State Convention—The Farmer in Politics. 187 
the farmers, we must nominate this other man. I begin to think 
with Mr. Carswell, the less we know, the less we have to do with 
politics, the better off we are. I do not say this should be so, but 
as long as these things continue it will be so. 
Mr. Orledge: I think that the gentleman has told some truth. 
I think that the man who gives his mind to the study of politics, 
so as to bring the question intelligently before the people, cannot 
attend to his business. I know very well, that I have done 
myself an injury pecuniarily by giving my thought to these 
questions; but, Mr. President and brother farmers, I cannot 
tell you from whence it comes, but there is a power behind me that 
is stronger than myself. I cannot keep still. My brain is busy 
thinking and my thoughts must find utterance. I cannot hope it. 
If I go down under it, I shall go down with a perfect consciousness 
of having been working, as I understand it, for God and humanity. 
Whether you will sustain me in it; whether my class and the peo¬ 
ple of the State will sustain me, is another question; but I know 
this, that God will sustain me in it, and when we meet on the 
other shore, I shall have due credit for all I have done. Let me 
say this, that however much you may line your pockets with green¬ 
backs or gold, by staying at home and rooting, hog-like in the earth, 
caring nothing for your brother men, you will find that the more 
you dig there, and the more you root there, the closer will the capi¬ 
talists put your nose to the grindstone, and the sharper he will 
turn it. This is no foolish question for you. It is no nonsensical 
idea that you are not—because you are farmers and cannot pile your 
dollars by the tens of thousands like the railroad-men, and the 
bankers—just ‘as dteply interested as they, but as it is the simple 
fact that however much taxes they must pay, however much inter¬ 
est they must pay to others, the whole of it conies out of your 
muscle, your blood, and your bones, and the men who are with you 
in digging the gold out of the soil. 
Do not give up everything to the study of politics, but study 
enough to know your duty, and try to be brave enough to do it. 
On motion, the convention adjourned to 2 o’clock p. m. 
