The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-07-16
NATURE IN AGRARIAM.

NfOna ne Ndtsoh
In addition to the terrible waste of war, and
the loss caused by the withdrawal of so many
strong hands from their accustomed farm work.
the country has for three years in succession
heen afflicted with indifferent or actually poor
harvests, so that the price of bread and ali
other necessaries of life had risen this spring
10 threefold its normal figure, and laborers
and mechanics, while receiving extravagant
wages, scarcely earned a fair living. Strikes
and combinations of laborers and of employers
have been kequent, the old battle-cries OF
'the rich against the poor" and 'Iabor
against capital, shave again been heard on all
sides, and the country has been recently
startled by the sudden uprising of the agrarian
ghost at the bidding of Senator Wade, who is
reported to have said that property is too un-
equally divided, and that Congress should find
means TO remedy the evil. The evil itself is
no doubt partly due to the war, partly to igno-
rant and selfish legislation, but mainly to
succession of poor crops. This latter cause
seems likely to be soon removed for all &C.
counts agree that the country is this year
blessed with an abundant harvest. Wheat
in the Southern and Central States
is harvesting, and everywhere else
is safe beyond all but the most ex
in all the States is larger than ever
before, and the yield promises TO be liberal in
proportion. The hay crop everywhere is mag
nifcent. Corn, though rather late, in conse-
quenoe of the cold, wet spring, is looking
extremely well, and under the influence of the
favorable weather of the last two weeks is
rapidly making up for lost time. Cotton has
had its drawbacks; the corn has this year en-
gagged the planters first attention, but the
breadth of cotton sown is large its present
condition is highly favorable; the rumors of
damage have from all quarters, except some of
the lowest overflows, been Indignantly contra
dicted the present labor system is working
admirably, and without very decidedly un1
favorable weather, the crop promises to be far
larger than last year, or indeed any year since
1861. With the exception of few of the
smaller fruits, and some comparatively unim-
portant products, the same abundance seems
to await all the crops in all parts of the coun-
try. How is this abundance to affect the
people
The first effect of abundant crops is of
course, to lower the price of the articles har-
vested. Within the last sixty days -four has
declined fully twenty per cent; wheat, nearly
thirty; and corn, nearly forty per cent, and
the fall is scarcely begun. Cheap wheat
means cheap bread; cheap corn makes cheap
poultry, cheap pork, cheap eggs; cheap hay
means cheap milk and cheap butchers meat.
All that the people eat declines in price, and
the decline is not only prospective, but actual
and instantaneous. The decline affects not
only the crops about to be harvested but
every portion of former crops remaining un-
consumed. The great profits made by dealers
and spectators were made by the rise on the
stock on hand; the stocks now on hand must
be sold at corresponding loss, and thus the
profit is taken from the pocket of the dealer
and speculator, and restored to him from whom
1t first came-the buyer and consumer. This
is the way in which Nature forestalls Mr..
Wade, and provides for more equal redistri-
button of property.
When food is cheap the laboring man is
willing and able to work for lower wages
Hence, with cheap food, all that labor pro-
duces declines in price. Manufactured goods,
the principal cost of which is labor, decline
with the price of food. The stock on hand
produced at high wages, declines at once in
anticipation of cheaper future production,
and thus out Of the savings of his high wages
the labOrer can buy the manufacturers costly
products as cheaply as if his own wages had
always remained at their former low figure.
Thus, again, nature tends to ''agrarianism."
Not only does the labor decline by which
manufactured goods are produced, but the
raw material from which they are made de-
clines with it,. Cotton has fallen thirty per
cent. in three months, and is still declining.
With the price OF cotton the price of all other
materials used for clothing must fall likewise
and thus every dollar of unnatural profit made
on the rise of cotton and cotton goods wool
and woollen goods, is restored to its rightful
owner by the gentle, peaceful pressure of
Natures own agFarian laws. Thus, whatever
lowers the price of food lowers the price of
everything produced by labor. Abundant
crops make lower prices not only for the arti-
cles harvested, but also for manufactured
goods Of every description; not only for the
crops about to be harvested, but for any por-
tiOn of former crops remaining unconsumed;
not only for goods yet to be produced but for
every piece of goods already manufactured
that remains unsold. Hence il is safe to say
that the general anticipations of a profitable
fall trade, based upon the prospect of abun-
dant crops, are not likely to be realized.
the present stock of goods of most
descriptions can only be sold at a loss. Nor
are those who anticipate an early fall trade
nkeiy TO realize their wishes. A probable
decline IL prices is proverbially prone to delay
purchases The buyers of produce are not
hke!y TO be In eager competition for the far
mers crops, ana the buyers Of merchandise
Will Walt unul the manufacturer lowers his
prices to the last figure. Thus the ordinary
trade of the country is likely TO be both lats
and improbable. When business is nnnro.
ftable, money lenders are averse To I6an
The capitalist is the most timid of human
beings. Safety is with him the first considera-
ton. When merchandise or stocks are de.
olining the money lender is unwilling to ad
vance on them, and is afraid to trust to those
who deal in them. In England, where money
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