Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1894-09-01
AMERICAN FARMER STATESMEN.
Where Once They Cut Figure, Lawyer,
and soldiers Now Hold the Call.

Where Once They Cut n Figure, Lawyers
and soldiers Now Hold the Call.
Farmers, in the early days of the re-
public were as prominent in the walks
II statccraft and in the honors of Of
lice holding as lawyers are to-day
Eight of the original signers of the De
;laration of Independence described
themselves rs farmers or planters.
Among these were Benjamin Harrison
of Virginia, Lewis Morris of New York,
F'raiIciS Lee of Virginia, and William
Floyd of New York.
The American statesman of that day
'madr few claims to social prominence.
Roger sherman described himself as
shoemaker William Whipple of New
hampshire as sailor, Benjamin
Franklin of Pennsylvania as a print
rr, and George Taylor of the same
State as foundryman.
Nearly all of the early Presidents
were farmers, George Washington
having been educated as Il land sur
veyor and having inherited large
tract of land in Virginia. Madison,
Jefferson, and Monroe had strongly
developed rural tastes. and it was not
in fact. until the large cities of the
country. and more especially the large
cities in the Northern es,absorbed
81 large Il share of political influence
that the lawyers became as prominent
as they now are.
In the present Congress lawyers pre-
ponderate, there being IS lawyers to
farmer in the Senate, and 30 lawyers
to "a farmers in the House of Repre-
>cntatives. President Cleveland WAS
admitted to the bar in Buffalo in 1859.
NiccPresident Adlai Stevenson was
admitted to the bar in Metamora, ILL.,,
in 1858. Secretary of State Gresham
was admitted to the bar in Corydon,
Ind, in 1858. Secretary of the Treas
ury Carlisle was admitted to the bar
in Covington, Ky, in 1858. Post
masterG General Bissell was adj
mitted to the bar in Buffalo
in 1868. Secretary of the Navy
Herbert was admitted to the bar
in Montgomery. the Alabama capital.
shortly before the war. Hoke Smith,
Secretary of the Interior, was admit
ted to the bar at Atlanta, Ga, in 1872.
The only two members of the Cabi-
net who are not lawyers are Secretary
of War Lamont and Commissioner Of
Agriculture Morton. But Mr.. Lamont,
practice law in the courts of this State
is much better skilled in many of the
ntricacies of jurisprudence than II
great number of lawyers are, and his
advice and counsel have been repeat
edly sought both by large corporate
interests and by legislators.
1t is a somewhat peculiar fact that
Presidential candidates have with
scarcely an exception been chosen by
both political parties from the ranks
of lawyerS and soldiers.
The Republicans had soldier candi-
dates in 1886. 1868, and in 1872; they
had lawyer candidates in 1860. 1S6f.
1876. 1880, 1885 and 1892. Their one
exception was 1884, when Mr.. Blaine,
who was neither a lawyer nor sol
dicr. was nominated, but running on
the same ticket with him was Gen.
Logan.
The Democrats had soldier-lawycr
candidates for President in 1886. 1860,
1865, 1876, 1884. 1888. and 1892; they
had soldier candidates i'll 1861 and
1880. Their one exception was 1877,
when Horace Greeley was the Demo-
cratic nominee.
Though farmers constitute the lar
gcSt class of American voting citizens
they are usually represented i'll Con-
grcss or the Legislature by lawyers,
and few practical benefits have been
derived by farmng communities rep
resented in Congress or clseware by
actual agriculturists. The present
tendency is for lawyers to become
more prominent in legislation than be-
fore, and for farmers to become less
50.