Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1885-07-09
DEPT OF AGRICULTURE.
HFRRTOFORE MORE A STRJECT
OF RiDiCULE THAN OF PRAISE.

Commissioner Coleman and his Pre-
decessors--An Agricultural Conven-
tion-Late North Carolina Appoint-
naents.
Special Correspondence Of the Sentinel.
WASHINGTON, July cit is noto-
rlous that the Department of Agri-
culture has been the subject of ridi-
cule rather than praise. By some
mysterious instinct, non-agriculturists
have always looked upon agrieultu-
rists as affording much of the comedy
! OF life. But better reasons may be
shown as regards the Department.
Not emily comical, but incompetent
individuals have been at its head dur
ing Republican regime. DOM Piatt
was wont, in his sarcastic way, to dab
COMMISSIONERS lie DUO
every week. Opportunities were fire.
quent. Seven years ago a respectable
delegation Of workingmen called upon
Commissioner lie Due An audience
was positively refused. The spokes-
man insisted on the right as American
citizens. So earnest became the work
! ingmen that Commissioner LIE Due or
! dered the guards to use force. Against
| that, the workingmen not only pro-
tested, but fought, and eventually,
| forcibly obtained the audience desired.
| Men, with better tact, would have
| kept silent after an unwarrantable in
suit to American citizenship had been
resented. But Commissioner lie Due,
true to the vein Of comedy he had be-
! cccI,pal o,,1 soI
the case into the Police Court A
number of charges were preferred, es-
pecially that of 'trespassing upon the
public domain" but, Of course, the
case virtually ended, like all Of Com
missioner Ls Dues efforts, in comedy.
COMMISSIONER coLMAN
is the most experienced agriculturist
and practical man the Department
has had during the past decade It
has been said that he took charge un-
! der most unfavorahle circumstances,
there being only $38 at his disposal.
No matter what the circumstances,
however, Commissioner Colman will
eventually place the Department on
the footing its great and good object
deserves. He may meet with antago-
nism and disparagement from quar-
ters where the Department has always
been beliltled, but he is a man OF de-
termination, and willsucceed. Under
new administration, farmers ought
to give every support. During a mas
terly speech, at Baltimore, 1882, Sen
ator Vance remarked: cit wsuld be
rarity, indeed, to see, in Washington,
single delegation of farmers, or farm
laborers, to protest against taxation
which robs both Of half of their earn
ings, whilst you can see twenty such
any day from the benefciaries of that
legislation, urging, arguing, importun-
ing, and by an hundred questionable
methods, promoting their schemes ef
plunder,'
To this ghaEtly truth, he added:
"When men demand nothing, the
world presumes they want nothing
when men make no complaint, it is
natural to suppose they are satisfied y
Senator Nance's advice should be
needed by those who expect Commits
sioner Colman to institute certain re-
forms. Among the first steps taken
is the
AGRICULTURAL CONVENTION,
to be held on Wednesday, the Sth, at
the Department This convention will
be be composed of delegates from the
Agricultural Colleges of the United
States, and will represent the intellect
and talent of the American agricultu-
raj fraternity. The delegates will seek
to have contemplated experiments on
projected governmental farms made
on the experimental gardens of Agri-
cultural Colleges. 1t is thought that
wider range can be given thus, and
that acclimation can be more satisfac-
torily ascertained.
SAVING OF 100000
per annum by the 119 dismissals from
the Bureau of Engraving and Print
ing, is certainly good political econo-
my. As we have intimated before,
the Democratic administration can
afford to show "the Treasury girl'
abundant mercy. These poor, dis
miss3d women must suffer more than
most readers may imagine. Dismissal
means deeper poverty, if not starva-
ton. But, it is shown, they were dis
missed solely ON the ground of econo-
my. 1t is probable that others will
not take their places, as would have
been. done under the economical trick
cry Of Republicanism. The dismissal
was not wholesale, although gorgeous
ly reported. 1t was not without mer.
cy, LOO remaining. The Democrat
ic administration can not afford to
massacre 'the Treasury girl" The
starving, pitiful, sobbing Treasury
girls" seeking restoration must pierce
The manly heart, when there is Sc
much room for economy in other and
sterner directions.
POSTMASTER CoNGER
/ has been suggested for the Republican
/ ID. G.. Commissioner. Justice demands
that one of the three should be Re
publican. But Justice does not de.
mand that any should be citizens oi
other lands. Mr.. Conger is the son Of
Senator Conger. citizen of Michigan
and an active Republican partisan
He owes the postmastership to his fa
ther's political influence, and was
elected one of the District delegates
r. the Republican National Conyen-