Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1869-10-19
of ruin, and for nearly century We have

of ruin, and for nearly century we have
been growing rich on it.
But" scream the prohibitionists, "you
don't pay for the difference in produce you
run in debt, and pay it in money" L can't
see what this has to do with it. 1t reminds
me of the old sum given US boys at school, to
bother US, which said, 'What will eight and
three-quarters pounds of beef come to at three
cents pound, supposing one-half tat =
What has the money to do with ii Before
we can pay the money We must get 1t; and
when gold is used in that way it becomes
an article of export, and counts like wheat,
potatoes, or tobacco.
Toillustrate again: Suppose you discover
gold niue on your farm, and, instead of rals>
ing wheat, you work your mine, and take to
Cincinnati carload of the precious metal to
exchange it for manufactured articles and
groceries 1t would be the best thing yOn
could do, for you could not eat the gold, nor
drink it, nor wear it. That is precisely what
we have been doing as people. The Calls
forna mines have been supplying the world
with precious metals, and had the trade, until
the discovery of the Australian mines, and in
consequence we have been prosperous. Our
wives have worn silks and satins, and our fair
daughters have made music at the rank-a-
tank, called, in polite circles, the piano.
'What extravaganza" roar the prohibition
lists, walking over tapestry carpets, aud listen
ing to concert grande from the make of
Steinway & Sons ''these farmers wives wear
ing silks and the daughters playing the piano!
When they ought to be over the wash-tub, or
hooing corn aud digging potatoes The oonn-
try is going to the devil"
Be patient. my. Christian friends. There is
no one in our wide land better entitled to the
best, than the honest, pains taking, over
worked farmers wife, and no girl has better
right to make the home happy with music
than the daughter. The extravaganza con-
sists in getting these things when you can't
pay for them. But, it is not becoming in
these bloated aristocyats, who are coming
colossal fortunes from our hard earnings,
through unjust legislation, to talk about ex-
travagance If they will get out of the way
ana let US repeal these laws, we will be able
to clothe our dear wives in the best and give
our fair daughters their musical educations,
God bless 'em.
CONCLUSION.
1 make my apology for thus detaining
you. If I'd more time would have been
briefer Now, l don't want the gentlemen
of the press to go away and assert that | inn
pared he harmony of this harvest home by a
political speech. If they do, it will be lie,
as usual, [lsughterl for have made no poli-
tical speech | have been purely agricultural.
TRenewed laughter, and cries of"That's so.
If any thing have been more religious than
political. l have exhorted and prayed over
this infliction Of dollar ten, with a downward
tendency [Laughter,l These are mighty
questions for us farmers to consider, for they
are purely agricultural. What is it to US to
study the sort of wheat, the climate, the soil,
the time to SOW, aud the time to reap, if our
wheat when gathered, can not be sold at aprot-
it? Why it is not sold at profit makes
a question that comes home to all of us. Then
go home and study. Hunt up the statistics
aud satisfy yourselves. We may not be able
in the end to have lobby Or ring in Wash
ington press our claims, but, please God, we
can and must have Congressmen who will
represent our interests with the same zeal and
ability that distinguishes the representatives
of the manufacturing interests.
Colonel Piatt retired loudly applauded.