Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-10-05
THE FARMERS DUTY IN POLITICS.
AUCTION SALES ARE NOT ALWAYS
BARGAINS. ALL INTELLIGENT WORK
Is HONORABLE REFINEMENT.

Farming In America Is an honorable
well educated and command the respect
of mankind. There are countries where
the farmer is dvspised menial, because
he Is boor In every sense OF the word.
We must elevate agriculture by educst-
ing the farmers sons and daughters"
] flnd the above lines without COM
ment in an agricultural exchange. The
statement Is true SO far as it goes, and
have no criticism TO make on the senti-
ment expressed. But may il not be
broadened In application by including
other industries than farmings ls it not
equally true that manufacturing In
America Is an honorable calling because
those engaged In II are fairly well edu-
Gated: Is there any more need Of educat-
Ing the sons and daughters of farmers
than those engaged in other useful oc-
cupations: Education and refinement
ss against ignorance and boorishness
will count everywhere. Here Is another
statement from the same column:
There Is not farmer In the country
to-day but can do better than he Is now
doing. Most certainly there IL not one
but can make more clear money by
studying how 10 run his farm right and
getting hold OF the real principles Of his
profession than he can BY devoting his
time to the politics Of his government"
There IL some Truth In this, but Is II
not somewhat obscured by the inference
one would naturally draw: How do the
two statements compare in sentiments
What kind Of an education will our
farmers sons and daughters have with a
knowledge Of the principles on which
our government Is founded left out:
Webster gives the meaning Of "poli-
tics" 10 be The science of government
that part Of ethics which has to do with
the regulation and government OF na-
ton or state, the preservation OF its
safety, peace, and prosperity; the de-
fence OF its existence and rights against
foreign control or conquest, the aug
mentstion OF its strength and resources,
and the protection Of its citizens In their
rights, with the preservation and i'm
provemeut Of their morals" A use OF
the word in a bad sense Il 'artful or dis
honest management TO secure the sue
cess OF political measures or party
schemes; political trickery."
Honest men, whether farmers or
otherwise, have no use for the latter
kind OF politics, and II IL ts for this that
they neglect their farms, failure 10 sue
ceed Is but just punishment. III a
farmers sole object Is TO make all the
money he can regardless Of the welfare
OF his children or the government OF
which they are necessarily TO become
part, then possibly he had better con-
fine his mind strictly TO the study OF
soils, crops, manures and the like; but
not all farmers are living for money
alone, nor for themselves and their own
comfort solely. Like men In other CALI
ings they realize that, whether they so
will IL or not, thev are members OF the
government, and that a responsibility Is
resting upon their shoulders which can
not honestly be ignored. IL Is not all OF
farming 10 raise crops 20 feed the world
or to know how TO produce them at small
cost. Crops must be sold as we'll AS
grown, and study Of the markets and
the laws that control them IL as much a
part of the business OF farmer as II Is
of merchant or politician.
IL lsw-msking bodies, the statutes en-
acted, the officials and courts Of justice
are all properly included under the gen.
ersl term politics, then certainly farmers,
no less than all other members OF the
government, are inexcussble il they do
not take an interest therein. As a
farmer one NAV well learn the principles
underlying his profession, but as a
citizen, a. voter accountable TO pos
terity for the use he makes OF his in-
fluence, he should not neglect the duty
Of informing himself concerning the
principles thHt are or should De The
foundations of the government OF which
each individual il a fractional part. No
education can be considered complete
that fails TO render one competent TO
perform his duty as member OF the
government under which he expects 10
live.
At RANDOM
Don't attend every auction you hear
OF hoping 10 secure bargains. There
will not be a thing sold that you could