Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1899-01-25
THE AMERICAN FARMER,

Hon. H. G. Adams, of Madison, dairy
and food commissioners of the slater
himself practical farmer who he's o
many years taken a deep interest in
everything pertaining TO the pursuit of
agriculture in all it's branches, has a
finely written article on ''The American
Farmer" in the last issue of the Breeder
Gazette. 1t is full of good things.
Here are few of them:
1.-THE farming class is afflicted both
within and without; within by the
desperate theories of the unsuccessful
without by the greed of other classes,
Both tend toward a narrow class feel
ing. 1t is much to the credit of the
American farmer that he bas with
stood to q great degree the poison of
one influence and the power Of the
other. The standing OF the farmer be-
fore the public should have and does
have lie same base as that of any
other citizen, that of intelligent per-
Torrance of public and private duties.
Poor farmers have no right to brag of
the nobility of their profession. Good
farmers stand upon the same plane with
good bankers, good lawyers and good
senators. Respect for land and the men
who work it is increasing in this country
because more and more the men who
till the soil deserve respect.
"There are evils in every form of gov,
ernment. It is an evil inst in this
country gigantic trusts are organized
in defiance Of national law and pol
icy. But these evils must be attacked
not by class organizations alone but by
all good citizens. American farmers as
whole have never been massed and
never will be under the leadership of
men who simply cry out against wealth.
They have the power nov to control
both the great parties. 1t is far easier
to influence legislation that way than to
organize upon class lines and have all
parties against them. The American
farmer occupies an impreguable position
politically when he simply aeks for just
legislation for all classes.
Labor and capital meet in peaceful
union upon the farm. They fight in
every city. 1t is an ominous struggle.
Philosophers see it's outcome in the ruin
of the republic. But the 100000
farmers of the United States who are
capitalists and laborers both will save 1t
from the power of greed and the folly of
socialism.
SIN the meantime let the American
farmer be happy and busy. Let him
be happy that he lives in country
where industry and honesty can win
the great prizes of life; happy that he
lives in country that he can rule if
he will; happy because he is growing
richer and not poorer; happy because
foreign markets are opening more
widely each year to his products;
happy because this nation has come
triumphantly from the horrors of war
into the sunlight of peace and good
will to all men. Let him be busy
breeding better COWS, making better
beef, raising more and better hogs,
restoring the fertility of his soil,
maintaining the fertility of his brain,
building handsomer homes, making
happier wives, training more thought
ful and contented children, fighting
for ! utter laws, for purer government,
for more intense practical patriot
ism among the American people. When
happy and busy in this way, sgitators
will make no flaw in his armor; the
msggots of envy and discomfort and bit
terness will find no home in his brain. He
will honor honesty and ability, whether
in law offices or on the farm, II banks
or shops or legislative halls. In short.
he will be man instead of a farmer
simply, and so do the greatest honor to
his profession and give the best possible
So vice to his country"