The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1900-05-15
By C.. w. DABNEY.


political or financial scheme however
important and true it may he. and
must form Il part of every plan of
social development under Whatsoever
government and economic system ii
may he projected. This work is aim
ed at the minds and hearts of the
people. II is the work of saving them
from the awful errors Of ignorance
and the fearful degradation OF poy-
erty. or preparing them and their
children. through home training, 10
solve the larger problems that lie be
NOnd the horizon of thc district school
house.
Civilization always begins in the
family. From the home it extends to
their neighborhood. the county The
state and the nation. But. like chari-
~. it must begin at home We Amcri-
cans are always making the mistake
Of thinking that we can make people
good, intelligent and successful by
nations or states. or, at least 10y
towns and counties. We try TO vote
in prohibition and morality and vote
out drunkenness and crime: we trN
TO vote IN prosperity and happiness
and vote out the hard times and suf-
and righteousness can be established
only in the individual and prosperity
and happiness must be born in the
shop or ON the farm. We may elect
| presidents by "blocks OF five" but we
! cannot educate the people or make
them happy in that way. The worst
result OF universal suffrage is thar
it promotes this false idea. Sin out
of every ten Americans are practical
politicians at least for three months
oct Of every year. and their politics
is limited usually to national and
State affairs The average man is
far more excited over the election oi
a Congressman to 90 to Washingt ON
TO legislature about things that only
remotely concern him than he is
about the election of q teacher to
train his children. National politics
is as baneful to the township anC
!, county as il is TO the city. We wan
: home rule in the country as we'll a
, in the city. In fact. the pOlitica
, boss with his machine is the curs'
, Of our entire country. Witness Ken
: tucky today.
s My first message. then. 10 tn
: Southern farmer is. be sure YOU at
. tend TO Your home and county at
: fairs The road that passes YOU
e gate. the school your children 90 tc
5 the church YOU attend on Sunday
: your village and its every interest
5 require your earnest and conScienti
| Gus attention and support. VIII.
| should politics Influence YOU III de
:. Gliding who shall survey the road o
! select the teacher or keep order II
n the village? And vet. eight times on
: of ten. the party convention or b"S
9 will decide Your vote even IN the 50
g lection Of a school director For You
own home interests YOU want ih
l best. most efficient and most faithful
: person in each place. But for tn
e sake Of helping to maintain an or
q canization which aims to elect a con
oreSSman once every two years. or
n Governor once in four. You Will sac
rifice interests that affect the pros
perty. comfort and intellectual an'
! moral advancement Of your family Il
/ these officers can never do. tOnSId
. cr your home interests first, the IN
!. tercSts of your home. church. TN
o school, and roads and everything I ha
4 makes the home blessed. proSperou
i and happy. Consider that boy hrs
!, and the Congressman or even Il
o Governor last.