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

| dhESS, .TO THAT BODf, MEETING Il
ANNUAL SESSION, AT NASHVILLE, TENN.
NOVEMBER 10TH, 1884.
Gentlemen and Delegates to the Farmers
Congress of the United States.
| l congratulate you upon the increased
interest everywhere manifested by intelli
gent agriculturists in the general policy O
our State and National Governments in it,
broad relations to their great calling.
is a truism to be sure, but let us re-afirn
it, that agriculture is the greatest and mos
important of the industries of this grea
people. Why, therefore, we demand tc
| know, is its claims to the first considera
tion, or to any consideration at the hands
of legislators or magistrates, habitually
put aside, persistently forgotten, or con.
tsmptuously ignored? Not yet do. politi
clans and statesmen appear to comprehend
| that even in a purely intellectual and sci
entiGc point of agriculture has within two
decades rapidly come forward to the fore
most rank among learned professions. 1t
has ever been the mob est and purest, the
most peaceful and dignified of human pur.
suits, and in this day of profession, prodi.
gality, and corruption, it shines forth more
pre-eminent in all these respects thar ever
before. When we say that we mean to be
heard with attention and respect by our
representatives who hold their seats by our
suffrages, let it be plainly understood we
mean all We say. If it be made necessary,
we stand prepared to carry the great ques-
tions vital to our interests before the peo-
pie, to be by them decided in every con-
gressional and assembly district in the
United States. If it be made necessary,
our candidates will be found opposing those
of both parties and all parties, for we mean
to have our rights. We will neither enter
upon any agitation of ordinary political
questions, nor embark in any political or
social crusade. We make no war on any
of the great industries of the people, nei.
ther upon manufacturers, nor mining,
nor transportation, nor commerce, nor
any pursuit or employment by which
honest people earn their bread. God for
bid! When the farmer meets the mechanic
he will take him by the hand and hail him
as a brother. Shoulder to shoulder let
their common rights, against burdensome
and unjust taxation, against monopoly
and oppression in every form
Each in his place let each revere.
And while we march in freedoms van
scorn the lewd rout that dogs the rear"
Whatever hurtfully touches any of the
great employments of the bread armies of
the land Injuries and hinders each and all.
l say, therefore, we contemplate no third
party movement, no revolutionary or agra
rian proceedings. The empire we seek is
peace. We ask of our representative men
simple, business-like methods in the ad-
ministration of public affairs; statesman
ship that will cover every industry and
conserve every right; manly, straightfor-
ward, and open and honest in ali it's meth
ods.
No longer will we submit to be told BY
our representatives and servants, our
creatures whom we have made, that we
know not what we want. Rights we have
under the Constitution which the govern
ment is bound to respect, and ace know
them. Of these rights we do not intend
to be defeated by our servants, as too long
we have been. The end of that sort of
thing, long delayed, at length, has come.
We seek nothing as a right contrary to the
true meaning and intent of the organic
law, but should that law be found in con-
fiict with the necessities of the people, the
Constitution itself must be SO changed as
TO bring it into harmony with the spirit of
the age in which we live. For that very
purpose its trainers in their wisdom have
provided peaceful means.
Speaking from the high place to which
your partiality has called me; speaking as
President of this national body of repre-.
sentative farmers; speaking, therefore, in
the name and in behalf of the farmers of
America, yes, and in the name of the me-
chanics of the United States, it now be-
comes my duty to pass in review some of
the great measures we have submitted to
the National Legislature, and to show as
briefly as am able how they have been
received, and what is their present status.
AS your executive officer, referring to nv
address to the farmers of the United States.
of December 18th, 1888, which 1 felt called
upon to issue, and which is herewith sub
mitted for your sanction, first, l beg your
attention to the fate of the bill for the ex-
tension of the benefits of the Signal Ser
vice to agriculture and the rural popula-
tion generally, comprising in the agsre-
gate, perhaps, three fourths of all the peo-
pie of the nation.
The committee of this body, of which !
had the honor to be chairman, charged by
you with the duty of pressing this measure
upon the attention. of Congress, met in
Washington. After conference with the
chief signal officer Of the government, we
addressed to him memorial embodying
the views and wishes of the National
Farmers Congress as understood by your
committee.
This memorial, with his estimate of the
cost OF the service, General Hazen forward
ed with his approval to Congress, and
asked for the passage of bill to carry the
proposed measure into effect. Thus pre-
sented and endorsed, our memorial, with a
bill to effectuate our object, drawn by the
Hon. Mr.. Caldwell, of Tennessee, was re-
ferred by the House of Representatives to
its Committee on Agriculture. That COM
mlttee, after courteously hearing arguments
by the patrons of the bill, unanimously
passed it through their committee and for
warded it with their endorsement to the
Committee on Appropriations, asking that
it be made part of the Sundry Civil Bill,
through which appropriations are made for
the support OF the Signal Service. The
sum asked for by General Hazen to support
the service we desired to put in operation
was the comparatively small one of $780,
Oo0. AS chairman of your committee. in
pursuance OF your instructions, l advoca.
ted this important measure, and in com.
pany with my cole agues secured its pas
sage by the House Committee on Agricul-
ture. Therefore addressed letter in my
official capacity to the Hon. Samuel j. RAN
dali, chairman Of the Committee on Appro-
priaticns, begging of him and of his Hon.
orable Committee their careful and favora-
BILE attention to the measure. The Honor.
able Chairman took no notice of my letter,
and the Honorable Committee took no no
tice Of the bill. Thus was this most i'm
Inn ny,t 1,rx,, h IL