National Republican., 1883-02-01
PROTECT the CnttIe interest.


AT no time since the foundation of the de-
partment of Agriculture, has its usefulness APP
peared to so great advantage as during tho
recent session of tho convention of agricul-
turists from all sections. Tho discussions
were interesting and of great value, though
much beside the reading of papers came along,
as might have been tho case in any meeting
Of gentlemen interested in the subject. But
they would not have been here had it not
been for tho we'll organized efforts awakened
by the central influence of the department
of Agriculture. There arc seeds sent
out that raise spirit of superiority
in farming while other seeds raise field and
garden crops. This is great country, and
not half of it is yet fenced in. While the
settling and the fencing is going on, IL is we'll
to have scattered far and wide the scientific
and practical interest that was shown here at
the late meeting. Our corn and our cattle
should be tho tallest and the best, and our
farmers should be making money as fast as
the railways and the manufacturers of this or
any other country.
And, speaking Of cattle, calls TO mind the
fact that the Treasury department sent out
commission last summer TO look after tho
quarantine regulations for shipping and inn
porting them. This commission made an
early report to congress- and the gentlemen
who met in this city last week agreed with
the members of the commission that some
thing should be done by congress to prevent
the spread of the pleuro- pneumonia, or cat
tie plague" as tho commission calls it in
ito report. Our theory of protection
ought certainly to be long enough and broad
enough to take in the cattle interest, which is
greater by millions than any manufacturing
interest. 1t is said that the spread of the
pleuro-pneumonia in England and Scotland
can be traced to one Dutch COW, which poor
animal ought to have been thrown overheard
on her way across the water, but there was
nobody with authority to attend to it, just as
eroisnobody here to attend to the matters and
in case Of any appearance of the disease stamp
1t out, even at the expense of few cattle. 1t
is q terrible disease, but fortunately it has
never yet attacked the great herds of the
west. It's appearance and ravages have been
confined to that section of the country east of
the Alleghenies, but this is no assurance that
the disease will be so restricted In ninety
days it could destroy cattle enough in the
great cattie-rasing sections of the west to
more than pay the entire national debt, and
the possible danger to this great in
terest is not fancied one. The legisla-
tion recommended by the commission
may be simply described as authority to take
the first diseased COW and kill it--no matter
who it may belong to and no matter where
found. The republican idea of protection
is not above surrounding II herd of cattle, and
certainly congress should find time enough to
attend to the matter, and make an appropria.
tion that would insure ability to act in case of
emergency. Just as we are beginning to fur
nsh beef for the world is the time to protect
and promote the raising of beeves as n great
national interest.
The idea, emphasized by Commissioner
LoRING, that one object of the meeting was
to confer with practical breeders feeders, and
handlers interested in the animal industries
of the cotntry, brought out many valuable
suggestions touching the matter above re-
fcrred to, rs did also the consultation in
regard to agricultural implements and their
improvement, cotton raising in the south, and,
in fact, all farming interests. The questions
and replies came as near home in every in
stance as can be possible in national con-
vention, and the department may congratu-
late itself that it enjoyed the respect and con-
fidence of the distinguished gentlemen
present. The commissioner has seen the
success of his policy of appealing direct to the
sources for that practical information which
his department is expected to promulgate.