Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-12-23

in cities, towns, mining and manufacturing
centers, on the one hand; and the great
capitalists, petted monopolists and their
political tools on the other hand, second
irrepressible conflict is beginning to be wag-
ed in this country, aud we perceive further
more that unless the great Agricultural
masses and those of the rural industries in
directly supported by the Farm, conserva-
tive by nature, in all ages and in all COM
m ulities, intervene to enforce upon both
parties an equitable an honorable peace, the
day of civil turlult is not distant, which
will be followed by the dread excesses of
anarchy, or the snllen apathy of military
despotism.
It is simple statistical fact that those
who live by the plough are clear majority
of all the people of the United States. It
is impossible for us to shut our eyes to the
fact that this majority is practically with
out voice or influence in the shaping of pub
lie affairs, or the conduct of public business
| in this Union, and in all the States and ter
ritories which compose the Union. These
things ought not to be so and there il no
good reason why we should suffer them any
longer to, continue. This body. through
your committees, presented to the last Con-
gress of the United States, three capital
measures for the benefit of Agriculture
primarily, and secondarily for the benefit
of all the people of every rank and every
| occupation, viz: The creation of Secre-
tary of Agriculture: The extension of the
benefits of the forecasts of the signal service
| to Agriculture and the rural population
wherever permeated by telegraph lines,
| land let me say here it would be worth
hundreds of millions to the Agriculture of
this nation]; and to the suppression of
Pleuro Pneumonia among the Cattle of the
Country. All failed to receive that atten-
tive and sincere consideration which their
Importance and the number of votes enlist
ed in their behalf entitled them to receive
at the hands of the representatives of the
people. The Bill creating the Office of
Secretary of Agriculture having passed the
House of Representatives by very large
majority was stifed by the Senate's Chair
man Of Committee on Agriculture, in whose
hands it was left by the committee to be
called up at his discretion. The Pleuro
Pneumonia Bill passed in an emasculated
form having its virility destroyed by poll
tical demagogues making it wholly inopera-
tive and worthless.
The bill providing for the extension of
the benefits of the Signal Service to Agri-
culture and the rural population was, after
having received a unanimous vote of the
Committee of Agriculture of the House,
thrown out without respectful considera-
tion by either House. This invaluable
branch of science first discovered by the
great Maury conceded to be worth millions
to the commerce of the U. s. can't be ex-
tended by our wise Legislators to benefit
the agriculture of the q. 8. which furnishes
that commerce though we are 81 per cent. |
of the whole population! Yet through log
rolling schemes they appropriate millions |
upon millions Of the peoples money to Riu- |
err and Harbour Improvements utterly worth |
less without the products of Agriculture to |
transport over and through them.
1t remains for us to reassert these de- !
mands of the people, and in order to do so |
effectually we must organize and stand pre- |
pared to call them up before the elections,
in every congressional district, and in every
state election involving the election of a |
Senator of the United States. 1t is absolute
ly idle to be dancing attendance upon men,
bers and senators after election; they will
then give you no heed. Unless you are
prepared to exact pledges of the candidates
of both parties, and upon their failure to
respond satisfactorily, to put up your own
candidates aud vote for them. you must be l
prepared to wear the collar Of
Y'+ude ard degradation to Z,
Such position know theM4,l
of America are not prepared to accept.
Let US resolve to fight out the battle for
the issues we have raised if it takes US the
balance Of our lives, beoueathing The contest
to our stalwart sons if this generation are
destined to fail in the path of their endeavor.
The main question is, shall we have
Secretary of Agriculture in the Cabinet
through whose voice the larger National
interest of Agriculture shall compel re-
FL y al,
gent study at the hands of the Executive
and Legislative branches of the Government!
For this we must agitate, agitate and de-
mand, until we have gained that great point
when all else that is useful and necessary
will follow as day follows night.
1t is not less important nay looking to
the future of this great country, it is more
than all else important that we do all that
is in our power to encourage and promote
truly scientific education. We want for
this great profession sound professional
training in the theory and practice of Scien-
tific Agriculture We must have Agricul-
tural Experiment. stations established and
maintained in all the States. We must
have in the National Department which is
the National Experimental Station, geo.
graphical and physical division OF expert
mental culture and we must have proper
men at the QedQ OF all CneSe luStllu6lonS. IL
we have them not, we must find them or
make them. We trust and believe it shall be
known, we are not airing our grievances to
needless men, we speak to Farmers and
we believe that it will be found, wespeak
to men who know their rights and are pre-
pared to assert them at every hazard and
at any COST We ask nothing, but what
is reasonable and right, and for the benefit
of all the people, and we will not upon
party demands any longer continue to vote
for those who see fit to antagonize or neg
lect the measures we believe essential to
our interests. There are other measures, |
gentlemen, of national Importance to Agri- |
culture to which might have called your
attention, and on the Signal Service ques-
tion might have greatly enlarged, but fear
ing to weary you with the length of this
address I promise they shall be brought
up during our session as subjects of dis
cuss;on.
Gentlemen of the Congress, as yonr Exc
cutive head I've said this much in the
interest you have confided to my hands and
I trust shall have your hearty approval.
Accept this Cane.