Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-05-01


management of his domestic economy.
Other classes are not. Idle or negl-
gent, they see and take every advan-
tage of the great power there is in unity
of action. Yes we find them ever ready
and willing with counsel and advice, to-
aid each other when their interests are
involved. Itcan not be want of native
talent among the farmers that they are
in the background, as it seems
to me they are in this nine
teenth century, but their isolated
condition. What we need is
freer and more frequent intercourse
with our fel1owmen. So that the ex-
periences and observation of the few
may be appropriated and utilized by the
majority, thus making US wiser, better
and more humane in our dispositions
The leaven is at work which must
eventually permeate the entire agri-
cultural community. The Farmers In
stitute, the agricultural societies of
various kinds are educating and leading
the farmers to cooperative effort,
realizing as we do that agriculture
must be lifted up to the high position
it belongs, that our interests must be
promoted and our rights protected.
Civilization is the outgrowth of CO.
operation; concurrent effort is the I'M
DERIVING principle of social develop
ment. 1t is the great motive power in
education. By cooperation all things
for good may be successfully carried for
ward, and all evil banished. Without
cooperation Christianity could not
have been spread among the nations of
the earth. 1t is this principle that gives
power and strength to church and Sun
day-school, and that governments are
founded, built up and sustained upon
the principles of united effort. Then
farmers, why not use cooperation for
all it is worth, intellectually, socially
and financially, among ourselves.
The age in which we live is not an
age of muscle, but of thought. The
time was, with the farmer, when mus
Gle was at premium. Not so now. In
telligence is the ruling power, and the
farmer can not afford to fight against
the current of thought, neither can we
suffer ourselves to float down the stream
and be dashed against the breakers.
God has written His law upon the book
of nature, and those who read may,
and those who will not, will not.
Great questions are crowding
themselves upon us for solution. We
must meet them. The history of the
world is that those who think govern
those who toll. We have suffered other
men to do our thinking, other men have
ruled over us, they have made mistakes
and We have suffered thereby. The
farmer has borne the burden in all ages,
in all countries, since there was a ma
ton in existence. He is looked upon as
the mudsill to-day; his business is Ian
gushing. Why? Because of ignorance.
Because our forces are scattered. Be
cause we do not meet together. Because
we do not counsel together. In short,
it is because we do not cooperate and
work together as one man, for the benefit
of all. Cooperation in its true sense
means emphatically to act jointly to-
gether with one another; in certain
sense it may be regarded as science, and
if properly understood and properly
applied would have tendency to cure
all trouble between capital and labor.
1t is evident to every thinking mind
that capital independent of labor is not
and that labor independ-
ent of capital is retarded, hence, no
great undertaking can be successfully
accomplished without their combina-
ton. The farmer represents both cap
ital and labor, and he can not afford to
see them antagonized or divorced. |
Money is capital, merchandise is cap |
ital, lands or any kind of property may |
be claSsed as capital, yet all are the |
products Of labor. Then capital is the |
ally of labor, and neither can continue |
to exist and prosper without the other. |
Let us then encourage and practice CO.
operation among ourselves, so that we |
may be able to enjoy all it's blessings |
and lasting benefits. In conclusion, |
let me say that cooperative effort !
based upon systematic organization |
can do much for the farmer. 1t can |
make him more intelligent, more socia-
BILE, more charitable and more benevo-
lent. 1t can make us better farmers |
and give US pleasanter homes, teach
ing us that getting living is not the
whole end of life, but that we have minds
10 feed, brains to cultivate, as we'll as
stock and fields; that intelligence and
are as necessary upon the
arm, in the kitchen and parlor as in
he merchants cOunting-room or the
awyer's office; that friendship, love
md truth are no mere idle words; that
aith, hope, charity and fidelity should
De encouraged and practised by all:
hat the world was not made for IA
yored few, to practice monopoly and OPP
preston, but that all should enjoy its
blessings. In a word, by cooperative
Effort, we may be enabled to discharge
he great duties of life in an intelligent
md satisfactory manner. - Indiana
Farmer.