San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1888-02-02
Good Thoughts aud Sound Ideas From q
Farmer.

GOOu luOuShtN uuu oOunu iucus ffOh y
Farmer.
Ed. FREE Pass AS the FREE
Press is friendly to the interests Of
the farmers, We wish TO make it the
medium through which to set forth
some views that seem to our mind OF
more immediate Importance TO the
tillers OF the soil than many OF the
views entertained by some of the
brotherhood. There is belief en-.
tertained by some that if we can con.
troll factories, mercantile interests,
etc, our success is sure. This we
think impracticable at present
In the constitution and bylaws OF
the Farmers Alliance we find the
first section OF the resolutions as fol-
lows, to-wit:
"To labor for the education Of the
agricultural classes, in the science OF
economical government, in a strictly
non-partisan spirit" And section
third; ITO develop a better state
mentally, morally, socially and finan-
cially." In reading the above quota
tons we have for our leading thought
the education of that faculty called
the mind. Indeed, this is the instru-
ment that affects the world. eve
must educate we must educated or
or we must perish by our own pros
perity," said distinguished states
man. eff we do not, short will be
our race from the cradle to the grave.
If in our haste to be rich and mighty
we outrun our literary and religious
institutions, they will never overtake
us, or only come up after the battle
of liberty is fought and lost, as spoils
to grace the victory, and as resources
of inexorable despotism for the per-
petuity of our bondage"
We have here before us o COM
manding admonition. foretelling our
sad destiny if we neglect the cultiva-
ton of tho mind in pursuit of the
lesser essentials. But the question
arises, how are we to spare the means?
We answer, by establishing a poor
mans school. This may seem de-
grading in the eyes of rich mans
son, but the poor girl or boy who
has not the fifteen dollars to pay for
board, five dollars to pay for music,
five dollars for art and many other
extras, is glad to do manual labor to
make it partly self-sustaining. We
would have in this school practical
farming and mechanism practiced
in connection with literature.
In view of the foregoing could
the Farmers Alliance contemplate
and establish o grander enterprise
than a Farmers Alliance school whore
their cons and daughters may have
facilities for attaining liberal edu
cation?
If it be not presumptuous in Ms, we
would suggest to the brotherhood
and the farmers in general that we
spend as little money in 1883 Us posi-
BILE. Let every spare dollar be utili-
zed in securing homes and building
dwellings, and barns
thereon. Let us get ourselves in o
shape that they may have few lei
sure hours for the benefit OF the in
ner man'
Again, we would suggest, quit rails
ing cotton to buy every mouthful
you eat. Setapart one acre of ground,
call it your "pet ground" or garden,
as you like. Plant something of
everything that is good to eat. Do
not neglect it for the sake of grassy
cotton patch, cotton can wait. Let
us all play going to school and after
awhile We will develop ourselves into
o business set of farmers, for il takes
business men to succeed in anything.
j. T. d.