The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1884-09-18
Blaine and the Farmer.


At Manchester N. H., the New Eng
land Fair was held, commencing on the 1st.
On the 4th day, Hon. James G. Blaine
was present by invitation, and delivered
the following address
LADIES AND GENTLEMAN 1t is pleas
ant to find ourselves in an assemblage
where we all bear a name of higher honor
than any partizan designation an assem-
blage in which we meet on the broad plane
of American citizenship and rejoice in the
title as in itself constituting civic dis
tinction of priceless value. The agricul-
tural fair is the farmers parliament. On
this day and on this occasion the most in
dependent class Of citizens speak to the
world by word and deed for that great fun
damental interest on which the republic
rests for it's security and it's prosperity. Ii
has become a trite saying that agriculture
is the basis of all wealth, but the full
measure of the statement may be cOmpre-
hended when we remember that this year
of grace, 1884, the total value of the pro-
duct from farm and flock in the United
States will exceed So 900 900 ,000,an amount
brought forth in a single year, vastly IN
excess of the national debt at the hlghesC
point. We are not iii the habit OF con-
siderating New England as specially dis
tinguished for agriculture, and yet the an
nual product from her soil is greater In
value than all the gold taken from the
mines of California and Australia in the
richest year of their fabulous yield. The
farmer is the true and always successful
miner in the extraction of money from the
earth-a fact most strikingly shown in the
history of California, whose splendid
march to wealth and power only fairly be-
gan when the energies OF her people were
turned to the production of bread for the
world instead of gold. The prodigious
consumption of 56,000,0 900 people is brought
strikingly before US when we realize how
vast a proportion of our aggregate product
is used at home. and how small share is
sent abroad. The hundred and odd mil
lions of New England farm product do not
support her own people, and they are COM
| PEELED to exchange the fruits OF their me.
chanical industry to an enormous amount
annually for the means of subsistence SC
| lavishly outpoured from the granaries OF
| the more fertile west. and this fact is but
one of many which show the independence
| of our people and the vast extent of Oul
| internal exchanges. The scene of to-day
| has an enhanced interest when we reflect
that throughout the gorgeous autumn upon
which we have entered it will be repro.
duced in countless communities through
| out our land. From ocean to ocean, from
northern lake to southern gulf. the rich
ness of the harvest, the cOntentment and
happiness of the people will be shown on
fields as fair, by displays as brilliant as
those which now delight our eyes an6
| gladden. our hearts. Nor will the autumn
exhaust the inspiring scenes.
| When the chill of winter on the northern
border of the union shall make the south
ern sun seem genial and welcome oul
brethren of the cotton region will continue
the wondrous story. They invite us t.
witness in the commercial emporium o.
the south the great triumph of southern
agriculture in the production Of that sin
gle plant which has reyolutioniZed thu
manufactures. They have the finance O
the world, which has enriched the United
States beyond the reach of imagination
and has added intellectually to the comfort
the health, and the luxury OF the human
race. Standing as / do, in a fair of tht
New England states, it is an agreeable
duty to extend congratulations to New
England farmers on the good results O
this years labor, and on the general ant
more important fact that at no period il
the history of New England husbandr.
has intelligent labor been blessed will
more profitable results than during Tn
present generation. If there be any on
that doubts this wish he was here to-da
and could hear what have heard and Sc
what have seen. [Applause.] hearth
congratulate the New England society OF
the brilliant success of their exhibition
and beg to return my sincere thanks t,
all for the personal kindness and cordialit
with which have been honored.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Blaine's re
marks he was rendered three cheers by til
crowd, to which he bowed his acknowledg
ments.