The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1884-12-11
Col. Beverly's Address.

The address of Col. Robert Beverly, Of
Virginia, before the National Farmers'
Congress, Of which he is President, al
sembled at Nashville on the 10th of M
vember. should receive careful reading
from all classes of our citizens. 1t is b
thoughtful, bold and brave production.-
Probably no gentleman in the South b
better prepared to speak for the farmer
class than Col. Beverly. He is the largest
and most successful agriculturist and
stock raiser in Virginia. The inter
ests of the farm have been his life study
He has noted every improvement and pre-
scented every advantage that has beea
achieved by the great industry he repre-
sents and has so familiarized himself vita
the difficulties and neglects the farmers
have to contend with that he is capable +
pointing out the sources of their grievances
and the remedies called for.
1t is fact so patent, that its mention
is demonstration, that the farmers OF Viz
glnia have not given their own Interest,"
the consideration they demand. The littf
courthouse rings have dominated all thf
political movements and influences OF thF
Commonwealth. controlling the machinery
that dictates who shall be the members q
Legislatures and of Congress. These,
when elected, consider themselves undo
obligation to the scheming cliques and MI
to the great mass of the voters who Goa
stitute the power of parties, and conse
ouently never consider as paramount any
| of the great interests Of the people. LII
one Of the anomaliessof our political reA
| lions that soimportant factor in the ecoh
omies of the country as the farmer i
scarcely ever consulted in the selection b
those who make the laws and determin
the policies Of government Unaf
ouainted with the arts of the demi
gogue, stranger to the devices !
the professional politician and RING
ster, he is loath to make himself prom
inent in party conventions, and rathe
than enter into strife and contention, !
quietly submits to the plans and scheme
of those who make politics a trade an
the manipulation of conventions a bus
ness. After the preliminaries have a
been thus arranged, he IS expected as
matter of course, to fall in with the m;
j chine, to obey the order of the bosses, an
!, march up to the polls and yotefor the cal
J didates thus selected, whether he thinl
them proper persons torepresenr his inte1
ests or not.
This has been the experience Of la'
years, to the great neglect Of the Interest
! of the agricultural class-that great il
, dustry which lies at the base OF our nj
J tions prosperity. Col. Beverly has we
: stated the case-discussed the whole sui
l ject with ability and practical force, an
7 to his arguments and facts we invite tt
; attention of our readers. No class OF OF
citizens are more deeply interested in tt
< legislation of State and Nation than Il
farmer, and no class has less represent
ton in the halls OF Congress and in tt
: capital of the State. And it is their CIV
e fault that it is so. They have the int
6 licence and the numbers to control in Il
selection of lawmakers and to demaI
e that due consideration be given, i'll Il
e laws enacted, to the farming interests
Q the country. But they have not been ju
: to themselves, nor properly defended Il
: interest they have at stake, in the choi
: of those who shape policy and determil
: legislation.