The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-05-25
The Farmers and War.

The opinions and advice of various
classes of people upon the subject Of
war with Spain have been given by or
CARNATIONS and societies of which they
were members but there has been little
or no public expression by the farmers
of the country through their organiza-
tions in regard to this great and inn
portant matter. AS the farming popu-
lation of the country represents nearly
one.half the entire population, it would
seem as proper TO have an expression
from this source as from any. The alb
sence of it, however, indicates no lack
of interest on the part of the farmers
but rather disposition to leave the
management of such matters in the
hands Of these who have been chosen
to direct the affairs of the country
without interference, as we'll as nat
ural disposition to refrain from public
utterances that might be construed as
an effort to gain notoriety or self-pro-
NOTED publicity. The farmers have
well-defned views upon this subject,
as we have ascertained by conversation
with them and from inquiries in regard
to the course pursued by the president
and congress during the eventful weeks
just passed.
AS far as we are able to learn there
has existed among the farmers almost
unanimous sentiment, without regard
to party utilization, sustaining the presi-
dent in his noble efforts to effect an
honorable settlement of the Cuban af-
fair without war, and they have been
| profuse in their condemnation OF those
who have been foremost in promoting
war sentiment in and around con-
gress. An intelligent and influential
farmer said to us recently: "Those
representatives and senators who have
been exceedingly active in promoting
war sentiment have misrepresented
their farmer constituents, but now that
war is inevitable we will allow no class
Of people to excel us in loyalty to our
country and in furnishing men and
means to defend its honor" and we
believe this sturdy farmer expressed
the sentiments of the farmers in gen.
eral upon this momentuous question.
The farmers are class of people more
given to doing than talking, who in
some instances trace their ancestry
through several generations of sturdy
law-abiding, patriotic farmers, who
have had bred into their very existence
strong ideas of patriotism and love of
country, intensified by their daily avo-
cation amid the forces of nature and by
their ownership of vast areas of land.
Their vested rights in such areas over
which the administration of the country
presides tends TO strengthen their faith
in its cause. The farmers will be rep
resented in every regiment of volun-
teers responding to President McKin-
ley's call for troops and will meet their
share of the financial expense incurred
by the government with as much public
spirit as will be manifested among any
class of people. No test of the real
metal of the farmer could more clearly
indicate his loyalty and patriotism than
the manner in which this great crisis
will be met by the tillers of the soil,
much as they preferred an honorable
settlement without war. The farmers
have sometimes failed of being accord
ed due credit for patriotism and BRAY
cry on account of an indisposition to
laud their own virtues on public oc-
casions, and at this time, and as well
as in previous crises, they will quietly
take the places in the ranks and hgh,
| do Fhilautiy iOl IuOii CounIiy 40 al }
who will enlist.
1t is more difficult for farmers to
leave their business than it is for those
who are working for wages, but the OBJ
stacles in the path of person who
feels called upon to fight for his country
are given very little consideration
When his country is in danger and calls
for help it often stirs patriotic impulses
in the heart which no business condi
tons have the power to subdue, and
"with the sickle in the unshorn grain
the corn half garnered on the plain
the farmer will respond to his country's
call as quickly as any other person. II
is armies recruited of men actuated by
such impulses as these that bring victo-
ny to any just cause. An army COM
posed of men enlisted for the bounty
consideration, or from a desire 10
achieve distinction without earning it,
will have little effect against an army
OF patriots fighting in earnest for their
country. If call for troops is issued
giving the farmers an opportunity to
enlist, there may not be large proper
ton of them enrolled, but the loyalty
of those who do respond will be mani
tested in something more substantial
than resolutions, and their fighting
will be more effectual than that of some
of those who have been the most noisy
in demanding immediate war.-Mirror
and Farmer.