The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1883-01-24
Department of Agriculture.

Extract from Senator Georges speech,
January 18th, 1882
This country owes its greatness TO the
farmers more than to any other class.
All its industries, all its great wealth
have their foundation in their produc-
tons. The failure to raise one single
crop would destroy all our prosperity
and reduce to beggary and starvation
more than half of our population. We
are almost without exports besides our
agricultural productions. Our foreign
trade rests on them; our domestic COM
merce and manufactures are equally de-
pendent on them. Denied the right UNI
der our tariff system to exchange their
productions for foreign goods which
they need, the farmers are forced to fur
nish home market for manufacturers
at price which enriches the seller and
impOverishes the buyer. If, sir, with
all these burdens which they bear for
the benefit of Others, with all these dis
advantages under which they labor, it is
in our power to extend to them the help
and aid which this bill offers, it is GER
tainly our duty to do so.
Mr.. President, there are many other
benefcent provisions to this bill which
should commend it to our support.
| Among them is the cooperation between
the Department and the agricultural coli
leges in the work of experimental sta
tions, and, to quote the language Of the
bill, "the ascertaining of the fertilizers,
buildings, varieties of seeds, vines,
plants, fruits, and crops best adapted to
the several sections of the country
! The Importance Of these provisions can
not be exaggerated. Our country has
every climate inwhich thestrongest races
of men and the best domestic animals
and the most useful productions can at
tain their highest perfection. Including
Alaska, it is a world in itself, fitted for
the profitable and successful raising of
everything that any part of the globe
can produce or that any part of the hui
man race can desire.
1t is destined, too, in no very long
periodI may say it is its manifest
destiny'---to expand still more, espec.
Tally IN the direction of the equator
Nothing can prevent this but our own
folly-the failure to grasp that which
i with offered to us. This expansion has
no terrors to me, and is heralded by nc
misgiyings as toits propriety or it's great
advantages to our own people or to those
who will thus be incorporated into oul
\ Union. The settlement of the question
Of race on basis Just to all will be great
lily aided by this expansion. That par
Of the races in the added territory, tina
: part of their institutions which is wortl
preserving, will be saved all else, by m
memorable law of nature, win disappea
forever. The best preparation of on
people for their grand destiny is train
/ ing in the knowledge and practice O
i those methods by which men and womel
J can most easily, most comfortably, AM
most independently acquire and enjo.
the means and opportunities of sue
cessful career in life. This bill propose
a to aid in this direction. If enacted j
1 viii give this aid, and that too mos
o effectively. The bill not only estah
fishes proper machinery for the colleC
r ton Of useful knowledge in relation +
! the latest improvements in the scienc
: and practice Of agriculture, but provide
e for its dissemination in the most thol
. ough and complete manner Beside
e the printed reports to be distribute
directly to the people, according to til
e present practice, the wise provision
y made for their exchange with agricu
! tural and livestock journals and wit
3 the weekly press of the country. TIL
Q press especially the weekly press eli
: culates among all classes and in all part
It of the country, and is the great educate
Of the people 1t contains the cream {
the best knowledge, as it is generated b
the intellect and culture Of the age, e
pecially that adapted to the conditio
and wants Of its readers.