Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1908-01-30
Soil PAYS All.

from the soil; comes from the sale OF
the products of the soil.
1t is not to be assumed that the tiiler
of the soil is to be placed upon a ped
stal to be worshipped, or even to be ex-
allied above his fellow-men Uther
occupations are also necessary. The
manufactures, the weaver the iron
worker, the carpenter, the wagon. maker
all are essential to the welfare of
mankind, and each merits consideration,
But it should not be overlooked that
were the tiller of the soil to cease his
vocation for but short period tho pro-
gress OF the world would soon come to
q standstill and IN the natural order Of
things all other vocations would cease
to be of value.
The soil produces the things that
make it possible to continue all those
other vocations. The soil is the source
OF all wealth and will continue go to be
through the countless ages to come.
Man harnesses the lightning and con-
verts it to his own use, but the soil paws
bills.
Mar learns the language Of the plan
cts and the stars, but the soil produces
the wealth that enables him to inter
prete the signs in the heavens.
| Man delves into the secrets of the
earth and is enabled therefrom to ap-
proximate the time required to build
the sphere which we inhabit, but the
soil supplies him with the means to ac-
quire this knowledge,
Man glrdles the earth with steel ard
sends forth the ponderous iron horse to
transport the products of the farm and
the factory from place to place, but tho
soil furnishes the cash incident to the
expense which the girdling entails.
1t is not, therefore, an indication of
disposition to palayer to observe that
! our first consideration, in dealing with
I the economic problems that confront
u.s. has reference to agriculture, which
also embraces horticulture.
| No country, no section of country.
can hope to enjoy continued prosperity
which neglects the interests of the ag-
rlculturist, or seeks to make it second
ary in Importance 1t stands pre- eni
nent
Politicians aspiring to rank as states
men admit all these things, and como
before the rural population with honeyed
words, extolling the virtues of the
horny y-handed son OF toll, but they are
apt to forget, when in the august pres
ence OF the great "high fnanciers," that
it was decreed thousands Of years ago
that man should earn his bread by the
sweat Of his face, not by the manipula-
ton of legislasure, nor yet through
schemng to pour as much water into
stocks and bonds as these securities will
absorb
1t is not herewith contended that the
"hoDest farmer" is better than his
brothers OF other callings, nor that ha is
entitled to special consideration at the
expense OF others, but experience has
shown, again and again, that SO long as
prosperity continues GU the farm the
various other legitimate vocations aud
caliings occupy a position Of compare
tive security.
South Dakota, like some of its sister
states, is placing too much at the TOP.
so-called. 1t is paying too much. IN
proportion to the funds expended for
"hlgher educatiOn," and not enough To
further the development Of those thinpa
upon which the ability to continue
higher education is based
South Dakota can afford to proyida
llberally for experimental work in apri.
iculture and horticulture. IF # cannes
furnish the necessary funds for both
experimental operations and ahighar
education the latter can afford to wait
IL is more importantjus now for South
Dakotaus to be able to make two blades
OF grass grow where but one grew than
TO master those branches Of learning
Whlch give our young mon degrees il
philosophy aud law and medicine. II
is more important to find upon our
bread praires an alfalfa, for instance 3
that VIII withstand the rigors Of orr
climatic conditions, than to find a man
VINO can talk in seven Languages. sever
a. OF which have been dead" for two
thousand years.
Hlgher education is commentaries
1t is necessary, in fact, to give us that
"tone' which admits us to enlightened
society, and is an accomplishment NOT
to be despised--it is rather to be da.ir
90 and sought-bat in speaking intellec-
tual attainment we cannot afford to
neglect in the least that upon which !
continuance Ct :: teri is pros 1,eriix
lis founded
The Vanderbilts were willing that
Count szechenyi should take over $12.
100000 OF the family fortune. but tha