Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-12-22

emp owes, and of the mauv dark and +
inexcusable frauds in the business world;
but we scarcely ever read of the IN
solvency of the tillers of the soil; they |
are the most Independent class in this |
Nation, scarcely ever becoming bankrupt, |
and are the subjects of but little unjust
criticism.
This vocation, therefore, above all |
others commends itself as the best and |
highest employment for any member of |
the great human family. The represen- !
tatives of the agricultural interests and
pursuits of Maine are here assembled for
their mutual advancement and protection.
The State of Maine is one of Che leading |
agricultural sections of this country. |
Notwithstanding its numerous and popu- |
lous cities, one eighth of the population of
the State is engaged in farming. There
wisely exists here deep interest for the
triumph of the purposes of the Patrons
of Husbandry. The lands are well divi |
ded among the population, and proprie
torship is fully recognized, and the evils
of tenancy and monopoly in land do not
obstruct the supremacy and happiness of
| individual rights. There are however
some abuses and wrongs common with
other States in the proper administration
of law and Justice, which need correction
| in order that there should be equal and
! the same protection to the huSbandman
! as is awarded to other pursuits. The
farmer does not expect or desire great
riches from his employment, but he does
not mean to be, and should not be I'm ust-
ly burdened with the expenses of govern
meut, taxes, special legislation, excessive
rates of transportation, &c., which be-
long to others to pay There should be
"a reciprocal interest between the city and
country, between capital and labor
There has been wonderfully increasing
exodus from the country to the city
during the past fifty years In onr own
State to day 1885, 00 of the population
live il cities, which is about one quarter
of the entire population. Siuce 1880 our
city population in Maine has increased
81 per cent, while our rural population
has increased bnt five per cent. In 1880
in the United States, only one sixteenth
of our population lived in the cities, but
in 1880 we find the suburban population
to be one fourth of our entire population
The faithful and conservative influence
of the country is growing Numerically
less, and from the elOquence and logic of
statesmen and of moralists, who are gov
erned by the lessons of history, there
appear signs of peril and come words of
warning. Without some compensation
from these changes in population there
would be greater cause for alarm. 1t
may be true that the results of these
changes are not for the benefit of the
individual, but still the masses find EN-
ploy ment in the new and varied pursuits
of the city. The wonderful improve
ments in all farm tools and machinery,
the discovery of new methods of fertile
ing, the more general use of
new meth DIS of cultivation, the better
exercise of the brain in connection with
manual labor have not only dignitied the
pursuit of farming, but these auxiliaries
have taken the place of farm laborers,
and have thus sent thousands from our
rural homes to the business centers of the
country tor a necessary livelihood. This
elimination of farm laborers does not
seem to retard the wealth of the country,
for as nation we are marching on in
power and wealth. Our aim should be
to cultivate the most friendly feeling and
intercourse between the country and the
city, and acting together stamp out any
influence or party which binders or bur-
dens that pursuit which alone feeds and
clothes the nation, and everywhere we
should cooperate to bring to the front
the saving power of Intelligence and
good morals.
1t is true "that he who makes two
blades of grass to grow where but one
grew before is public benefactor. 1t
is equally TRUE that the mechanical mind
which invents machinery that saves to
the laborer his time, that he may accom-
plish in one day what at one time took
weeks and even months to perform, is
also great phiiauthropist. Professional
life, manufacturing, commercial and
mercantile pursuits, are the necessary
collateral auxilaries of a progressive
civilization. The relationship is so
intimate that each must be supported
aud protected by the mutual cooperation
of the whole. But the perils which arise
from the consolidated wealth of the large
cities so powerful in the interests of
every species of monopoly, the control
ling political influence of the masses bv
a corrupt ballot the illiteracy and bad
morals of city life, the power of the mob,
these agencies when aggregated are
among the potent influences which are
ant lgonistic to the democracy and purity
of country life and threaten our national
existance. Our safety depends upon an
enlig htened self interest, and co-opera-
ton of every and all material and hon
orable pursuit every where. that every
agency shall be destroyed which attemps
to ALLEVIATE them. But above all CON
siderations the proud and independent