The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-11-01
The Farmers Movement.


places at the head of what is called the
farmers movement are Of two distinct
classes--the ehrewd, thinking farmer,
more or less well informed by reading,
and the political spirits who are always
awake to chances for their own ad-
vancement, through the popular favor.
The latter, though shrewd in their way,
are at heart indifferent TO principles,
and aim to advocate, simply as advo-
Gates, what seem to be the ideas most
prevalent among those to whose politi-
cal favor they aspire. We find men of
both these classes among those who
come to the surface conspicuously in
these uprisings. In the ideas and pur-
poses brought to the front the first
named are honest and intelligent, and
may be probably reasoned with. Rea-
son can only be wasted on the others.
What are the facts about the American
farmer? He has broad, fertile, we'll
watered and generally saubrious ter
ritory offered to his industry, under the
best government and the freest condi-
tions ever offered to humanity in the
history of the world. He is himself
the most numerous and therefore theo-
retically the controlling element in
constructing and operating the govern
m 9nt under which he lives. His coun-
try, of which he is so large part, is
and has been so wonderfully prosper
GUS as to draw to it increasing streams
of immigration from the other side of
the Atantlc-the seat of that civiiza-
ton of which he himself is a product.
At the end of century of unequaled,
of almost unimaginable progress and
prosperity, we find these American
farmers deeply dissatisfied with their
condition relative 10 men of other occu-
pations, and hear them raising their
voices DANGEROUSLY for relief.
AS usual with mankind, they turn
their eyes outwards, rather than in
troubles, and they find men ready to
encourage them in so doing-men who
are seeking personal advancement and
gain, and whose trade it is to profit by
all popular disturbances. By far the
most sensible leaders in the present
agitation have arisen among the farm
els themselves; and these are the men
who already are learning the truth of
things faster than the rank and file;
and thus they are in danger of losing
their leadership in favor of the mere
demagogues, who neither know nor
care for anything but office. In this
slough many popular movements have
been smothered before, and may be
again.
Now let us coolly consider some lead
ing facts. We farmers have substan-
TALLY had our own way with the soil OF
this continent, to get what we could
out of it. Millions have practically had
| their farms given to them, and iron
highways built for them, on which to
transport their crops and their supplies.
| They might have built the latter, as
their common roads were built, by tax
alton; but they preferred to offer en-
couragements to distant capital to do it
for them; and this, even with the open
ing it gave for abuses, was probably the
| best, under the circumstances.
Now, being so circumstanced and
equipped, the farmers find life still
hard, and riches yet beyond their i'm
mediate reach. They think they can
find remedy in political action; and
in wise political action it is quite likely
they may succeed. But in seeking
their own good they are in imminent
danger Of being made use of by schem-
ers for the latter's gain, and to their
own discontinue. Strict governmental
control of the means of transportation
they have a right to demand. All the
money that can be coined from the
precious metals our hills yield they
may rightly ask for. These are the
necessary Observation-Disclosures of every
industry. Much better roads than they
have ever possessed they have right
TO tax the whole community to build,
for their better access to the local mar
kets. But, above all these so needful
changes, what is more needed by
American farmers to-day than better
instruction in their own business? They
found this great virgin continent ma
nured free by the Almighty, long
enough ahead for them to open up
homes for themselves and their fam
lilies upon it. They were led to think
this fertility inexhaustible. They now
see themselves mistaken. The free
cream has been mostly skinned from
American soil. Hereafter successful
farming here must have something be-
side main strength and awkwardness at
its disposal. 1t demands knowledge,
and knowledge comes by the study of
our surroundings, and out of the ex-
perience so gained. The coming gen
erations demand instruction. Look at
the average of our crops, as reported in
our recent census! They, on This new,
fresh continent, average less than half
the yield of the old farms of Europe
and Asial Without denying our pub
lie grievances, which we may set right
at once with our ballots, our greatest
trouble arises from ignorance of our
trade; and in this direction lies the inn
provement of the condition of the
American farmer. Let us all do our
best TO learn our trade, and teach it TO
our children.-T. II. HoskinS, in Stock
man and Farmer.