly wants an advocate in
the closet. Any question of general
policy concerning the public lands
| will profoundly interest him in be-
half of his children and otherwise.
IF the President were to contem-
plate war, as in an extreme case
may be supposable, the farming
class, which contributes so largely
to form armies and to feed them
would be no more than fairly treat
ed if it, through an especial repre-
sentative, should havo its interests
considered in original Cabinet de-
liberations.
Mr.. Speaker, 1 was glad to see
proposed and adopted an amend
ment to the bill before US providing
that the Secretary of Agricultul e
should be an experienced and prac-
tical agriculturalist.
1t is not easy perhaps to define
| precisely what should be the limit
of legislation in this direction. 1t
might not be well to insist that a
Secretary of War should in all ca
ses be soldier, or Secretary OF
the Navy necessarily be a seaman,
vet, a provision like that in this
bill is of value as suggesting at
least some idea of the general fitness
of things in this respect, which has
| been frequently lost sight of by
| this government in making ap-
pointments for important offices.
1t may be assumed that an expes
rienced and practical farmer is not
therefore, that is in consequence OF
such qualifications, a suitable man
to appoint to the Supreme Bench
and it may be assumed that q
learned and accomplished lawyer
might not, in consequence OF such
qualities, be a suitable man for Sec
rotary of Agriculture; because the
attainments in the one service are
not especially adapted to the re-
ouired service in the other, yet We
have seen within few years min
listers representing this country II
three or four principal courts IL
Europe at the same time who had
simply attained to eminence anc
had acquired reputation in litera
ture as poets or historians-per'
sons who are not in any sense wha
!. we call men of affairs, yet sent ou
to negotiate in regard to the grea
!, business interests of the nation a
they might be affected, by its rela
| tons to foreign pewers; men VIII,
had more training approximatel,
fitting them for diplomatic dutie
! ahan either the farmer in this cas-
snnnoseu had for the Supreme Cour