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whose labors they direct. The minority seeks to rule, aiul 

 often does tyrannize over the majority. But in an agricultural 

 community the doctrine of equality is better exemplified than 

 in any other social condition. The gains of the farmer are slow 

 and sure ; he has not enormous wealth to puff him up, and he 

 never can be the victim of abject poverty, which often depresses 

 other classes ; his position gives him opportunities for a healthy 

 education, and his absence from the excitements of life allow 

 reflection and mature thought, fitting for self-government. 

 The farmer is independent of all sects in religion, and all 

 parties in politics ; he relies on none of them for bread in this 

 life or for hope in another. His own right hand sustains him 

 under the blessing of God, and to God he owes everything ; 

 but to gambling politicians and bigoted and proud-souled sec- 

 tarians he owes nothing. If there is any man who, in such a 

 country as this, is sovereign, independent, lord of himself and 

 his own, it is the farmer who cultivates his own unmortgaged 

 fields, drives his own oxen, owing no man anything. 



«' Let sailors sing of the windy deep, 



Let soldiers praise their armor, 

 But in my heart this toast I'll keep — 



The Independent Farmer. 

 When first the rose in robe of green 



Unfolds its crimson lining, 

 And round his cottage porch is seen 



The honeysuckle twining ; 

 When banks of bloom their sweetness yield 



To bees that gather honey, 

 He drives his team across the field, 



Where skies are soft and sunny. 



The blackbird clucks behind the plough, 



The quail pipes loud and clearly, 

 Yon orchard hides behind its bough 



The home he loves so dearly ; 

 The gray old barn doors unfold 



Ilis ample store in measure, 

 More rich than heaps of hoarded gold, 



A precious, blessed treasure ; 

 NVhile yonder iu the porch there stands 



