The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1886-10-27

bankrupt concern, only to see them pas.
from his into the willy managers pockets
Among the callings that engage the
attention and occupy the mind of man.
agriculture stands the most prominent
because the most important. l use the
term in its broadcast sense. The farm
ers' field is the world-the acquisitions
laid upon him are as varied and extend
ed as the race. His is the calling that
God assigned to our first parents, and
none but the ministers of God come
nearer to Him in their daily ayocations
The operations of the laws of Nature in
the development of plant and animal
life, in the gentle breeze or the rising
gale, the welcome dew or the copious
shower, the steadily increasing heat Of
Supamer or the frosts Of Autumn, are
bot the flilfillment of His benehcent
will. In the midst Of these stands the
husbandman, as agent whether he re-
alizes it or not between God and His
creatures. His work is to clear up the
vast, unproductive wastes, to drain the
marshes, to break up the land, to plant
the seed, to cultivate the soil, to nur-
ture vegetation, to develop the best
strains In animal, fruit and plant life
in a word, to produce the harvest in its
wondrous variety by which the race is
fed. The laws Of Nature may remain
intact, but if the tiller Of the soil be
wanting, the race of men will well nigh
perish from the earth This cannot be
said of all the other callings combined
as against the farmer. Surely, his is a
noble calling. 1t is the FIRST as to age.
1t is the first in importance, for all Others
are dependent on this. 1t is among the
most honored- noblest men and
women of earth have engaged in it 1t
is the most enjoyable the inhabitant of
the city may remain clustered within
brick or brown-stone walls in Winter,
but in Summer seeks the healthful air
and attractive scenery Of country life.
1t is the most independent, for it is abb
solutely dependent on no other, whilst
all other industries are supplied directly
or remotely by this Its aggregate
wealth is greater than that Of any other
interest. The farms of the United
States are worth $40, Io7, 900, 900, while
all other real estate, including the dwell
ings and warehouses of the city, the
capital employed in business, and the
water-power besides, is but So, 88I, ooo,-
600; while railroads and their equip
ments, whose kings the farmers con
tribute SO much to enrich, are worth
but little over half the value of the
farms, viz: $5,336, ooo, 900. 1t is by
far the strongest numerically, possessing
a voting power which, if consolidated,
would give a majority to any man or
measure the farmers might advance.
With these facts before us, it is no won
der that scheming monopolists and am
bilious politicians seek, by flattery, sar-
casm, intimidation and brides, to create
and foster division in the ranks OF this
mighty army in order thereby to secure,
if possible, their partisan and selfish
ends. If cause were sought why
farmers are not more generally organized
and helpful to each other, it will be
found perhaps in the feeling of indie
pendence he enjoys. For, the farmer,
unlike thousands in other callings, lays
up something for the future, SO that, in
most cases, he has bread enough and
to spare. But, a limited prosperity, ca
pable Of sustaining him through short
season of depression, and that only by
close economy, should not lure him into
the sleep Of indifference to his own in
terests, when far greater results are at
tainable by cooperation with his fellow
farmers in fraternal organization. He
should be admonished, also, by the fact
that almost, if not all other occupations
are organized and are ready to take adj
vantage Of every favoring turn in trade
that may bring success to their cause.
The wonder is that this, the oldest in
dustry and the most essential, combin-
ing the greatest wealth and the largest
number, has been unorganized so long
Within recent years, however, the Order
Of "Patrons Of HusbandryD has been
formed, than which no nobler indus
trial organization was ever constituted.
While it seeks the improvement of the
farmer, it advances also the good of his
neighbor 1t robs no citizen of his
birth-right to life, liberty and the pursuit
of happiness in an honest calling. Its
representatives are of the producing
class; it meets man in the home and
carries the family interests with it. 1t
seeks the refining influences and helpful
counsels of woman. 1t cherishes those
traits Of character in its members that
are lovely and of good report. 1t looks
to the education of the children, encour-
ages temperance, honors religion and
places faith in God. 1t is the only as
sociation formed that is capable Of re-
alizing to the farmers of community,
Of a State or Nation, all the possibilities
Of their position; and it is helpful to
other classes, for it seeks the greatest
good to the greatest number. TO ac-
complish the full purpose of its founders
it needs the cooperation Of the farmers
generally. Itaims to abolish the credit
system and to rebuke that conformity to
varying fashion which leads to prodigal-
ity and ends too often in bankruptcy.
President Cleveland did well to recon-
mend, and it is hoped he will have the
courage even yet to SET THE EXAMPLE
Of i" a palmer way Of life among public
officials" thus aiding integrity, thrift and
prosperity among their fellow-citizens.
It seeks to displace litigation by arbitra-
ton. In business relations it seeks to
bring producer and consumer, manufac-
turer and farmer, into direct and friendly
dealing. Believing the great lines Of
commerce necessary to its success, it
wages no war on railroad and Transport
tation companies, but advocates the in
crease Of cheap facilities for transporta-
ton between the States and to the sea-
board. 1t is in no way comrnunistic
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