Rensselaer Republican, Volume 13, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 March 1881 — THE AGBICULTURAL DEPARTMENT. [ARTICLE]

THE AGBICULTURAL DEPARTMENT.

THN*commerci*l prosperity of Kentucky was never better. Illicit distilleries are numerous in the lower portion *f the state, and over six hundred . race-horse* are In training in the binegrass legions. Assemblyman Bbbnnor, of New York, poisoned himself. Cause—nervous prostration brought on by overwork. This is the first Instance on record in which a New York legislator was ever known to hurt himself by’hard work. His body should be embalmed and placed in the national museum at Washington. Hon. H: W. Harrington, president of the Indiana temperance union, says that both political parties have agreetfvto submit constitutional amendment* relative to temperance to the people, and that the temperance people of the state are united and will hereafter support only the party that respects their sentiments, thus compelling “both parties to put temperance planks in their platforms. Washington was a great man, and his name will be remembered so long as history shall be written, and hardly a year passes that something does not turn up to make the first president’s name greater yet. At the New York cat show, now under way a John Thomas cat named, “George Washington" won the first premium, not so much on account of his heroism and fidelity to principles, but because of his “ broad intellectual forehead, and frank open face." What does the immortal George want of a monument, when a cat named after him gets the first premium. ess— The facility with which the average •editor can turn from the contemplation of one subject to that of anotheY widely different, is evidenced in the editorial columns of our leading journals. A few days since, the message and the cabinet filled column after column in these papers, and now the same space is occupied with learned editorial treatises on hog cholera and trichinosis. An American editor is nothing if not given to variety. “From a president’s message to a case of jiog disease, is but a short step for the fecund brain of the American editor.

Much has been said of late, both in and out of congress, on raising the agricultural department to the dignity of a regular cabinet position. This, however, is not a one-sided question, but will admit of arguments on both sides. One argument for such a change has been urged in its favor, the fact that the agricultural interest of the country is greater, and more men are employed in this interest than any other field of industry; more, perhaps, than all other industries combined. The magnitude of the agricultural interests is admitted by all, and yet this is not a good reason why such a step should be taken. This is the argument, however, on which the promotion is claimed. This affords a fine field for shysterism usually misnamed statesmanship. To illustrate —during last congress, we believe, a bill was introduced by a member who has a large rural constituency appropriating a large sum of money to be expended in the importation and breeding of fine blooded stock. These animals were to be distributed like garden seeds among farmers and oththers. The bill however, as its author no doubt expected did not become a law. It served however to .make him ‘.‘solid’’ with his rural constituency, the sole object in view. These, he will no doubt make believe that had his bill prevailed he would have been able, during the next five years, to send each of his constituents a fine blooded filly through the mails at no expense to any ane. But right here is where the trouble comes in, i. e., the expense. If, when , the average farmer will take the trouble to look into this matter, he finds that every dollar’s worth of goods sent , out by-the department costs the people of the country at least two dollars, hq will hesitate before going into a larger business in which he will be called on to helppay the bills. Then tod, theqe seeds and goods are| too frequently sentout to a favorite the average congressman will send them where they will do the most good towards securing his return to, congress. Thus too frequently the masses are taxed for the benefit of the few, and that few frequently are the wealthy farmers who are able to produce these things at their own expanse. The department as it now stands is all well enough, and is of great value to the farm interest in many respects, but when it is proposed to increase the expense of the same ten fold,* and when the machine is once fully in operation, as proposed, the expenses increased an hundred fold in order to sustain the dignity of the department, it ia readily seen that i this clamor for the change come* not so much from the agriculturists of the ' country as from the politicians. No class of men, or occupation at this time are honored by a special or Independent' department of the government with a cabinet position. If the form interest should be so honored as proposed, soon other classes or industries would clamor for a like recognition and there ia no telling where the thing might end, In this way there would be no end to offices and places to be filled, and the tax burden L increased in like proportion. Tv will pay the American people to this matter well before i r«>hiniz out into the proposed entrrnnr" Tt i» doubtful whether the Zime toJi yet arrived when such an of the department as now -derm ended has become a