The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1889-10-04
The Farmer of the Future.

The lecture of Mr. Mortimer Whitehead,
Lecturer of the National Grange. delivered
in the public hall in Rising Sun on Thurs
day evening, opened a vista to farmers that
comparatively few of them had before had
glimpse of. The lecture was an instruc-
tive talk on the duty, the responsibilities
and the possibilities that lie before the
farmer There were duties presented TO him
that he cannot shirk, and retain even the
very unassuming place he at present occu-
pies as moving and directing force in the
business. the social, the moral and the po-
ltical movement of his times. He must
or be swept over and become the bottom of
the great ocean of thought and action which
is lifting up humanity TO ingulph it or float
it into more peaceful Ravens overarched by
brighter skies. The age of muscle is past
on the farm as every where else and the age
of brain is dawning upon humanity. The
power of the elements has been harnessed by
man to do the work which formerly depend
ed upon muscle to achieve. Brain is now
required, educated brain, to direct the
work, and not muscle to preform it. This
Harvesting the forces of nature has multi
piled mans ability TO accomplish hundred
fold; may we not say thousand fold?
The era decomposition has passed with
the reign of muscle, and the hour rings in
the new day Of cooperation and combina-
ton. The ocean of thought and progress
which the nineteenth century has sailed into
is moved by tide that no puny individual
arm can stem. We are in the midst of an
era of combined forces, in which the farmer
with his single handed, unaided efforts,
finds himself further behind in the race than
ever before in this country. In the old
monarchies he is little above the beast as a
division of the population An individual
occasionally escapes this fate which the
thousands Of his fellow class are subjected TO-
The American farmer has been brought
face 10 face with this condition that is open
ing broadly and dismally at his feet, and
reaching like boundless desert before him
with the starless night that over arches the
agricultural serfs of the old world. HIS
labor in many instances does not afford his
family reasonable comforts. If he incurs
debt in bis efforts to better this condition he
is hopelessly lost. 1t is only question OF
time, and comparatively short time, till
he finds himself homeless and tenant, his
labor going to feed and enrich those who
toll not neither do they spin, but Soloman
in all his glory was not arrayed as they
are. The pinch Of want-amost poverty
is compelling the farmer to listen 10 better
councils than his mistaken ideas of his
proud independence which is rapidly, like
his competency, passing from him.
The Grange at this crisis offers the farmer
similar advantages possessed by other lines
of business or employment. 1t holds out to
him a means of obtaining needed informa-
ton in managing his business. His voice
has not been heard in the government of the
state and nation. By the aid which the
Grange supplies he can in future make it
heard. Furnishing forty-four per cent Of
the vote out Of which our government is
built, he has remained cipher till now.
Through the Grange the farmer Is enabled
to pool his strength and make his voice
heard and his power felt in the halls of leg
islation, which threaten to become dens of
thieves The Grange is educating and fit
ting the sons and daughters too. of farmers
to shine in society, stand on the platform
ard not only demand but command the at
tention and consideration of those classes
Who had concluded that it was their right
as we'll as privilege 10 disregard the farmer
and ignore his rights. The Grange has
come to teach the farmer how to use his
power in this age of brain, to make him an
arbitrator dispensing justice and curbing
the greed of combinations that have long
preyed upon him, and turn adrift an army
of idlers that have fattened on his earnings.
The Grange has come to lift the farmer out
CT the mire and clay, clothe him in the
bright raiment of intelligence and seat him
in his place amongst the rulers, which place
has so long been vacant or occupied by
those who filled it to plumber and despise
him. The stem command of necessity is at
last forcing the farmers to join hands and
inquire Of each other, and the Grange pro-
vides the place and the information which
all most need.