The Somerset reporter., 1903-07-02
For the REPORTER.
The Status of the Farmer.


Men in the savage state are nearly
equal. There Is no caste, no class dis
tinctions. All, or nearly all, are hunt
ers and warriors. But when civilization
was established this equality was des-
troyed. Inventions and discoveries
create new pursuits, increase opportu-
mites, multiply wants and develope new
social conditions. Comfort and happiness
are sought in new channels. An earnest
desire for possession and ownership Is
evolved, industries are opened, labor
employed and capital invested TO create
more wealth. Wants are fully supplied,
homage paid, honor bestowed and high
social positions enjoyed only as great
possessions are acquired or as great
ability IL recognized. Men are diff r
emily endowed. The fittest survive.
The strong crowd the weak. The Al
glo-Saxon has enslaved or oppressed
every other race of mankind. When he
can no longer do this, be preys upon
the weaker members of his own race.
In tie present conditions Of society,
there are many stations to be filed,
many pursuits to be followed, and
much labor 10 be done. "Some must
work, or zone could live. Some must
think or life would not be worth living.
Rough work must be done and rough
men must do It. Gentle work must be
done and gentlemen must do it, The
labors and duties OF life greatly differ.
One person paints pictures, another digs
bitches. One writes poetry, another
delves in a coal mine. One complies
book another sweeps the city street.
Cne tllls the ground and raises stock,
another Ia banker aud speculates in
stock. No startling results could be ex-
pected from humble efforts in a owly
sphere; but humble things must have
place and fowly duties must be done by
a portion of the race that others may
rise to higher levels. "A thousand
must sweat and toll that one may rise
above his fellows" "Society is made up
of marble and mud" There Is strange
ENHANCEMENT of what is mean and trivial
with what is noble and grand.
The rank Que holds and enjoys is
largely determined by the business fol-
lowed, the success achieved or by the
wealth acquired. And so we have
classes OF various ranks and stations.
We have the high class made up Of
wealth and culture, the low class and
the great middle class, the common
people.
1t seems to be fitting and proper to
place the farmer In the middle class.
That is where he always has been; that
Is where his business properly consigns
him. He has never filled any high place
In the affairs of the nation or In affairs
between nations. He may go to the
legislature but seldom has much influence
there. He does not go to congress be-
cause he Is not fitted to go. He has no
place in the cabinet or among the foreign
ministers or on the peace commission.
But few of the farmers who were In the
Union Army received a commission
above that Of captain. Most of them
we're found In the ranks and as non-com-
missioned officers. Evidently the reason
is they were not qualified Tor high official
positions. The business Of tilling the
ground followed as the only pursuit
from youth TO manhood as general
rule, seems to disqualify a man for
efficient service In anything higher, more
elevating and more remunerative. A
great many farmers and farmers wives
are restless and discontinued with their
lot. There was adopted style Of living
during the flush times OF the war period,
that has never been given up. They
have In some way acquired new habit
of thought, and they entertain new
theories as to life, labor and social pri-
vlleges that makes them crave higher
station; and so they are trying TO get
out of the sphere to which their pursuit
consigns them. The average farmer
feels the disadvantages and restraints of
an insufficient income. 1t deprlves him
of oil ri xxhtn oh hn do
sires to possess and enjoy. Il lessons
Give man wealth and you give him
power and self-mportance.
Many of the farmers are supporting
too much style. The profound feeling
Of equality impels them to make a show
to indulge In Injuries they cannot afford.
They are too often striving to maintain
a standard Of living that the conditions
for an income from the farm do not
warrant and justify. The soil is too
sterile, the winters too long, prices OF
farm products too low and wages and
taxes too high.
Farming at this age of the world is a
complex business. There are 80 many
conditions that may favor or hamper and
effect results. 1t requires a man with
more than average capacity and high ad.
aptability to acquire a competency In
the pursuit Of farming and win reason
able success; and this Is acquired only
by continuous toll, unceasing care, close
management, rigid economy, good cal
culation and simple ways of living.
Methods and customs have changed,
wants have multiplied and expenses
have increased while incomes have not
changed In the same proportion, and
that Is what Is the matter. That Is why
the farmer Is dissatisfied and the farmers
wife discontinued; why the boys do not
stay on the farm and why the girls do
not and will not marry the men who
settle down to the care and toll and
humdrum OF farm life.
The farmer Ia an important element In
the present social arrangement. He Is
the subject OF much comment, the farm
the occasion for many remarks. A
great deal Of advice and instruction Is
dealt out weekly to him by papers and
magazines. A Board of Agriculture has
been established to help him; aud the
Maine State College was builded to aid
the farmers; to take their sons aud edu-
cate them In such way-ata nominal
expense--that they would be farmers OF
highest attachments; so high as to win
success In the noble pursuit Of agricul.
ture. 1t was expected that they would
ennoble thesbusiness and be an honor to
the State. AS result the boys who go
to the State College and take course
there, do not graduate as farmers. As
general rule the education OF the day
educates from the farm. There Is a re-
coil from hand work. 1t is less renu.