The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1898-06-10
independence ofthe Farmer.

The farmer, by virtue of fact and posi-
tion, attains his independence rather
more positively than does average HUI
i manity. There is difference between
theoretical and practical independence.
The unalienable rights of liberty are
/ no more the farmers than they are the
heritage of any other man. But when
translated into the everyday expert
ences Of life, when the dividends from,
the great fund Ore commuted into their
practical purchasing power, it is easy to
see how the farmer pockets a larger
share than any: other class of mer. He
shares iii the general social iudepend-
ence. He is under the obligations of
law and custom and usage. He is Sub
ject to the restraints Of public opinion,
and must contribute his to the written
and unwritten law of the common veal
From all these he neither claims Tor de-
sires exemption.
But by virtue of his position and pro-
| fession lie is absolutely free from a large
| measure Of subjection to conditions be-
yond his control, which involve all line
OF ordinary pursuit. He is not crtan-
gled III the complications which affect
the merchant and the manufacturer.
Merchants Of whatever line of wares
stand in line with one another. They
are subject to general prevailing condi-
tions which their individual strength
and standing do not render assured.
Their values of stock and capital are
fluctuating, and their basis of independ-
ence is often their occasion of suspend
ence. 1t is not SO with the farmer. In
this respect he is absolutely independ-
ent The success Of his farm does not
rest upon the success of other farms. 1t
represents an actual value which lies at
the basis of all security. The farm is
absolute capital, aid is its OWL guaran-
tee.
The farmer who Owls his farm is no
under vassalage to bank officials. He is
not obliged to stand with his hat in his
hand before some autocrat, and await
his imperial decision as to whether the
proposed note shall be discounted or
not. He has to work and often make
long days, but he is master of his own
time. The twenty-four hours OF the
day are all his own, and are not included
i'll either salary stipulation or official
censorship. Less than any other man,
the farmer is under subsection to the
whims and caprices Of his fellow-mortals.
The minister, high as his calling is, is
yet i'll n measure dependent OH the
moods and notions of parishioners. He
| must look out for tender toes, and keep
list of sensitive points, if he would
avoid diet of cold shoulder or request
| to resign. The doctor must listen pa
tiently and sympathetically to the i'll
Vulnerable details Of pains and aches and
qualms, and be in no hurry to send in
his bill, if lie does not wish to see his
rival installed oyer his head. The store
keeper must not only keep his temper,
but his good humor. and train his facial
muscles to perpetual smile as he adapts
nimselfto all his scustomers idiosyncrasies.
But the farmer is independent of all
these provocations and vexatons. Pro-
tessionally he finds no cause to conju-
gate the varying moods and lenses of
human nature. His mood is indica
tive and imperative rather than subiunc-
tive. ...
In the corps of public providers, the
farmer leads rather than follows. He
does not have to accept from the butch
er's wagon what other customers have
refused, and take what is left when the
butcher gets around to him. TO a very
large extent he is his own commissary.
t1e commands OH his own premises a
large measure of the staples of life.
Poultry yard, and pen, and stall, and
garden and orchard enable him to resist
siege, when quantity or quality of
price is opposed to his desire and choice.
What every one else has to pay for, he
receives pay for, and to certain ex-
tent, at least, can control "the correr."
We do not claim that MI conditions and
experiences of the farm arc paradisiacal
Bit for practical everyday indepcnd-
ence, who CAN equal the farmer?-Isaac
l.. Kipp in Weekly Tribune.
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