News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1894-06-28
The sheep Industry.

TFrom the Washington Evening Start
Senator Proctor achieved a sudden
reputation as a Senatorial humorist
June 10Th by making what is prob
ably the most unique speech on the
tariff bill that has yet been delivered.
The debate was on the wool schedule
of the bill, and Mr.. Proctor took oc-
casion in a comparatively brief ad-
dress to quote from that standard
reference, the Bible, 70 indicate the
history of the wool industry. 1.-The
first recorded attempt be said, to
break down the interests of sheep
husbandry was when Cain slew his
brother Abel, who was the keeper of
sheep" The Senate was immediate
Nv convulsed, and the closest atten-
ton was paid to the quaint remarks
OF the tall statesman from Vermont.
He continued: 1.-The motives and
purposes which actuated Cain were
plainly the same as those which actu
ate his followers to-day. 1t was jeal
ousy of a preferred and protected in
dustry. Cain was a 'tiller of the
ground, and brought of the fruit of
the ground an Offering unto the
Lord
"This offering may have been of
rice or cotton or sugRI-the Record
does not state. The punishment
meted out to Cain fairly foreshadows
that which shall be meted out by the
people to the promoters of this meas
ure; a mark shall be set upon them,
. and when the time of retribution
comes they will say, with Cain: My
punishment is greater than | can
bear "
Mr. Proctor went on to quote con-
siderably from the Holy Writ to show
that sheep husbandry was, from the
earliest times, considered a favored
industry. abraham rendered eve
lambs as witnesses of an oath in one
of the earliest real estate transac-
tons on record" Mr.. Proctor allud-
ed to the success of Jacob in improv-
ing the breed of sheep, which grew
out of bargain with Laban, his
father-in law, as described in the 18th
chapter of Genesis. The quotations
were particularly apt. " The shep-
herd and his calling and his flock, F."
continued Mr.. Proctor, ARE often al
lluded to in the Holy Writ, and furnish
qsome of its grandest imagery and
most beautiful Illustrations Many
of those specially favored of the LORD
were shepherds, and everywhere that
calling is referred to as one of the
highest character, plainly recognizing
its Importance to the welfare and
prosperity of the people.
1.-The fate of those who attack this
industry and the focks of their coun-
try is plainly foreshadowed in and
prophesied in many places" Mr..
Proctor quoted the following: "Da-
vid said unto Saul, Thy servant kept
his fathers sheep, and there came a
lion and a bear and took a lamb out
of the flock and | went out after him
and smote him and delivered it out
of his mouth, and when he arose
against me l caught him by the beard
and smOte him and slew him. Thy
servant slew both the lion and the
bear; and this uncircumcised Philis.
tine shall be as one OF them, seeing he
has defed the armies of the living
God. ,"
"The same fate, Mr. President" re-
marked Mr.. Proctor, in his deepest
bass and most solemn manner, will
surely be melted out to the political
.Philistine of the present day in No.
yember, 1894 and 1896 The re-
wards awaiting those who are faith
3ul in sustaining the industries OF
their country are also foretold." Mr..
Proctor quoted several passages to
show the glorious future of those who
cared for the sheep, and he concluded
his reference to the Bible as follows,
sending the Senate into a CONFUSION
yot laughter: "As a further evidence
of the Divine preference it is written
,that he shall set the sheep on his
,right hand, but the goats on the
left. E" The intended application of
this sentence to the present situation
is obvious.