Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1914-10-30


meat of those other uncouated
armies OF European laborers who de-
pend upon American cotton aud 9th
er products for sheer livelihood?
Where would be the magnificent
international trade with which Eng
land oyershadows civilization?
Where would be the spreading
traffic with which Germany and
France and Russia reach out into
barbarous regions and subjugate
them 10 their capital?
Blot out the American farmer to-
morrow, diminish his activity or his
loyalty by the smallest iota and you
pinch all civilization.
The black stain OF the boil weevil
upon the cotton of the South is or
more concern to Europe than any
great political question.
Abnormal visitations of nature or
of climate on this side of the water
more greatly agitate the capitalist
and laborer of America and of Eu-
rope than do any of the precepts of
religion.
The farmer, the American farmer,
is the foundation or pillar and three
fourths of the superstructure of civ
ilization How many of the glib
politicians or of the impatient pro-
fessional men who figure deity re-
garding statistics in this country,
adequately realize this fact.
They are wont to discourse
smoothly and in beautiful terms Of
the indispensibility of the farming
classes.
How many OF them remotely "ea-
lie the dimensions Of this indispersi-
bility? What the sun and rain are
to the earth, that is the farmer TO
the earth also.
Not often is he given credit for
this oyerweaning Importance.
Neglected, ridiculed, and mis-
understood he is more likely tue
butt for humorous cartoon and lame
quip.
With the sharp ones of the earth
who arrogate to themselves credit
for all the shrewdness and knowl-
edge in creation, the farmer may be
a by-word for credulity and ignOr-
ance unfathomable.
But | tell you that this man who
is meekness and patience and long
suffering is feeding and clothing and
sheltering the nations, and who is
putting bread into the mouths of the
worlds population, is the noblest
handiwork of the Creator.
The Master once said, "He who
would be greatest among you, let
him be your servant"
Gagged by this sublime injunc-
ton, the farmer towers overwhelm-
ingly above all the children of men.
He who stops the hungriness and
covers the nakedness of mankind
must frequently himself go hungry
and naked.
He who brings wealth and pros
perity to men who know not his
trials and problems, must often de-
prive wife and child of the common
est necessities of existence.
He who brings JOY and gladnes3 to
men, women and little children in
this and in distant lands, is frequent
ly like the Nazarene himself, "A
man of sorrows and acquainted With
grief"
A better day is dawning for this
wonderful child Of God.
He has been all these years like a
fettered giant. Some of those fet-
ters he has already stricken. 9th
ers of them he is just feeling and
beginning to loose.
He is now standing upright with
his face toward the rising sun. He
is following the gIancing rays of its
light with keen eyes to the utter
most ends of civilization. He is see
ing with all N eekness and humiln-
that it is he with whom God has
charged the greatest mission in all
history. He is seeing, as through a
magic perspective, the tremendous
reaches of his ilimitable influence.
He knows that his life's work has
barely begun. He sees that greater
and vaster conquests and larger
duties await his tested talents.
But he knows, too, that no longer
will the world-old task of support
ing the world be done in blindness
and tears.
Scales no longer impede mis- eye
sight.
Gods hand rests upon his
shoulder, and he looks down the
luminous centuries at the magnifi-
cence of achievement and of service
yet to come.
THE WOMAN ON THE FARM