Continuation of 1884 GATESVILLE SUN
It can only be soil-workers--for they are the Now, gentlemen of the convention, there
only class of producers remaining. is a cause for all this, and that cause is
Agriculture completes the grand enumer- not far to seek. Having found it, the remedy
ation of the industrial forces of society. will not be hard to find also. Among many
It is by its followers the others live and others, I should say the first reason is,
upon the fruits of its labor the others that the agricultural people readily submit
grow rich. The field for combination is to the secondary position so universly
inviting; the means are ample, and the assigned them. Of course people will dom-
victims patient and unresisting beyond inate others so long as there is no resistance
the dreams of cupidity. It is a fact worth to that domination.
noting, that of the colossal fortunes owned Again it is said that it is not possible
by so many American citizens, not one has for the farmers to do otherwise than submit;
been made by agriculture--all have come by because they are so widely scattered over so
some of the other persuits. Many thousands large a territory that they cannot, in the
of them yearly by handling the farmer's nature of things surround themselves by
products, but not one by the farmer himself. organization, apply prompt and connected
Every man who touches his productions makes methods of action, agressive and defensive,
more clear profit thereby than he did in for the common interest, as the other classes
coaxing them from earth. Even the brakeman do. I know that their situation renders
on the car which transports them to market prompt and united action difficult, but I do
gets more pay than the man who held the not believe it impossible. On the contrary
plow. One country merchant absorbs the I do believe it perfectly feasible to organize
profits of a hundred farmers; one in the the agricultural interests of this vast country
great city will absorb the clear earnings for its defense against the tyranny of capitol
of a thousand; one railroad line will in business, as well as against it in legis-
consume the net proceeds of a province. lation. But it will undoubtedly require more
This too in the ordinary course of trade, labor and organizing ability than has heretofore
to say nothing of the extraordinary courses, been exerted in that direction. Let them learn
or corners, and all kinds of combinationsfrom politics. Pure democracy, which operated so
and pressures of which they are often the happily in the small states of Greece, was found
victims. impracticable in larger areas and with greater
In round numbers there are engaged in populations. Instead of submitting to its incon-
agricultureal occupations 8,000,000 of venience or abandoning the principle, modern
people. Now allowing three dependents, or statesmanship has substituted representative
non-workers, to each worker, which is democracy, by which the most free and beneficent
allowed for all classes in the census of all forms of government has been preserved
reports, and we have 24,000,000 souls, and adapted to any areas and any amount of pop-
nearly half of our entire population, ulation, with all the efficiency and promptness
dependent on agriculture, for their sub- of an administration possible to the most
sistence. They represent more than twelve centralized governments. Now it is not the
thousand million of capital, including capacity of those interested in agricultural
stock and implements, and their annual affairs sufficient to elaborate some scheme of
product is about two and a quarter organization that would help that class in the
billions. As they are the most numerous, great battle, and enable it to hold its own in
so are they also the most widely dispersed the fiercly contested race? Is not this of more
class of our people following any gainful importance in such a struggle of business
occupation. They have cleared the wilder- energies as this age presents, than the impro-
ness and broken to the plow five hundred vement of the mere methods of production? Is it
and thirty-six millions of acres of the not possible and practicable to have, all over
virgin soil of America, divided into four the land, organizations based upon the civil
millions of farms. divisions of States and countries with a supreme
This area is constantly enlarging. They Chamber of Agriculture centrally located, whose
furnish seven-eighths of of our foreign members, selected by the primary organizations
commerce, and their fertile fields, under should watch over the interests of the whole,
their energetic hands, aided by skillful and with authority, to voice the will of all
modern implements, have become, beyond all when speaking to transportation companies, to
thought of rivalry the grainary of the merchants, factors and middle men and especially
world. It is capable of demonstration, to Legislators.
that under the stimulus of universal, and Every interest in America comes to Washington
unrestricted traffic, the United States to influence legislation except the agricultural.
could in a few years feed and clothe the Why should they not be there also. It is not a
human race. The plow is under the ban, reputable business---lobbying---I admit, but it
deny it who may. Mining, manufacturing, is done nevertheless, and greatly to the benefit
finance, trade and transportation draw to of those who do it and to the detriment of those
themselves nearly all the genius and who do not. The "business interests" are as
ability of our people, that does not go regularly and continuously on hand as the repre-
the professions, because their rewards sentatives of foreign nations, and forty times
They organize for the promotion of more importunate.
their respective interests on most The farmer is not there---never has been---
thorough methods and combine on the basis and is therefore presumed to be satisfied and
an identical welfare. By these means they to make no objection to any proposed legislation
secure discriminations against the agri- whatever.
culturists in the social code, in the The banks, manufacturers and transportation
laws of trade and more than all, in the companies have their conferences and agree on
legislation of the country.In the common such designs and tactics as every crisis in their
mention of affairs they are positivly affairs requires; even the workingmen in every
excluded, in a manner of course way branch of labor have protective organizations
that takes one breath almost. greatly to their advantage, headed by able and
In what has come to be called zealous men, sharply on the lookout for the
"business" and "the business interests" interests of their class. The farmer alone is
They are not supposed to be embraced at unorganized and defensless. He fights with a
all. We hear every day that the effect club and naked breast, as our celtic ancestors
of doing this, or the doing of that, or did against the keenest steel in the hands of
the omission of the other, will "promote men clad in mail. He sleeps in his quiet and
the business interests" or will "alarm lonely homestead after the labors of the day,
the business interests" or will be re- whilst others assemble, consult, contrive and
sisted by the business interests"; and plot.
often it is said that the "business How can he be awakened and made to hold his own
interests demand" the doing or not in these extraordinary times? How can this noble
doing of a certain thing. In other and unselfish class of our society be made to
words, the claim of the banks and know their strength and to exert it wisely for
stock dealers, the transportation comp- themselves and their country? The man who shall
anies, the manufacturers, etc., though rise among them and show them the way to meet
a great minority, to regulate affairs the accute selfishness of the business world, to
and control legislation, openly ack- reap a fair share of that which sow, to assume
nowledged, and acquieseed. The larger their rightful position in the control of affairs,
class who make bread and meat for the without imparing their conservative influence
others and furnish the chief means of upon our instutions, will be a great and good
of their foreign exchanges, are not man indeed and will deserve the honor of a
referred to or consulted; their labors great people.
by day and night, their hopes and fears,
their prosperity and welfare are not
"business". Nobody is afraid of them;
they demand nothing.
