The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1892-09-01

hand, riches may be and are acquired
honestly, without any unlawful or
unholy abuse of the poor.
Almost back in the time when
"Adam delved and Eve spun" there
have been rich and poor, and until
there is a radicrl revolution
in human nature the old order of
things will continue. Some are born
with a silver spoon in their mouth and
are gifted with power to not only re-
tain but increase their possessions.
But we also know that many born Sin
the lap of luxury" and heirs to great
possessions, have filled paupers
graves; while others born in poverty
and surrounded by the most discour-
aging circumstances have acquired
wealth and exalted positions.
The fact is, that it is the intelligent
and industrious that are getting
richer, and the ignorant and thriftless
that become pauperised. Once in a
while the latter may strike "a streak
of luck" and make sudden bound
from poverty to wealth, but unless
some providential hindrance arises,
the chances are that the easily gotten
riches will go as easily and sometimes
as quickly as they came.
Persistent, intelligent effort seldom
fails to accomplish the object aimed
at. If the demagogues who fatten in
the offices given them by an easily
gulled people, would but preach the
doctrine they so assiduously practice,
and which l now preach-persistent,
intelligent individual action in the
direction of the end desired, instead OF
setting class against class and holding
out promises of governmental relief;
we would the sooner reach the social
and financial paradise they now hold
up, but which can never be reached
by their line of travel.
Never in the history of the people
was it more necessary to utter this
warning. We are in the middle of a
political campaign, state and nation
al, that will, when passed and rem
dered history, be considered "red
letter" period.
In it, demagogues are playing a
leading part, and their audience is
largely composed of the agricultural
class, if we may judge by the way
they are supported by many agricul-
tural journals.
This is the season when the farmer
is Of Importance in the world, and he
is addressed as a friend and citizen.
This is the time when he energies
from the ebay seed' stage of his ex-
istence, and is seldom recognized as
less than "colunel." He is assured
that if his "vote and influence" are
only applied for the particular candi-
date then appealing to his sympa-
thies, that all the wrongs, which SC
previously Cypress the down.trodden
tiller of the soil, will certainly be re.
moved (by legislation) and that pros.
perity, plenty and happiness will
follow. Beware of the demagogue
and trust in thyself.
Republicans, Democrats, Third
partyites, or any other grade of poll
tician can do nothing for the man who
puts his trust in them and fails tC
work out his own salvation by in
creased knowledge and steady labor,
directed by intelligence.
This applies to the farmers condi.
ton more than to most others, and he
must 80 act if he desires to be more
than a mere newer of wood and
| drawer of water forever, Amen.
FIELD vERMIN.
Slime time ago 1 urged the protec
ton of the skunk, except when l. be-
came troublesome near home or the
hen house. My proposal would doubt
less be set down as that Of a crank by
many afflicted with sensitive olfactory
organs, or who had lost few worth
less dunghill chickens by the depre
dations of the odorous little animal.
lam glad to find 30 good an author
ity as The Rural New Yorker sup
porting my position. In the issue
of Aug. 81 appears the following:
For the past few years one of the
best farming districts of Scotland has
been devasted by a scourge of mice
Those little pests have so completely
gnawed the blades and roots of tn,
grass that sheep and cattle have M
food and must be driven to other dis
tricts, leaving the mice in full posses
sion of the farms.
The trouble became 80 serious tina
a special commission was appointed t.
learn why and how the scourge cam
about.
Every witness who testified sal
that the chief reason why the mic
were able to become so numerous wa
because the birds Of prey, like eagles
hawks and owls, and animals lik
weasels, skunks, ETC., had been kille
off.
The natural enemies of the mic
had been killed, and so the mice pros
pered. 1t is an open question, If W
do not make enemies of our friends
that is, if we do not hunt down an
mails that as whole do us more goo
than harm. Take the skunk as a
example. 1t has been nearly extel
minated, and yet we believe 1t ha
done the farmer far more good tina
harm, and that agriculture would b
better off if for year or two skunk
were propagated, instead of slaugh
cred.
GLEANINGS.
Sir j. B. Lawes hints of the tim
when he was able to give the house
: keeper a shock of electricity by Undue
ing her to touch the jar with poke
She would not touch it with her hanC
but thought the poker safe enough
| Tho NIB xuou not uafa-it q UOO