The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1888-04-28
CECIL FARMERS CLUB.
AN INTERESTING SPRING MEETING
The Political Influence of Farmers ~ n
Glass Discussed-The Status of the Eng
Iish Sparrow Fixed and a Plan Suggested
Meet the Loss Inflicted by Him.

The regular monthly meeting of the
Cecil Farmers Club was held at "Ellers
ley" the country seat of Henry S.
Couden, Esq, near Perryville, on Wed
nesday last. The attendance was I'M
usually large and the meeting one of
more than ordinary interest. Everything
conspired to render the first spring
meet of the Cecil county Cincinnati a
success, and to which the genial hospi-
tality and proverbial courtesy of the Host
and his accomplished family contributed
no little.
The day was suspicious for any gather
ing in the country. Old Boreas had blown
his unwelcome breath down over the
bleak hills that skirt the romantic Sus-
quehanna for many long day. 1t had
chilled the heart of the busy farmer. and
made the hardy fisherman of ''the flats"
to SILVER in his rubber boots. But on
| Wednesday the Alaskan monarch began
to relent little his past unkindness. He
yielded to the inspiriting life and the
mellowing breath of the bright Sun god.
Nature awakening from her alternating
sleep, echoed on all sides in responsive
tones. The soft south wind sighed mildly
through the pines and whose yielding
branches had been so long attuned to the
north winds breathe. Wednesday was
beautiful early spring day, and the walk
to the homestead from the railroad sta
ton over extended meadows of pasturage
carpeted with wealth of rich verdure,
was indeed delightful one.
Promptly at half-past ten the President
of the club S. R. Carson, Esq, called the
meeting to order, when the following
mem bers-some of whom delayed re-
spending to their names long enough to
incur the ordinary fine imposed for tardi-
ness-were found to be present. A. R.
Magraw, Joseph Coudon, S. R. Carson,
John S. Ewing. A. j. Michiner, II. Fl.
Duyckinck, John p. Wilson, Thos. c.
Bond, Enoch Noyes, Geo. W. Sutton,
John R. Bond, DR.. R. E. Cromwell, Jno.
w. Mccullough, G. G. Hopkins, and
Henry S. Coudon.> The following gentle
mel were present by invitation. DR.. R.
c. Mackall, John S. Writ, Esq, Mr..
Thomas Fassett, Mr.. H. II. Haines
cashier of National Bank of Rising Sun,
Mr.. Joseph Coudon of Henry, Mr.. S.
Archer, Mr.. S. J. johnson OF the Cecil
Hedge and Wire Fence Company, and
H. r. Torbert of THE WING.
After the usual business routine of the
meeting had been transa cted, there being
no report of experiments to be made, and
no unfinished business to be completed,
the following essay was read by mem.
Der of the club.
THE ESSAY.
There has of late years been general
| awakening amongst the, farmers of our
country, in regard to the depressed condition
of their business; and there is a very wide
| spread belief that this depression is in a
| large measure owing to the unfavorable
character of our National and State Legis-
| ldtlOH. IL 10 uiScu oy anu WIN
| much truth, that all laws enacted for the
purpose of fostering certain branches of
trade must Of necessity, to certain extent
work to the detriment of those branches
| from which legislation is withheld, and that
| to protect or assist by means of tariff or
otherwise, those engaged in certain lines OF
| business under the specious plea of en-
| couraging infant or feeble Industries, Is
nothing more nor less than class legislation
in its worst form, and which is forbidden by
| our constitution and is repugnant to the
| doctrines of republican form of govern
ment. Equally injurious and undemocratic
| is the studied omission to levy contributions
for the support of government upon the in
| dividuals and associations most able to bear
| them. Any one who has considered the
matter must have discovered that all at
| tempts that have been made in our Legisla-
ture for years past to equalze taxation by
having the property and possession of the
wealthy assessed, have proved signal fail
ures, and it is part of our duty, As suffer.
ers thereby, to examine into the causes of
this omission, and if possible to prevent a
repetition of it in the future.
Our lawmakers are supposed to be chosen
to carry out the wishes of their constituents.
The theory of our government in this parti-
| cular is very plain and admits of no ques-
toning As it would be Impossible for the
great body of voters to assemble in one
place for the purpose of consultation, it has
| been very wisely determined to delegate
this important task to few of their num-
Der under the belief that in selecting persons
for this purpose, choice would be made Of
those best fitted to perform it. All business
men who find it necessary to employ assist
ants are careful in making selections, and
| are not governed by the wishes of aspirants
They make choice of such as are supposed
to possess the proper qualifications. But
experience has proved that in the important
matter of choosing persons to frame the
laws under which we live, and by which we
are governed, the great majority of voters
exhibit little or no concern and are content
| with such nominations as the leaders vouch-
safe to give them. And what has been the
result? What county in the State is rep
resented by its best men, either at Wash
ington or Annapolis? We may of course
find in many of the counties one or two who
fill the position and give satisfaction, as is
the ease in our county, but what county can
boast of delegation that in its entirety is
such as the voters desire and have right to
expect? Then the question arises. Why is
this so? 1t will hardly be- claimed that
there is scarcity of m aterial 1t is not at
all likely that there is a county in the State
in which there are not umbers of suitable
months of their time to this service of the
State. But the fact is that this is not the
class of men that is wanted by the persons
who hold and exercise the nominating
power. 1t is well known that through the
apathy and inattention Of the great ajority
of voters the selection of candidates is LETT
almost entirely to the pleasure of a few,
and that the great body Of the people evince
little or no interest in the preliminaries and
consequently must share at least part OF
the responsibility, if the nominations prove
unworthy of support. So long as this state
of things continues, there can Of course be
no hope of improvement. 1t would be un.
reasonable to expect designing men looking
principally to their own advancement, to
favor the selecting of able and independent
representatives simply because they were
able and Independent. These are the very
kinds they don't want. They want such as
will represent their views, and carry GU,
their wishes, and not the wishes of the peo
| nile In selecting them some consideration