HOW ABOUT INDEPENDENCE. 183 



little farmers talk together upon subjects in which their whole 

 interests centre ; how little they interchange views, except 

 at the Farmers' Clubs, or some such places, it is astonishing 

 we have made the progress we have. How different the farm- 

 er's life is from the life of those who represent the manufac- 

 turing and commercial interests ! They are located mostly 

 at the great manufacturing, commercial or financial centres, 

 and if any danger threatens, a few hours will bring them all 

 together and they will prepare to ward off the threatening 

 danger. Let a promised good appear and they will seize it 

 in twenty minutes from the time the first one knows it. They 

 can combine not only their wisdom, but their capital. But 

 the farmer stands isolated and alone. He stands upon his 

 independence ! He has been made to believe that he is '* in- 

 dependent," you know ! That has been the cry of our public 

 speakers whom the farmers have called on to instruct them. 

 They would begin by telling them how noljle the farmer's life 

 was, how "independent " they were. I say, we are the most 

 dependent race under heaven, and these very men who tell 

 us so, would never soil their hands by acquiring our "inde- 

 pendence." Now, what I wish to say is this : I understand 

 that you have a living, active Farmers' Club here in Barre. 

 Is that so ? Don't all speak at once ! 



Mr. Ellsworth. I am ashamed to say, it is living, but it 

 is not active. 



Mr. Root. Call on us next week, and we will show you. 



Mr. Ellsavorth. I speak of what is, I hope for better. 



Mr. Lewis. If you have not a living, acting Farmers' 

 Club here in Barre, you ought to have, and you ought not to 

 lose any time in organizing one. And when you organize it, 

 for heaven's sake don't get any useless machinery in. Never 

 work any red tape into a Farmers' Club. Let the thing go on, 

 as Col. Stone said yesterday, "free and easy." If a farmer 

 prefers to read an essay sitting in his seat, or even to 

 make a speech in the spread-eagle style, let him sit down. 

 One of the best papers ever read before the Farmers' Club 

 in Little Falls, was read by a man whose knees, Avhen he 

 stood up, began to shake and his voice to tremble. I said to 

 him, " Davis, for heaven's sake sit down and take breath." 

 That essay was published in most of the European papers, 



