MISCELLANEOUS ADDRESSES. 
269 
THE DUTIES OF, AND BENEFITS TO BE DERIVED 
FROM FARMERS’ CLUBS. 
BY HON. D. E. DAVIS, PEESIDENT OF THE RICHLAND FARMERS’ CLUB. 
Delivered at the regular meeting of the Society at the Richland (Mo.) Institute, June 15,1872. 
And now, before I begin, I would remind you that I do not 
propose to lay down any code of immutable laws, or clothe my 
remarks with grammatical or rhetorical splendor, but to simply 
give you my opinions, founded upon my own observation, of our 
wants and needs as a farming community—not only as a commu¬ 
nity, but as a nation, whose chief corner-stone is imbedded in the 
various branches of agriculture. 
True, we have many other industrial branches—mineral, man¬ 
ufacturing and commercial—yet, to a great extent, they are de¬ 
pendent upon the agricultural products of the soil. Take away 
any of these branches, and we might possibly exist as a nation by 
exports, etc.; but take away our agriculture, and our fabric, beau¬ 
tiful as it is, would crumble to dust, despite the efforts of all 
other interests combined. 
Then, if this be true, that the controlling interests of our land 
are lodged in the hands and brains of our farmers, does it not 
behoove us not only as farmers interested in this our particular 
calling, but as patriots looking far into the future, through which 
our children and all future generations must pass, to do all in our 
power to keep pace with all branches of industry in this progress¬ 
ive age ? 
Are we doing this? Let us take a retrospective glance: A 
hundred years ago we are told that our greatest statesmen were 
farmers—men who followed no other profession or calling for the 
support of themselves and their families, and when called upon 
by the voice of the people to fill places of honor and trust in the 
formation and control of the government, they did so only from a 
patriotic sense of duty; then the industries of our nation shaped 
and controlled our governmental policies with an eye single to the 
welfare of the governed. How is it now ? How many farmers 
are now to be found in our national councils ? 
