Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-12-10
THE FARMERS MOVEMENT.

Jung OoS uuAlnS ehO ACOOho cOooloA "o
Nashville.
1t is only necessary for every candid mind
to examine into the subjects discussed to
become satisfied that it is time, and that
no more favorable opportunity will proba-
bly, be presented, for an exposition of the
existing necessities calling for legislation
and enlarged administrative functions in
behalf of our agricultural and producing
interests. This document will interest our
farmers and all who are observing the
growing and widely-expanding business
affairs Of the country, not only in the de-
partments of reproduction and food sup
plies, but also in the agency these import
ant industries have in exercising con-
trolling power either for stability or the
reverse in other leading pursuits, if not in
deed to considerable extent bearing upon
the progress of our institutions and gov
eminent.
AS extensive as the public domain is, the
prodigality and recklessness with which the
government is parting with it, begets false
theory for the future of the chief interest
upon which the prosperity OF the country
rests, and in time will end in disaster. 1t
is a theory which recognizes dissipation in
the application of the immense natural
wealth in prolific soil, and leaves stranded
on the broad highway Of progress the SUBJ
stantial elements underlying liberal govern
ernm emit and the real basis of sound social
growth. That is not a proper development,
which seeks ACKNOWLEDGMENT through the
diffusion of bounties which come without
effort. Unless controlling policy is exer-
cised, which shall cause the impoverished
fields which it's strides have left in its west
ward course to be made fruitful again by
enlightened culture and painstaking hus-
bandry, difficulties and drawbacks will
arise, harder to overcome than the resuscl-
tation of the South. 1t is of the highest
| Importance, as all experience has shown,
| that the Improvement of the soil shall fol
| low the drain which has been made upon
| it. Ohio once as fruitful in natural capac-
| ity as Kansas, is now far behind the
younger States of the far West. Ii that
State had been doomed to share something
of the desolation which came upon Virginia,
though her progress had been made under
more popular institutions governing labor,
the latent resources of succor in her situa-
; ton would be more feebly manifested than
| in ours. In that and in many of the COM
paratively Few States, the demand is ur-
gent for legislation and an administrative
policy which shall place the producer along
side of other interests in the domestic, as
well as in the foreign economy of the gov
eminent.
The resources upon which our ancestors
were required to establish destiny for
their successors were suddenly swept
away, but, notwithstanding, we cheerfully
entered upon the difficult task of resuscita-
ton We know what it is to live and toll
upon worn lands, once as rich as Western
plains, and it is historical fact that if Vir-
GINA had not been interrupted in her pro-
gress, she would have been able to display
a progressive and enlightened system of
culture, which Western States may yet
learn to profit by, as the new fields farther
on shall invite emigration from them, and
the energetic Of their young men be allured
away when most needed, as is the case
with us, in the work Of restoration.
We are working under most unfayorable
circumst noes, which for more than twenty
years have surrounded us in the shape of
oppression. We struggle under direct and
cd Gus taxation, which wrenches, especially
from the tobacco planter, bis very sub
stance. And this burthen is inflicted at a
time when the Federal treasury is over
flowing with millions and millions of sur
plus money. It presents a state of things
abhorent to every principle Of justice and
equality.
The farmers Of the country at large have
taken the whole matter in hand, and are
pursuing the policy recommended to them
| NY Tic doioot utcL Iii TIC 1dHu WIN have
reflected upon the important questions at
stake. In the last issue Of the SPECTATOR,
we published the utterances of the noble
Senator Vance, SO endeared to the people
of Virginia, and who so well wears the
clustering honors his own North Carolina
bestows upon him. The farmers are at
Washington with their plans and pu.p poses
matured He said they should come and
| they are there. The committee appointed
by the Congress at Nashville have pre-
sented their propositions for the advance
ment of the Agricultural Bureau to Cab
met Department and to improve the signal
service, and other important measures, are
all before appropriate committees of the
National Legislature.
The Farmers National Congress adjourn
ed to meet at New Orleans the second
Monday in February, and in annual session
at indianapolis the first Tuesday in De-
cember, 1885.
The movement to place the agricultural
and its associated interests in production
on a plane worthy of the interest which
furnishes seven-eighths Of the foreign CON-
| merce of the country, and the basis of all
other pursuits, has assumed proportion
worthy Of its Importance. The proceed.
ings in council demonstrate q purpose to
move forward with decision and earnest.
ness. This the farmers will do without
impairing their conservative influence upon
our institutions, only desiring that their
interests shall assume national and right
full position in the affairs of the country.
EXPLOSION AT LExINeToN.-On Tues.
day evening of last week, the citizens OF
Lexington were startled by an explosion
which shook the houses Of that town,
breaking the glass in some Of the windows
1t proved to be the explosion of near SOC
lbs, of powder in the magazine at the Wiz.
ginia Military Institute. As five students
of the Institute had been expelled for hav-
ing government powder concealed, which
had been taken from the magazine, it is
surmised that these students or some al