Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1892-11-08
AMONG THE FARMERS.
"srSsp rnH ptow o


c:rrvscesissce 90 pr>esisai Agricultural tsv,cs
sehcii~i. Aifre.. ell eosmsshAsiess In
ss.ie'i Zoe tsis aep>rsmsot ~ usSnt u. HAN
sose s ss''ssi'arsi hiissr osferi p~~esrsi.
wrtss Zoe M osferi psws.rsl
MORE ABOUT THE FARMERS
OPPRESSION.
IA the value % farms In New Eng
land has greatly depr~cist.d, and many
have been abandoned during the last
decade. II may be to the advantage of .
farming community 10 investigate the
causes aud apply the proper remedy.
II u frcqasntly coatsaded by some
people. that q strong fascinatioa In city
life Ia. long existed, aud leads many
under VI innaeu,e to prefer poverty and
destitutlon In the city to Independence
and comfort Ia the country. The motives
~hich Induce the ha.haniman To leave
hl. old homestead, are much morr
Ioteut than the d.luslye idea of finding
prosperity anil happiness la the turmoil
and confusion Of a crowded city. This
condition of life has few charms Ia the
Intelligent farmer, Who has devoted his
earlier days to the noblest occupation
known To msnkind, that % tllling the
soil. a. the wants of the agricalturist
have incrra.esi ~ith the eyer-chsnging
customs of .ccIsty. the moderate farmer
/ fnds himself unable to support hi. Fam
ily oa an equal plane With other classes.
henc. SEEKS better Income Ia other
fields % employment.
kycry Intelligent person can r~sdil,
pcrc,i,e that the pecanisry a. well .
The social standing of the average farm
~ l. Ear helow the merchant. doctor,
lawyer, minister, pabllc onicisl. aud
other professional. Who live In sf''uence
sithOut enduring the hsrishlps aud
dangers which fall Ia the lot ofthe work.
ingman. Who under the prime,sl curse
"cats his brvad by the sweat of his
face.~ IN. great disparity between the
farmer and other classes comes to be
wholly s.ctib~i to the superior nstural
intellect Of Que over the other. Tor not
lnfrrQuenily We find a man holding the
plOw With morv capacious Intellect
and broader views concerning the .ecu-
lar affairs of life. than many Who nov
occupy q good position In the be.t circle
of soci.ty.
II l. ofien asserted that II our farm
~. woald work az hard and live as fru-
gally a. our forcfsthers dbl, they ~oald
lay up money aud make thsmssl,e.
rich. Thl. Il an az. of prcgcr.s Ia
everything which contributes la the ele-
yation and w.ll-belng 20 civilized con-
munitis., aud the farmer AZ the present
day Ia. no right Ia D. content Nth such
a mode of living. The early history of
farming In oil oxford wss a stuggle Tor
a h.rr sxi.tencc. Only the rude-t lmple-
meut. wsr, al command To till the hard
and sometimes rocky soil, While the
spinning wheel aud the hand loom fur-
nl.hed coarse material. to eloihe the
family. No~ the old wooden plo~,
dragged by the dull on slowly along,
imperfcctly doing the work, has given
place 20 modern appliances that perfeci-
IN fit the .oll for the r~ccp,lon of seed.
/ The hand cards, old Wheel aud Kitchen
lcon arr laid aside aud the csrding
machine, mule spinner and power l"om
make the fin..t fabrics and incrcAss the
ratio of production hundrci fold.
Notwithstanding these modern I'M
proyemsuts, there never has brcn
p.riod In the history of our rcpublic
wh.n the financial contrast hetsccn the
different Glasses was so apparent As al
IA. pr,-.ut day. The farmers add
more wealth to our country annually
than al other profession. combined.
I Vet bat q small portion Of the accuma-
l.tion remain. In the hands of pro'iuc-
sr.. bat zoe. Ia an the golfers ~ many
Who live without toll aud count their
gold hy the millions. The 80 abandon
81 farms In Massachusetts, the 800 la
Maine. aud lJph In New Hampshire
prove the unthrifty condition of farmers
throughout those states.
The farmer has long tecn made VIC
tim by the aVarice Of trust combinations,
manufacturer, favored moDoIoli.t.,
.peculators aud some others, all CON-
b,nsSi Ia promote their osn succc-s, ~
xardIes. of the Interests Of the hboring
I~ople. These combinations, unrrstrsin-
/ s.l by Wholesome Laws, are an Outrage
upon the inherent right. 20 the ,,oo,op
/ farm.rs II our rrpubllc, aud shoald be
made inop~ratiNe-through the Pcsceful
mean. % the ballot, aud not by violent
methods of revolution.
The sggr-gats property of the niied
states l. estimated AZ 65,sn millions,
aud nearly obe-half Il owned by les
than 1900 Ter-on.. Probably not a
pr.ctI,al farmer, whose hands are hard
.n-,i by holding the plow. !. Included
among that number, though much of
thi. wealth L. the outcome 81 agriculiur.
Al Industry aud Justly entitle. the pro-
duc.r. a. A more equitable distribution.
Unequal. direct and Indirect taxation
for naIioual. state. county snd other
part-b.s-. has proved q serious draw.
hack 20 the farmer. prosperity, aud
has b.en a prominent factor In diminish.
/ ing th. population ~ many rural
district. throughout New England.
The average farmer. In Jasiice 10 HIM
| sslf and family, cannot rcduce his ex-
pen-.. In fooi aud ralment and In pro-
.Iding educational sdvsntagc. Tor his
children. Ihi-. however, he has not
unfrrlusnily been unable to do from his
.cantv earnings, becsase = wrong Gus
tom of trade often takes from hi. pock-
%. the fruits % his toll without an ade-
quat. rturn.
Amidst the disadvantage attending
the life of the farmer, u requircs fore
thoarht aud concerted action, 10 place
him on a social, political aud financial
equality With the governing AMI more
favored elas.e. 81 soclety.
| rAEsER IRON ON OXFORD.
! Pembroke. Mass, oVt., l>ys.