Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-09-16
Gov. CleYeland's Speech to the Farmers.
GRAND RECEPTION AT ELMERA, N. " 10
600 PERSONS PRESENT.

| GRAND RECEPTION AT ELMERA, N. Y.-lo,-
600 PERSONS PRESENT.
At the agricultural Fair at Elmira, n.
Y, on Monday Of last week, Gov. Cleve-
land spoke substantially as follows:
"It affords me great pleasure to meet
you here to-day, and to have an opportu-
nifty of inspecting the annual exhibition
| which illustrates the condition Of the agri-
culture of our State. l regard these an
nual fairs as something connected with our
State government, because, to some extent
at least, they are fostered and aided by the
public funds, and l am sure that no good
citizen is inclined to complain of the ap-
preparation of q small part of the peoples
money to the encouragement of this impor-
| tant interest The fact that this is done
| furnishes district recognition by the State
| Of the valuable relation which its farmers
and its farms bear to the prosperity and
welfare of the Commonwealth. We boast
of our manufactures, exceeding as they do
| largely those Of any other State; but our
supremacy Is c'eally shown when we recall
the fact that in addition to our lead IN
| manufactures the value of our farms and
their products is second only among the
States. There is fixedness and reliability
in agricultural pursuits which are not al
ways found in other branches of indus y
and human effort The soil remains in its
place, ready to be titled, and the farmer,
with ruddy health and brawny arm, depends
alone upon the work of his hands and the
aid of kind Providence for the reward of
his labor. Thus our farmers are most in
dependent of our citizens. they produce
or have within their reach all they need for
~ 70, t,air fort
Their crops may be more abundant at one
harvest than at another, aud their products
| may command higher prices at one market
time than another. These conditions may
expand or contract their ability to indulge
| in luxuries or in expenditures not absolute
| ly needful, but they should never be in
want of the necessities or comforts of life.
| This is the sure result of patient and we'll
| regulated farming. When the farmer fails
and becomes bankrupt in his business we
may, think, confidently look for shiftless-
ness or q too ambitious desire to own more
| land or stock than he can pay for, or inter-
meddling with matters that bear no relation
| to his; or such mismanagement and Igno-
rance as demonstrate that he has mistaken
| bis vocation. Fortunes may be quickly
amassed in speculation and lost in day,
leaving bad example and perhaps demon
alization and crime. Tradesman or manu-
| facturer, by vicissitudes of trade or through
the allurements of short road to wealth,
may in day be overcome and bring dis
aster and ruin upon hundreds OF his neigh
bors, but in the industrious, intelligent, and
contented farmer the State finds safe and
profitable citizen, always contributing to
its wealth and prosperity. The real value
of the farmer to the State and nation is not,
however, fully appreciated until we con-
slider that he feeds millions of our people
who are engaged in other pursuits-that
the product of his labor fills the avenues of
our commerce, and supplies an important
factor in our financial relations with other
nations. | have not come to attempt to
please you with cheap and fulsome praise,
nor to magnify your worth and your i'm
portauce, but have come as Chief Execu
tive of the State to acknowledge on its own
behalf that our farmers yield full return for
the benefits they receive from the State gov
eminent. | have come to remind you of
the importance Of the interests which you
have i'll charge, and to suggest that not
withstanding the farmer independence, he
cannot and must not be entirely unmindful
of the value and Importance to the interests
he holds of just and economical govern
ment 1t is his right and his duty to de-
mand that all unjust and inequitable bur-
dens upon agriculture and its products, |
however caused, should be removed, and |
that while in furtherance of other interests
of the State, have a due regard that this