Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1885-03-20
THE COMING FARMERS CON.
VENTION.

1t Is not exclusively a farmers conven-
tion, but let the name go; for it will con-
tain more of that profession than any body |
that has assembled in the State. We have
great faith in Virginians; not that faith
that is born of reading of their heroic deeds
or the Intellectual heights to which some |
of them have reached, but faith in Vir-
glnia men as body,-in their practical
sense, their energy, their capacity to re-
ceive new ideas,-in word, in their fresh,
vigorous, growth. Virginia can only be
really and faithfully represented by farm
ers. 1t is an agricultural State, it still lives
by seed time and harvest, and in great
measure by planting the same crops
that the fathers planted century ago.
We say we have faith in them, and with
that faith some curiosity. What will they
do towards advancing the State, we are
curious to know; for if they do nothing,
then the State will stand where she is. II
they, representing the muscle, the fresh
mind, the hopes of Virginia, content them
selves with theoretical resolutions, with
little man worship in the way of recon-
mending some prominent man for pro-
motion, we shall be grievously disap-
pointed. Grievously, for there is nowhere
else to turn, if they fail. Griev-
ously, for if the class of minds we
expect to see in that convention
virgin of mould, most practical by their
very means of livelihood, most open like
the soil they 50 successfully till to i'm
provement and the new experiments-Sh
dawdle over theories, shall pass resolutions
which float in the air and touch nowhere,
shall mark out no line in which the State
shall advance, we may we'll despair of
Virginia. We hope the farmers will do
the talking and writing of the conven-
tion-not the great landholders, but the
men that are known in Virginia as far
mers, and who have the votes to enforce
what they want. The Virginia legisla-
lures for the past fifteen years under both
political parties have been as dead and
apathetic about spending money and TAX
ing practical measures for the advance
ment of the State, as they have been alive
and eager about politics. The failure to
have Virginia properly represented at At
lanta, Boston and New Orleans was SIM
ply objectionable in view of the great
benefit Virginia would have reaped. The
| failure to establish bureau OF immigra-
| ton with life in it, and money to back it,
has also been objectionable. The failure
| to pass State road law, the only way we
will ever bring buyers to our lands-as the
| experimental, parsimOnious, miserable,
and in the end costly county road laws,
| have shown-is something that may be
| pardoned because it can yet be remedied.
| There are many other things with which
| our farmers are familiar and which they
know the State ought to do for them las is
done in other States, and which 1t must
do in Virginia if ever they are to be done.
It is for this reason that we are curious
about the Farmers Convention-we want
| to see if it will be PRACTICAL The delega-
| tion from Augusta has many men in it
| that thoroughly understand what this old
| politics-r ridden Commonwealth of Virgin
| ia wants to give her push ahead. Let
| them and men like them try and be in
| front at the deliberations Of the conven-
ton. Spare the country long and fearful
histories of what Virginia has been. Cast
| the past to the winds and let the world
know what Virginia has to offer 1aoov.
Never mind about the historic-the glories
of Washington, and Lee, and Jefferson,
| and our heroic sufforings during the war.
| Drop all this stuff forever. leave it to the
orators, who will doubtless have it ready
written in their pockets before they 60 to
your convention-but as for the farmers,
let them look to something practlcal.-
Plant some thoughts in that convention
that will grow.