The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1884-04-24


= there is close sympathy between
st manufacturers, monOpolies, perhap
IS every form of corporate enterprise tha
: enables them TO control not only TIL
d value of their own products, but th
e products of the farm as well, and eYeI
the value of the farms Themselves.
4 very useful lesson in this connection
+. might be learned from the practice o
Q manufacturers in limiting production
G TO preserve values.
c pursue this line of argument TO i'm
= press the character and need of or
r ganiZed effort upon the minds OF farm,
D ers; for though they are the creates
O producing class in the world, they hay,
no co operative policy and present thC
g spectacle of disorganized millions in the
, grasp of few well organized and dis.
J eiplined thousands.
: If thoroughly organized, however, il
T may be urged that they could not con-
, troll the productions OF the soil, as manu-
e facturers do the productionsof the shop
= This may be true, but there could be
dlt1used more wildly through organiza-
tion the knowledge of a wiser form OF
] economy and juster comprehension
of the laws OF supply and demand, and
q juster comprehension, perhaps, of pos
sibilities in view of the new fields of
J enterprise opened to them through rap
id transportation and an expanding
commerce.
If Giles county farmers desire to ele-
vate themselves as class and to secure
for. their county q prosperity commen-
surate with its resources and to the TIL
lers of the soil the influence to which
their numbers entitle them, they must
organize, and further, because it is nee
essary TO eOunteract the aggressions of
corporate wealth, and to give them their
just prepondera1ce in legislative bodies
to protect their rights and interests and
| to redeem themselves from the state OF
yassalage to those who. control leg
islatIon in their own interests, who reg
ulate the costs of transportation by the
demand for the product and TO those
! who gamble in futures and thus wrest
| their products from the conditions
which afford the only true test OF value.
The Giles county farmer should think
for himself and accept no teaching
without thoughtful examination and no
leadership in politics save that which
tends to the promotion of the best in
terests Of all our people.
Could they be induced to meet regu-
larry IN an organized capacity to inter-
change ideas and experience to discuss |
such subjects as pertain to their rights |
and interest, their duty and responsible |
tiles, they would soon become an ire
sistible body and would grow rapidly |
IN that practical intelligence which |
wisely directs in the discharge of duty !
and in the ordinary affairs of life.
Such practical intelligence as viii ele vste |
the farmer and counteract the dangerous
tendencies of the ago to abnormal aggrege-
tions of wealth, on ths one side, and the ex-
trenes of poverty on the other-a tendency
that viii war against republican equal
itY, and powerfully tend to the establish |
ment of aristocratlc rights and privileges.
The Gilos county farmer cannot learn too
soon that he must Offset the decaying fertil-
ity Of his soil, the competition of numbers
and advancing civilization by high and
practical attainments, and broader knowl-
edge Of underlying principles, If he would
even hold his own. Nomatter how broad
ard popular our system Of government may
be, If viii not, in the solution of the social |
problem, prevent the ascendency which in
teIligence and skill will give, and the igno-
rant and isolsted farmer will drift, from the
force of an inexorabie law, into the condi-
ton of the "hewer of wood and the drawer
Of water"
Cur farmers should associate themselves
then for purposes of mutual protection and
advancement. We shall be beneftted by
whatever exoites thought and inquiry By
wbatever teaches US TO appreciate, more
fully, our own, and the rights of others, and
which may enable us to correct, perhaps, n
the pursuit of O higher AGRICULTURAL some OF
the evils Of q disJointed system.
In the discharge of the duty he owes to |
his county, the Giles Co. farmer should rise |
above his own preferences and preiudic
es, and even above the claims of party. - |
The protection Of life and property the /
well-being of society depend upon the |
faithful execution Of the laws, the faithful /
discharge of all public obligations He l
should therefore give his support to no man /
for Office, no matter how exalted or humble !
the Office may be, "whOse daily walk and |
conyersation"does not give assurance that no |
viii faithfully and in ntelligently discharge It's |
duties.
No Office however insignificant has beon |
created to reward good citizenship, or paTu !
kindly regard or to promote pecuniary ben- !
eft. Every public office is important, and |
the faithful discharge of Its duties essential |
to the public welfare.
In selection of even school directors, road
overseers, magistrates, not less than in the
selection of those who are to fill the Offices, |
popularly considered more important, there |
/ should be o thoughtful regard for the inter
| est involved and of the personal worth and
| fitness ofthe individual. The faithful exc
cution of the laws il every phase of the pub-
/ lie service Is of more importance to farmers
than TO any other class. Their numbers to-
gether with the importance of agriculture
| and the isolation and privacy of rural life
| leave q wider range of interests exposed to
! the evils of official infdelity and iucompe-
tency. In considering this phase of q Giles
| county farmers duty too much stress cannot
| be laid upon the importance of thoughtful
and careful action in the promises, nor can
| he appreciate too highly the fact, that
farmers by virtue of their numbers, hold in
| their hands the balance of power and should
| be responsible for its wise and considerate
! exercise. But no matter how true it may be
| that the congregated wisdom of the masses
may be superior to that of the cultivated
| few, without organized effort :itssis ineffective
if not on element of weakness.
These considerations should suggest to
| this association of stock breeders the impor-
tant duty that devolves uoon it as an organ
ICED body. 1t would be difficult to limit its
possibilities for good in an earnest, energetic,
| intelligent effort to advance the interests OF
the county in every material direction by
the force of its own organization.
| The want ofinterest amongst Giles coun-
| ty farmers in organization, in agricultural
education, in stock and farm improvement,
in forestry and indeed in almost every mate
rial interest is due TO causes largely in the
! power OF this organization TO remove. 1t is
| IN my judgement the duty Of the several
associations in cur county, the stock breed
eFs, the Giles county farmers and the agri-
! cultural and manufacturing associations, all
headed by active, intelligent and progressive
| farmers to unite forces, to wage for gener-
| al good, an aggressive warfare against the
indifference that stands in the way of com
| bined action and the want of hearty and gem
eral cooperation, that IN fact, impedes our
progress and the growth of almost every ma
| terial interest. Such union of forces need
not in any sense interfere with the special
OBJECTS each association has IN view; but
| united. the patient, persevering effort of
| those who are willing to labor in this direc-
ton for the public good may build up an
| organization that will find active workers
| in every section of the county and diffuse
| the spirit, purpose and intelligence that only
! is needed to place ours in the front rank of
the prosperous and progressive counties Of
the state.
We msy gather hope from the ia that
the Giles county farmer is as much alive to
his interest as anybody olse, and as ready
to pursue, success and as indefatigably
! through such channels as are open to him.
This fact should inspire courage and the
! assurance that the work viii be half accom-
pllshed W hen his attention shall be arrested.
He will be educated by everything he secs
| and hears, and will organize whom satisfied
I his interests will be advanced by it, as read
ily as he win adopt improved methods, WHOM
II. y.