The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1883-08-04
Small Farms as a Conservative Power.

The policy of New England from the
start has been in favor Of small farms
Some other States tolerated baron.al
grants, which allowed the land to be
absorbed by great proprietors, but the
result was disastrous. Our older resd-
ers recollect the fierce contests between
the Anti-Renters Of New York and
the PATRON. An amendment of the
State Constitution had to be made
so as to necessitate the division
OF overgrown estates before dead
ly feud, which Menaced the peace
of the State. could be healed. Well did
Wendell Phillips say: Capital shriexed
'Piliage and agrananism, but none the
less did the Empire State accept a
q BarD-burner Constitution And
Our National Legislature, by home
stead laws, has sought to multiply the
class Of landholders. 1t has been felt
that the more there are who have d.
rect interest in the tilling of the soil, the
larger the class ofthose who give host
age to order.
At times we have felt a fear of the
miscellaneous results of the purchase of
large sections Of land by capitalists for
wheat raising. A class of bonanza
farmers are seeking large returns from
the virgin soil of our younger States and
Territories. They are unanxious about
gathering class Of actual settlers on
their broad acres, but desire only labor
ers. Sowing and reaping require but
a few weeks of actual labor, and il they
can securework enough to manage their |
plows, harrows, reapers and binders, it is
enough. TO provide families with |
homes is no part of their policy. They
can be barons, their laborers serfs or |
Ishmaelites. This course may purchase
large profits to the landholder, how
ever, but it fails to supply intelligent
citizens for the State. Happily it can
not be permanent system. Even if
occasional droughts or other drawbacks
endangered not the profits, the soil
would soon become exhausted. It de-
mands diversified agriculture, a rota-
ion and variety of crops, to exempt a
and from ultimate sterility. To man.
age successfully, smaller Quantities of
and must be held by individuals, and
wisely titled.
And this brings ms to point Of local
Importance. Complaint has been made
hat farming towns of New England
ire fast becoming depopulated. Home
leads that were once occupied by Wig
'rous families are almost forsaken.
douses are tumbling down; gardens
re oyergrown with weeds; fields are
rowing up to forests, and everything
etokens neglect Now there are farm.
n who protest against this policy as
uicidal. Not long ago we were talk
q with sagacious woman. He rid
;uled the notion that Rhode Island
eed depend for its food on distant re-
ions. Our own soil, rightly TILED, can
lrgely feed its people. He shows his
nth by his works. He has brought q
w acres into rich garden, whence
9 draws revenue of hundreds of dol
rs. He uses manure without stint,
btaiDs the choicest seed, works dill
entity and skillful!y, and supplies an ,
tire village with peas, bcets, lettuce,
I'D cabbages. And not content with
is, he makes his moving fields groan
lder the burden of grass. And what
} is doing hundreds of others can do
our sturdy farmers will cling to their !
lfrimonial acres. Let the restless and
9 immigrant seek the West, but the
gorous son Of New England can prof.
bly, stick to the home OF his fathers. I
NJ y Il