The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-07-27

I
| with others. Tho truth OF this has bee
recognized by our Nation when In times Q
| distress IL has called upon tho countrymer
like Washington. Lee Lincoln jackson an
JEFFERSON TO serve the people In tho high
est Offices within the gift OF the people
The Inhabitants of the rural districts ar
essentially conservative class, becaus
OF their conditions and surroundings. The
have never been the Hrst to develop tn
sciences or manufactures ana for thl
reason have sometimes been called "un
progressive" and In some respects tn
progress OF the masses has been slow
thereby insuring Its safety, but 1t ha
never taken step backward during tn
last four hundred years.
what are the indications today for thu
solution OF the many vexed problems tina
arise before the producers and Industrial
lists of this country What promise Il
there OF proper reward for effort expended
IN agricultural pursuits? What meani
must be relied upon to cause Mother Eartf
to bring forth her fruits In season? VIVA,
avenues of information are now open to
the intelligent and progressive farmer
What are the salient features OF that new
agriculture" that Is brought to US today
by the agricultural and mechanical col
leges, the experiment stations AID the
scientists Of the country? How shall val
liable information be disseminated among
the masses? And, finally, what educationa,
problems lie unsolved within the reach OF
our rural population?
Your officers and special committees VIII
report TO you their success In the several
lines of work undertaken by them the
past year, bearing upon the collection OF
farm statistics, the publication of our pro-
ceedings and the financial condition OF our
organization. But think X NAV be proper
for me to here consider some of the difn-
culties under which we have labored In
making the start toward perfect organi-
cation during the past year.
Bearing in mind the objects OF the con-
gress, your officers have striven to In
spire the farmers, stockmen and horticul-
turists throughout the State with de-
sire to cooperate with the Farmers
Congress- which of itself Is composed of
the several State, section, county and local
organizations that already exist in all
parts of Texas.
The functions OF this body are clearly
those of a State agricultural society, an
organization which represents all OF the
diversified rural interests included in this
vast State. 1t is in this body that all mat
ters relating to any phase of Southwest
ern agriculture may be inteligently dis
cussed and acted upon. and there is no
other such in Texas. This congress should
be the hub of the agricultural wheel OF our
State, with its horticulture, stock rear
ing, poultry raising, bee culture and farm
crops representing the spokes of the -heel
and centering In this organization where
all are upon equal terms and are fully
The expressions Of approval of the work
at our last years meeting have been most
pleasant to the officers OF the congress.
and 1t Is sincerely hoped that the work
or this session may prove materially upon
that Just done. Your committee upon ag-
ricultural statistics and transportation nas
sent out circular letters 20 all portions of
the State and have, / am satisfied. inaugu-
rated very important move toward the
disposition of surplus farm products in
those portions of the State where sur
plus material accumulates upon she farm.
Your committee upon the establishment
Of additional State experiment stations
has created an impression most favorable
10 their creation and, with continued ef
fort In this direction, results may be ex-
pected within the near future.
Several important agricultural organi-
cations have allied themselves with the
congress during the past year. chief among |
which is the South Texas Truck Growers
association, consisting OF fourteen local So
cieties. We are glad to welcome these |
and other new accessions to the Farmers |
Congress and extend an open invitation |
to all o7her agricultural, horticultural
)r live stock societies within the. bounds
IF Texas TO actively affiliate themselves
WIN the Texas Farmers Congress.
M VIII not be out of place to welcome
hose visitors who have cheerfully re-
iponded to our general invitation and who
nave come from far and near by wagon and
ram to attend the proceedings of this
congress and deliberate with us upon the
important questions that come up in oar
general work and in the several sections
d the congress Gentlemen, you are indi-
'ldually ana collectively most cordially
Neiuoiie' we need your intelligence, your
, ~ ,i your sound logic. your pure
'hllanthropy in order that we may de-
'elop the state of Texas as she deserved
o De developed and occupy the thousands
u square miles of fertile lands with the
most independent, intelligent and prosper
us husbandry that has existed. Nor
iaVes' villains" or peasantry, but men.
iRh-minded men, whose intelligence and
uegrity VIII measure the greatness OF
Ut Slate far better than our wide cx-
anse of virgin soil.
Review with me for while the history
the producing classes, and we will ali
sree that the achievements of our civili- ,
htloh are rendered possible only by a
-oloush development of the mind of man
irouSh inc masses. History teaches that
ne discovery of America by Columbus in ,
wv was rendered possible by that change I
the affairs OF Europe which began in !
100, known In history as the revival OF {
arhlns' With the downfall of Chris
an Constantinople and the decline of the 4
ihhi empires. letters and learning in c
aiy TOOK on new life and began TO In ,
Jehce the dreams of men-telling CO. |
mous OF far western continent. and {
lehing visions OF spiritual freedom, OF c
imam culture and achievement and OF (
seoveries that had before been impossl- @
o because learning had been confined to v
e churohmen and TO courtiers. {
New conceptions OF government. OF phil \
opny and of religion became the fashion i
the day, and the histories of the CEN q
lries teaches that these early dreams have q
zen realized in the civilization OF the pres q
It, n
The important steps by which our civili- '
tlon has been achieved consists. histor- a
ally OF: l. The European revival OF |
arning In 1863. 2. The signing OF the I
lglish Magma Charta. which Axes constitu- c
onal representation by the people. g. I
10 French revolution In 1892, based upon b
9 discussions OF the rights OF men as c
posed 10 those OF kings and emperors. I
The passage of the several English
lis OF right; and the tb) declaration OF o
nerican independence. Before the re- 4
val OF learning. the producing masses Il
sro In state OF yasallage to the kings a
ia princes of Eurono Tho lack NJ MIR :