The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1873-08-31

United States who are engaged in gain.
fpl or productive pursuits, embracing in
those terms all trades and professions,
domestic employments, commerce, ma
nnfactures, mining, navigation and
agriculture, numbers q little over
100000 persons. Or that number,
nearly 5000, 900, or almost one.half. are
occupied with agriculture. In the West
ern States, the proportion OF agrioul.
turists is rather larger, because, in the
nature of things, several important in.
dnstries, such rs mining, navigation and
the fisheries, are in some measure con.
fined to the Atlantic border. It is OBJ:
vious, from glance at the figures, that
the agriculturists, if united, must be
the controlling power ;n the country
and that it requires only intelligent con-
cert among themselves to direct the
policy and impress the legislation of the
several States, as we'll as the General
Government. Feeling that they needed
no protection, the farmers have hereto
fore been 10th to meddle as distinctive
body in public affairs. and have been
content, for the most part, to leave
such matters to those whose pursuits
better admitted OF participation in max
ing laws and administering government
Other interests have not been slow to
avail themselves of the supineness Of
agriculture. and have found their I'd van
tage in combination and action. In
deed, Systematically Of late years, they
have foisted their representative men,
and in many cases their pa'tI agents, into
the legislatures and all places of power,
for the exclusive purpose Of gaining
undue advantages, through the policy
Or patronage of Government. 1t j., OILY
necessary to look ut the membership Of
the leading committees i'll the Congress
OF the United Statco for ample proof OF
this. 80 the head of the Committee OF
Banking aud Currency in the last Con
eress was one OF the wealthiest bankers
of New England. standing like IL senti-
mel to prevent any legislation looking to
restoration Of a. sound currency.
Wealthy railroad men and shipping mcn
and manufacturers on other committees,
where subsidies were to be considered,
land grants to be worked up and high
tariffs to be corcoctcd or reductions re-
sisted. And outside, within the potent
lobby, the paid agents OF them all soi-
citing, arguing, writing and corrnpting
in behalf Of their employers. What is
true Of the Congress Of the United
States has been true in degree of the
legislatures Of the States, but less no.
ticeably, because the range Of subjects
over which the former have control is
such that the interests of the classes
which antagonize agriculture may be
more immediately and powerfully affect.
ell aud promoted by congressional than
by State legislation.
The legitimate fruit of this course Of
things has been realized in the depres-
sion OF agriculture, and in the e1altation
OF some other pursuits. Gradually and
imperceptibIy hnve the burdens of ugri-
culture been increasing. and the ad-
vantages relatively OF other classes been
accommodating. until tho cry for redress
and reformation is now forced from the
too patient tillers of the soil. They
now see and feel that they need protec-
tlon against the protectionisis-no that
protection which consists in counter
favoritism, but simply that protection
which sheer justice reauires-the modi-
tication or abrogntion of tAe discrimi-
mating privileges which ono and an
other class have stealthily acquired, the
restoration, or approach to it, at least,
OF that equality which leaves each and
every industry free to struggle with any
other, untrammeled by undue govern
mental restrictions or patronage. Whe-
ther the demand be for the striking
down of gross exactious by railroad
monopolists, or whether it be'for the
! providing currency which shall be ac-
ccpted by the Government at the sane
rate in payment OF customs duties ms
the farmer is required to receive it for u
bushel OF wheat, or whether it be for
allowing the farmer to have his salt for
pork. packing at the same price that the
fisherman shall get his Salt for Goldfish
and mackereI, or whether it be for ena.
bling the farmer to buy his implements,
his rhiment aud other needs III manu-
factures best he may, without that du.
plication OF taxes i'll many forms which
add so immensely to the cost-thcsc,
each and all OF them, are grievances,
which the whole country feels, and
which it is gratifying TO see now coEl-
mand the attention OF SO large class.
Whatever burdens fall upon tho farmer
IN the payment Of such necessary duties
and taxes as the just debts md reasonn-
blc expenses OF maintaining the social
and political structure require, he is
willing to share equally aud fairly with
the other orders in the social fabric.
All beyond that is IA. grievance, cspe,
cially now that American manufactures
arc on such footing Of development as
tO StuDI olOOo o,1 ~ oop,Dot, ouoco.a