Show Farmers Should Be Legislators It is one of the anomalous condi tions of our political organism that a population composed mainly of farmers far-mers mechanics merchants and manufacturers should as a rule be represented in all its legislative bodes bod-es including Congress by lawyers The fact that it is eo represented io patent and it is certainly time that a change in the custom which occasions it should occur That those who live by litigation should be priviledged to make the laws whose breach annulment annul-ment or misconstruction supplies them with the means of subsistence is about as crude an example of mismanaged mis-managed public polioy as can well be conceived That those whose interest it is that the laws should be broken should be chosen to frame them might occur among a people in a state of anarchy Yet the nineteenth century sees the leading republic of the world no arther advanced than this in practical selfgovernment The situation is much the same in Eng and I but not to the same extent Tbere representatives of old county families and gentlemen expressly educated for parliamentary career are term after term elected and it is a wellknown fact that some of toe strongest members of the Hoaaa of Commons are agriculturists But it is remarkable that Spain is the only country where the rule to represent all public interests in tbe national legislature prevafa The Cones or legislative body of Spain 13 compose f like our own of a Senate and a Home of Representatives In the election of members of the lower bouse baa been customary from time immemorial immemo-rial to represent the different trades and industries by electing from tbem as members persons who hava been absolutely engaged in their practical pursuit Spain was once supreme among nations there labor throve under benign influences and the lot of mankind was perhaps as pleasant and prosperous as in any land whose history is known to us As it would appear to be the law of races and i nations that these rise decline and fall in their own good time without cxeeption the condition of Spain during dur-ing the past century is EO evidence evi-dence against the peculiar system to which we have referred The Journal of the American Agricultural Asscci aion for October |