Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1883-09-12
Along down through our national his

Along down through our national his.
tory Il grsat evil had overspread our
political system. There came 10 be agita-
tion upon the subject. Men talked about
ii and AT last made war about it. the result
of which was the destruction of the terri.
ble curse of slavery. 1t is claimed that
farmers as class are labOring under an
evil which can be remedied by better
and more efficient culture. Then 1t is our
duty as farmers TO agitats the matter, 10
talk about it.
Under our republican system If the
men who work are to have a voice in
public affairs and exercise controlling
Influence in the councils of the state or
nation they must work not only with
their hands but with their brains. They
must learn that it is brain power that
rules in IA free country, that as the mon
aI chs of the old despotisms only maintain
their power by keeping the people in
ignorance, so here the ignorant are direct
ed by those of stronger minds. They
must learn That if the tolers would be
rulers they must be thinkers also But in
order to produce the best results there
must be united organIz d effort. Public
meetings should be held. men competent
to give instruction should be employed to
lecture each upon his own speciality
each address TO be followed by II discus
sion IN which all present are invited 10
| join In this state we have board of
agriculture whose duty it is to perform
,he work above indicated, they being
required to hold meetings in each county
in the state. Through their means much
good may be accomplished, but however
we'll adapted they may be to fill the
position. however faithfully they may be
in their work and however efficient in
their several sprcIallties may he he men
composing the bo.d they can acco tnpish
but little without the a'i and Co operation
of the farmers themselves. Ifthe farmers
Of the snte will avail themselves of the
means there i, no way by which they can
be awakened TO II realization of their
wants, needs and strength at II less cost
of time and money then by attending and
taking part in the meetings held by The
board oi agriculture. But The lutiu, nee of
these meetings should not he allowed to
cease when the board depar s. In every
town a farmers club should be organized
and the work continued by the fal mers of
each locality. There are, Iapprehend but
few towns that cannot sustain good
efficient fa mers club, and this seems TO be
the best means Of culture available by far.
mers who are no Logger young. BY means
of the club spirit of investigation will be
aroused, the mind will be awakened and
in consequence, those who &C lively parlic.
pate in The discussion and excl cises of
wide awake farmers club will not only
become better farmers but better citizens.
In This way and in all other ways each
one OF us ought to do whit he can ny the
influence of his voice, deed and example,
to supply the present great need of agri-
culture, which needs not more farms or
more farmers, but culture for DO b.
Better educated men are needed, men not
ashamed of their calling, who with sound
minds in sound bodies are able to work,
who though not knowing as much OF theol-
ogy as the clel gyman, or as much medi.
clne as the ply icslan or as much law as
the lawyer will be able 10 cope intellectu.
ally with either of them and fill as high
grade of citizenship as they and if occasion
requires be able to drop The implements
oil hush .ndry lay off lor time the straw
hat and coarse frock and with sunburnt
faces and calloused hands step from the
farm into The legislative hall and there in
talent, influence and all that goes to make
up the wise and efficient legislator be the
peer of the best