The Russellville Democrat., 1884-04-10

thing around. Especla;ly is this true
 of farmera, for wherever your cores
 pondent hns been hc mas seen these
 patient sons of toil, toiling early and
 late, pushing their work with spir- itthat is truly commenhable. and
 notwithstanding the uafavorable weather during the winter months, much has been done in tue way of clearing, fencing, etc. And l am glad to say that thls spirit of i'm
 provement is not confined within the limits of rural districts nor among those engaged m agricultural pnr. suits, but is also noticeable in tho towns and villages of onr county. Progress in the direction of prosper
 ity IS not as rapid as it should be. f,ut really, MR. EDITOR. are these not signs of a better day comiDg--a aay when farmers shall awake from their lethargy; study, to learn something of tho natural qualities of the soll, ,, study, to learn of the importance of subsoiling, sertilizing, rotating and |diversifying crops, yet making a speciality of something. having an aim and object in view, something specific to be accomplished. We often hear it said: the farmers lot is hard one, and so of the mechanic and laborers generally. It is all quite true that we have to work and toll and labor, but is not country what the people make it, and the people what they make themselves, and an individual what he makes himself2 If the farmers lot is a hard one, has he not played an act i've part in mak ing it so? Whither shall we go Tor relief? Alone through our own efforts can relief come. We may talk about tariff and taxation, and burthensome laws, and pilfered Itreasuries andsall that till doom's day, but sir, until we fall upon bet ter and wiser plans of conducting farm operations we must remain in the rear. There are just IS many
 and good reasons why farmer or a
 mechanic should conduct his bus
 mess on business principles--sys-
 telnatically, methodically, as there
 arc why merchants and bankers should. Some farmers have already seen these things and acted accord inaly, and in almost every instance
 have outstripped those who persisted
 in sucking to old plans. I fancy
 thatfarmers generally are beginning l to wake up and to see their true and rcalcondition. 1 am led to this con. clnsion from the fact that SO many things are being sad and written or
 subjects directly related to farming
 and laborers interests generally
 More agricultural and live stock Journals are being circulated and
 read now than ever before. Farm
 CTS societies are being organized al
 oversthe land. All this means some
 thing. What? Some claim that it ls
 labor beginning to array itself agains,
 capital, and that laborlng classes arc
 going to arise in their might and as
 sert their rights. What are oul rights? Were we not created free
 and equal with others? Were we
 not endowed with capabilities, tai
 ents, intellect susceptible of endless
 improvement? Hhave we fallen in
 the background? Whose fault is Iti
 Why sir: these organizations are in
 tended to aid us in reforming our selves. And dare say none would say that reformation is not needed. We have brought about the present state of affairs that call so loudly for
 reformation in every department of the farm. l think these things mean
 that the laboring classes have learn ed that they must help themselves. l see that some are disposed to make
 war upon merchants, la awyers, bank
 CTS and public officials and seem to expect relief from that direction.
 Let our officials he chosen from
 among our best men and let us strive to acquire business tact and though all may not hope to mount as high as some who possess master minds, gigantic lntellccts, indomitable en- ergy. Yet we hope for day when
 peace, plenty and harmony shall ex.
 ist in every home, when agriculture and commerce shall go hand in hand,
 when labor shall receive it's just rev
 enue, when capital shall be properly directed. This can only be brought about through the medium of educa- 'tion. And then work k-downright and upright earnest, mental and
 physical, work will accomplish the grand ultimatum of success. It re- Guires time to arouse fifty millions of people to action, but even now the
 masses are beginning to move and
 the lcaven of reform is working and
 that marvelously rapid and there is
 an unmistakably steady increase in
 the intensity of that spirit that never yields till something IS accomplished. For myself must say that was
 much pleased with the action of the
 late council of B. of k. in steering