Middletown transcript., 1870-11-05
OUR AGRICULTURAL INTERESTS.

OUR AGRICULTURAL INTERESTS.
The agricultural interest of the country
employs more than fifty per cent. of the
total population, and may we'll be desig-
mated as the vital interest of the nation.
Other interests may be destroyed, as our
commerce has been, and yet the national
vitality still exists; but if our agricultural
Industry should be rendered permanently
Improbable, it would be the same to the
nation as stroke of paralysis to man.
1t is true that farmers as a class lack that
unity of purpose which distinguishes other
branches of industry, and, being destitute
of organization, have not occupied that
prominent position which their numbers,
usefulness and essential strength would
warrant. From their failure to exert in
their councils of the state and nation their
inherent and rightful power and inuhence
lis due much of that class legislation which
has SO effectually made them the scape-
goats in bearing the chief burdens of
onerous and unjust taxation.
Other branches of industry, much in
tferior in numbers, rightful influence and
power, have, through unity of action, ac-
companied with their unscrupulous use of
money, succeeded in obtaining such legis-
lation that their rivals in the outside mar
kets of the world cannot have the privi-
lege of selling their products in our own
without paying for that privilege from ff-
'tv to one hundred per cent. of the cost of
these products. This enables these schem-
crs and monopolists to charge such in
creased prices for their fabrics that the
national debt, which requires such taxa
rtion to pay the interest, becomes to them
a national blessing" so long as their
customers have the ability to purchase.
If the farmer, through the influence of an
additional tariff, could add to the price of
his products, and thus shift his prostrating
burdens of taxation to other shoulders, it
would matter but little; but, unfortunate
ly, what he produces and has for sale is
only the excess of what is required for the
country's consumption, so that it must
unavoidably go abroad and be sold in the
markets of the world in competition with
the cheap labor of European countries,
where they are not cursed with demoral-
lied currency and prostrating taxation.
The result is that our farmers have to ac-
cept price for their surplus products
which is made in London, which, to :
great extent, governs and fixes the price
at home, and which does not pay the cost
of production under the high-pressure sys
tenn of special legislation and taxation or
all that the American farmer consumes.
He has produced at high cost under oul
system, and, controlled by another, is
compelled to sell at cheap rate
Is it, under such cicumstances, cause
of surprise that the agricultural interes
is languishng and that farmers are strug
Cling with embafrassments ? In many
sections SO bad is the state of affairs tina
these farmers are necessitated to borrow
money, to meet current expenses, by
mortgaging their property, so as to tide
over what they call "these dreadful,
hard times" expecting and hoping :" an
other season" and another crop" vii
furnish them with means of relief. Blu
the great cause of their trouble-the op
pressive burdens of taxation, direct ant
indirect-being unremoved, another sea
son and crop, instead Of providing, TO
their delverance, only adds to and IN
creases their embarrassments. The pahk'
being unable to carry such paper, tn
farmers soon get into the hands of the
"Shylocks and money shayers" who in
fest every county and town in the coun
try, and who, for "a consideration Will
undoubted real estate security, will fur
nish the much needed funds. These ere
ations of corruption and taxation are en-
abled to obtain from one to two per cent
DER month for their money in the east, anc
in the west and south much higher rates
It does not take ''many seasons,
"many crops to boplessly involve tn
unfortunate producer of agriculture
wealth." who is soon made the victim OF
system which is called protection t
American labor"
The number of farms and farm land
for sale to-day is beyond all precedent
We have before us now a newspaper c
the largest size, published at the count
seat of one of the richest and heretofor
most prosperous agricultural counties {
the state, not more than thirty miles dis
tant from the city of Philadelphia, wit
all the advantages of railroad communl
cation. In this paper there are ten close
ly-printed columns of {" farms for sale ;
and we have been informed that the pr
ces now asked are forty per cent. le'
than they were a few years since, an
with prospect of going still lower, as
is an impossibilty, in the present cond
tion of the country, to work farm will
out pecuniary loss. The moral of this
an Main that it requires no further con
ment or illustration. The facts speak II
themselves. s.-Phila. Record.