The Russellville Democrat. [volume] (Russellville, Ark.) 1875-1898, 1884-02-21

ever organization Is requireu, anu
whatever funds are necessary for such
a purpose, ought to be provided with
ont further delay, so that informa-
|tion Of approaching storms, cold
waves and inclemencies of the wes.ssh-
| cr, threatening and canss.ss destruc-
tion 10 agricultural products, may be
ItsmeJy; sent to every community
which railroads or telegraph lines
reach, or to which warning signals
can be conveyed by any means known
to modern science.
AS one result already matured Of
the beneficient wisdom of the i'm
mortal Maury, the approach of des-
tructive storms may now be foretold
two days or more in advance. Sure
lv agriculture, which bears the great
est burden Of taxation, is entitled to
the vast measure of protection which
would accrue to her imperiled pro
ducts from the general diffusion Of
such timely information, and there
by save to our interest and to the ma
tion thousands of millions Of dollars.
II the machinery and funds neces
sary for the collection and distribu
ton of such incalculably valuable
forewarnings are lacking, 1T will be a
shame to our representatives II, with
an overfowing national treasury, and
sufficient corps of trained scientists
lacking employment, at their dispo-
sal, the machinery and the funds are
not forthwith provided; and, as ag-
riculturists, we demand It. We re-
peat it, that we entertain no purpose
to assume an attitude Of hostility to
any of the great interests of the
country; least of all do we entertain
any purpose OF assailiDg any actual
vested right which legitimately be-
longs to any of the great transporta.
tion companies. but we are deeply
sensible of the vital Importance to
all agricultural interests Of cheap,
speedy and safe transportation Of
their products to the great markets
OF the world.
In furtherance of this great nation
al desideratum, we shall favor at all
times any state and national policy
which shall foster the creation and
improvement Of such commercial
highways as for example, the Missis-
sippi river, and the ship canals across
the Delaware and Florida peninsulas.
Such we feel would be better direc-
tion to give to the surplus OF swell
ing revenues, thus employing some
of our surplus and idle labor, than
the anticipation of the public credi-
tor by this generation. Space does
not permit me to enter into elaborate
details, but why should we not de-
mand and receive appropriations
from the national treasury for the
protection of our imperiled interests,
aggregating hundreds, yea, thous-
ands, of millions of taxable values!
Does the constitution really stand in
the way? Do we not know that peace
full machinery is provided whereby
we who are majority of the people
Of all the states may alter or even
abolish the instrument, and that our
right to do so Is "unalienable. indie
feasible and indisputable" Look at
the shoal OF proposed amendments
to the constitution of your country
thrust with unseemly haste upon the
national legislature the very first day
of the current session-proposed
amendments which can in no case
take higher rank than mere political
and partisan schemes-and say that
we must sit down powerless to protect
our rights. In furtherance of pur-
poses such as / have feebly and i'm
perfectly set forth in furtherance of
every purpose which has for its OBJ.
iect the advancement of the great
calling we pursue, the National Ag-
ricuItural Congress was itself called
into existence. In furtherance OF
these great purposes and aims we
earnestly and respectfully invoke .ac-
tion, cooperation and cordial sympa-
thy of every farmer of every section
of this vast country--the home and
domain of the foremost, the might
lest and most progressive nation on
earth. am your very obedient and
humble servant,
JOHN BEVERLY.
The Plains, Va, Dec 18, 1883.
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