Year: 1875

The question that have under considera.
tion to day is one of vital Importance to ev.
cry man and woman engaged in agricultural
pursuits, and my greatest wish is that had
the ability aud time to present the subject
before my brother farmers to-day, in such a
manner that its influence might not stop with
the reading Of this paper, but so commend
itself to the hearts and minds of those here
as to lead to thorough discussion of the
question, not only here to-day but bring it
before the people, for their consideration
and may we as farmers use all honorable
means at our disposal to make farming not
only honorable but pleasant. The means to
be employed to this eud are as varied as the
sands Of the desert. First and foremost
among them comes the consideration that if
we would make farming honorable we must
make ourselves houored. But in looking at
this question in all its bearings the convic-
tion forces itself upon any candid, thinking
mind, that farmers, as a class, are not hoE-
ored, not only by themselves but by the
world at large, as much as other classes To
prove this we have only to see that we are
not equally represented with them in all
places Of honor and trust that are in the gift
Of the people. But who are the people here
on the green hills of old Vermont, and
throughout our broad land from the Pacific
on the west to the Atlantic on the east,
from the British Provinces and the great
chain of lakes on the north to the Gulf of
Mexico on the south, but the farmers and
those engaged in agricultural pursuits. BY
our last census report the number engaged
in agricultural pursuits was 5,972,47l, and
this does not include vast number of farm
laborers that get their living of the farm.
No one can deny that the agricultural inter-
ests Of our country are far greater than any
other, and that in point of numbers those en-.
gagged in agricultural pursuits outnumber all
others combined. Now 10 view of these facts
it behooves us as farmers to look about us
and see what we can do to better or improve
our condition. The first thing we must do
is to understand and feel that we are Ameri-
can citizens, with the right to think, vote,
and act for ourselves, as our own best judg-
ment and conscience may dictate, being tied
to no political platform or party, that has
not for its aim the greatest good to the
greatest number, without regard to occupa-
tlon, nationality, color or creed.


But to see how poorly we have used that
right, we have only to look in our halls of
Congress aud our Senate chamber at Wash
ington to see who is represented there. Iu-
stead Of finding the farmers and mechanics,
the bone aud sinew, the warp and wool,
might well say the very life blood of the
country, duly represented there, we 6nd them
in very small minority. Now why is that
soP Is it because we have not men with
sufficient ability in our ranks2 l claim it
is nothing of the kind and | venture the
prediction here to-day, that those Of us who
live to see the 18th OF February, 1885, will
see vast improvement in this respect, and
that each class will be more equally repre-
sented in all places Of honor and trust from
the presidency down to town officers, and
may God grant that the people will demand
better things Of all who represent tnem, un-
til equal-rights shall prevail throughout the
land; until true sense of honor, sterlingi in.
tegrity, ability and true manhood shall stand
at the head, be they farmers, mechanics, or
millionAries. Then and not till then will
the corrupt rings Of to-day be done away
with, aud the rgats Of the people be the first
object Of all those who fll high places.
Yes; l think | may say Jill biz Ga places
many, very many, only occupy them at the
present day and may they SO we'll fulfill the
trust imposed upon them that the verdict Of
the American people shall be, as in the ca
ses of our revered Washington or our mar.
tyred president Lincoln; "Well done good
and faithful servants"


How has it happened in the past that we
have not had that influence in public affairs
that We should have had in view of our mem.
bers? First and foremost among these rea'
sons, | would mention that we have not aske ed
for our just share in running this vast ship
of state, in other words. We have lacked fol
"cheek" to demand what was ours by right
But there has been no lack Of lawyers, (WhC
are noted for their cheek, J aided by strong
army of political wire-pullers, to run the
thing for us. Speaking Of cheek reminds
me Of circumstance that happened during
eur late rebellion. One Of our Vermont
boys, native Of Irasburgh went to Hon