Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-12-19
AoRIcuLruar IN GENERAL.


Our nation derives its chief importance
and prestige, agd was first settled as the
Land where the ownership of the soil should
he forever free aud universal, so
as To give To its inhibiiant, equality,
liberal subsistence and happiness. This
idea was the corner stone of our national
independence, anl the basis of its perpetuity.
Every other secular pursuit should be, aud
was, subordinate TO the claims OF agricul.
ture. Until the commencement of the last
century, ours was practically II land Of far
mers, for there was no other certain method
Of gaining livelihood Every farmer lived
within himself. was his own statistician, and
knew but little about that which was going
on outside his own immediate neighbor-
hood. The stimulus which other pur-
suits have since given to agriculture, was
wanting and entirely unknown. The limited
demand of he family for home con umption
required My the tllnge of small acreage
of land The ambition and resources Of the
American farmer In the early day, Of the
Republic. rested IN small pretensionp. and
not until population largely Increased, and
progress and invention opened new avenues
for diversified industries, did the farmer full
ly recognize the dignity and importance Of
his vocation.
The use OF modern labor saving machines
and farm implements have given one man the
opportunity and power 10 do ~ much asa
hundred men did century ago, An thus tho
area Of cultivated land under equal and the
same individual oversight of former pericds,
has now Increased our crops u hundred fold
and the power of the muscle supplemented
by the power of the brain, has thereby added
vast proportions to the productive resources
OF the nation. Our farms, ~ consequence
Of improved implements and a more inteIli.
gent akfic iltnre have been befeft Of the ne
cessity for the labor of the same number Of
men and laborsrs ~ formerly IN order to
meet the wants Of the family, and feed and
clothe mankind. A wise Providence has
kindly opened new and important avenues
for the surplus population of thi, great ma
ton to gain livelihood, in it, manufacture
ing and commercial centres thu. giving en-
ployment to the masses, aud creating home
markets FOR the increasing surplus OF farm
productions.
The new creation Of 80 many industrial
agencies establishes dependci cy and by
friendly cooperation brings wide spread ben
"tts 10 every pursuit. There is aud should
he, afecipr1ciiy Of common interest between
the farmer aud mechanic and capital and la
Dor shouli move along under an equal yoke,
for both are equally dependent on the other
for profitable livelihood Agriculture ia
the early centuries wa, treated and regarded
simply as an art but more recently darkness
has disappeared before the sunlight of pro-
gresiye experience, and today agriculture
appears no longer governed by uncertain
principles, but rests its claim, upon the un-
errlng basis Of true and reliable science.
TnE GRASOE AND AoHicuLtuRE.
NstI - 4 a
Topeka a, chairman of the committee on az
riculture. The paramount interest Of agri-
culture in the hands Of the Patrons Of Hus-
bnndry i, the great question which We are
called upon to consider. Our organization
belongs to the farmers Of the United States,
and when II is controlled by any other class
Or Interest II ceases to represent its Deelara-
li0n of Purposes, and necessarily forfeits all
claims for the support Of the American
farmer.
Thrrp is no one interest that measures the
magn,ude and the prosp rity Of a nation 60
much as IT. annual crops. What he farmer
produces is the business barometer xhich
regulates all o. the varied national industries.
The bal effects of the Ninter storms, the in
huence Of a back Fard spring. or any retard-
ing inh1ence on the progress and develop
ment Of our staple rops. is heralded forth a.
told that the early crops look we'll along the
line, there is a feeling u buoyanry and con-
ii1ence through the business world. for the
railroad looks TO the crops for lis freight, the
banker makes il the bass Of discount. and
eIch4nge, ,-cOmmerce i- made prosperous
when there are plenty Of production. for er.
port and above ALL the world looks to the
crops Of the nation for its bread and ,uste-
nance. Excess Of cr0ps indicates and creates
property; failure Of crops bring. with IL d.
nini-hed trale and financial iisre.s. Forty
-four per cent1m Of onr entire population 10
engaged in agriculture, and more than one
half OF our population are engaged in farm
ing and moving the crops. No class of
men work harder than the active farmers
Of this country; they do not eonfine
themselves TO the rigid rule of
ten hours. but from the app arance of the
morning sun, N the evening twilight in the
western sky We fad farmers doing the work
OF the farm We should not deal altogether
With the quantity or the quality Of the crop
for This heretofore has been the chief em-
Dioymsnt Of the farmer. Many circum-
stances and important questions which sur-
round the farm and the proper disposition Of
tbe crops have been too much neglected.
Our crops are vast and marvellous, and who
but the farmer should get the benefit of
themf
The farmers Of this country spend too
much time in producing their erops. and
give too little attention to the great Law. of
trade and commerce, TO the laws Of supply
and demand, which regulate the sale Of
crops.
II s for these reasons that agriculture has
the highest claims for recognition. and there
Is dignity and responsibility in asserting II.
vast importance. 1t is the grand purpose Of
the organization which -'eets here toiay "a
faithfully consider all those questions which
anect the interests Of the American farmer.
We desire to remove all hndr4nce in the
way OF advancement; our aim should be, and
"a, To husband and employ every resource Ia
science and experience to promote a progress
ave agriculture We desire to support wise,
economical and honest government,-to
Tork together a, all times, and in every way
for the elevation and happiness Of the hus-
bandman.