The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1907-1917, 1910-10-06
President Barrett Declares the FeyU,
and Not the Many, Rule America
To the Officers and Members of the
Farmers Union:-

ANY officers and members have
IM asked me to amplify the views
expressed last week regarding
> the personal responsibility of
the farmer in the solution of the rural
problem. No other issue now before
the American people equals this one
in national significance. Upon it's
proper consideration depends the
present and the future of America,
from every angle of industry and citi-
zenship. For the old demagogic cry
that the farmer is the backbone of
the nation" is but the faint stating of
a truth borne in upon our most candid
thinkers today with sledgehammer
emphasis.
/ spoke last week of the obligation
of the farmer toward his children, in
the line of giving them the best edu-
catiOnal facilities at his command and
equipping them for the struggle of
life that they might record more
progress over their parents.
1t is doubly important to discharge
this obligation with fidelity, for the
reason that it is the educated few who
rule in this or any other country.
YOU WILL HEAR 1T STATED
ON EVERY SIDE THAT THE MA
JORITY DOMINATES OUR Gov
ERNN1ENT. ANALYZE CLOSELY
AND YOU WILL FIND III is NOT
THE MAJORITY. OUR ACTUAL
RULER is THAT COMPARATIVELY
SMALL HOST OF TRAINED BRAINS
AND DISCIPLINED MINDS THAT
HAVE, FIRST, LEARNED SELF
GOVERNMENT, AND THAT HAVE
NEXT ABSORBED THE TRUE LES
SONS OF LEADERSHIP AND OF
GENERAL SUCCESS IN LIFE.
The principle holds, whether un-
der a republican, monarchical or
despotic form of government.
Are you going to fit your boy to be
one of the rulers, or one of the great
mass of the ruled? That is one of
the questions you must face if you
wish to do your just part in the solu-
ton of the rural problem.
In educating your boy for leader
ship and for sane thinking, you are
educating him for success in every
other commercial activity.
Today there are more opportunities
for the young man than ever in our
history. Politicians to the contrary
Notwithstanding, the trusts have not
closed fast the doors of opportunity.
Every day business people in all lines
ask me for young men who can and
will DO THINGS. The cry every
where is for young men who are will
ing to work AND THE YOUNG
MAN is FIRST TAUGHT THE Cos
PEI OF WORK INSIDE HIS OWN
HOME.
No farmers duty ends, however,
when he provides his family with the
best facilities, and the best liveli-
hood, possible to his means. For he
must then consider his duty to his
community, and in so doing he must
realize the truth Of the Biblical say
ing that ''no man liveth unto himself
and no man dieth unto himself" That
means that no matter how hard we
try, we can't get away from each
other and that if we strive to do so
the penalty is stagnation for our
selves and for those around us. The
principle of cooperation begun with
the Garden of Eden and it is still on
the job
I am an enthusiastic advocate of
the "Home Mission" idea in the solu-
ton of the rural problem, with every
farmer as home missionary. I be-
lieve every man living was born with
more or less yearning to reform some
body, or something, to help somebody
nv cCro otbipC Wall tho n1oco RI