The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-09-01
CONGRESS OF FARMERS
Fifteenth Annual Meeting in Session
in Chicago.
ADDRESS or PRESIDENT CLAYTON
a Paper on the Value OF River and
Hnrbor Improvement Created
n Spirited Discussion.

l
| Congress of the United States was called
to order at the capitol in tho hall of the
representatives by President b. +. Clay
| ton Of Intialnoa, Iowa, this morning.
The opening session was not largely at
tended, compared with what is expected
| for tomorrow. But Secretary Stahl's ad-
vices warrant the prediction that the con-
| gress will be very we'll attended when the
high water mark Is reached. The represen-
ton in the congress does not at its maxi
mum exceed 500. The morning session
| was devoted largely to the matter OF for
NAL welcome, and following an invocation
by Archbishop Ireland the congress was
greeted on behalf OF the city Of st. Paul
by Mayor Doran, ON behalf Of the State
Agricultural society by President Weaver
of that organization on behalf of the State
by Governor Clough, and TO these addresses
respectively responses We're made ON be-
half of the congress by John Nj. Stahl of
Illinois, secretary OF the congress, and Hon.
| j. A. Clayton of Iowa, president of the as
| ISOLATION.
The morning session closed with the ad-
dress OF President Clayton. He spoke in
part as follows:
ton of progressive people, proud
of our achievements and with destiny OF
splendor, position and power, which can
only be portrayed by a master hand or a
gifted tongue, we must acknowledge the
husbandman and the tiller of the soil as
the prime influence elevating us to that
end; and whether in peace or in war the
farmer must be considered the first factor
in the wealth and stability of the land.
The farm is the foundation OF wealth
and the main source OF National and state
prosperity; but to the duo and adequate
success OF the farm and the farmers there
are issues pregnant with profound thought.
In your deliberations, am sure, that i'm
portant economic question can and Will
be resolved to the advantage OF agricul-
ture. Changes In the laws OF common
carriers, and especially in the more just and
equitable Interpretation of such laws, are
not only demanded as due to the common
rights of the people, but is of vital and
substantial concern In making for your
labor and the products of your labor a
market and a corresponding reward
1t is doubtful II there is proper appre-
citation of the vocation OF farming. Only
within few years has agriculture taken
Its place on par with other professions.
although, like Atlas, 1t bears the world
upon its shoulders. Our fathers looked
upon the profession with pride and pleas
|
generation were farmers or sons OF farm
ers. The argument generally advanced
/ against 1t is, labor but no counting
room or factory Is free from this badge
OF the greatest blessing in the world, The
labor OF the farm does not suffer from
comparison with that OF other vocations
II may he harder al times. but no so un-
intermitting 1t is more varied. and the
results are surer No panic invades it tc
scatter the gains of half life time, nc
strikes silence its machines or paralyze
the arms of it's laborers. No fabrics OF
warehouses show so beautiful results as
spring from the farmers hand. Fields
white and yellow with their more than
silver and golden haryests and orchards
bending under their weight of fruit. II
, is not business in which great fortunes
can be made and riches quickly and easily
accumulated, but the majority of the
farmers are better off than the army OF
employees in factories or mines.
The farmer reads little and is Otter
doubtful that he is the better from tina
little; from II he learns more things II
brood over without finding a remedy. Tn,
little gimpses he obtains of the world II
what he reads intensites his prejudicei
and does not prepare him to cope with
apparent ills.
He brushes little against world O
which he Is so important part that III,
world practically ignores his existence. II,
is enumerated in the tables of population
but expunged from statistical Lists Of tn,
nations representatives. He Is enrolled
on the tax list but cancelled In the cata
logue of those who levy taxes. He Il
registered i'll the poll book but disfran
chised Of the privileges and immunities D
citizen.
History teaches me that government
that will not protect the interests OF Id,
great masses OF ner people, cannot become
perpetual. Under four hundred years Q
democracy Rome became the Commercial
center of the worlds civilization; Du
when plutocraoy and aristocracy seize
. upon that magnificent republic In the for
gotten interest OF the great masses Of he
people. the beautiful valleys OF fair ltal
were devastated and the proud city o
Rome was made to tremble for her yer.
existence.
AS long as the Carthagcnian republic
was governed by just and equitable law
: she was prosperous But when the inter
ests of the people were discarded and thel
! substance absorbed by the regal grandeu
! CT those in authority, that splendid re
! public, in turn became an easy prey Il
the Roman empire. One by one. Spanish
dependencies have been disposed of TO Sc
cure gold to support royal household, I'm
I'll about all there is LETT OF that ono
, proud kingdom Is her pride OF royal blood
{ For four hundred years SpanisE authori
4 lies have DeeN CTusHlns tHE ite Dipou va
9 of the inhabitants OF that littIo gem OF al
island OF Cuba. until they have becom
I hopeless and desperate; do not believ
\ there Will ever be a moment when Spaii
y | can roasSert her dominion on that ittl
= island Those people Aaye been forced Z
: choose between starvation and revolution
: they have chosen the latter and IL is tn
= PRAYER OF every true American that tn
| little heroic band shall succeed IN flingin
!, | IN he breeze a new flag with liberty writ
5 ten in every fold
e Those engaged in agricultural pursuit
e are a majority of all the people. yet "
can not II We would. close our eyes 70 ~
$ fact that this majority is practically with
!. ont voice in shaping public affairs.
:. | would not have you understand that
, have lost faith in American statesmanshi
! or that have no confidence III the con
e gross Of the United States 1t is the Gus
: tom OF this organization TO engross tn
II resolutions regarding Federal legislation
n forward them 10 the speaker OF the hous
IT. .@.4,