National Republican., 1877-08-22
AGRICULTURE.

While manufactures were in their in
fancy In this country the Importance of
fostering them very properly occupied the
attention Of our most eminent statesmen.
That protective policy with which the name
Of HEHGY CLAY was 90 long identified, al
though never fully adapted In his lifetime,
was ultimately by the force Of circum-
stances cngraitcd upon the Legislation Of the
country, and has had the effect of marvel
Ously developing that department Of our
industry rs Is evidenced by the value and
variety Of the manufactured articles now
annually produced by the people of this ma
tion.
without raising any question m 10 the
wisdom and soundncss Of the doctrine sup
ported by the advocates ofa high protective
tariff. we do not hesitate 10 assert that our
manufactures have been developed more
rapidly than the necessities of the county
have required. How fiu our system Of NJ
'i6cial encouragement of manufactures by
means of indirect bouuties Il responsible
FOR tho over production from which the
country is now suffering we will not stop
20 inquire, for we refer to the fnct rather
shan Its causes for the purpose Of showing
shat while manufactures have heen unduly
'ampered, agriculture, an Industry Of not
'ess Importance has been not only neg.
Hrcted, hut actually oppressed by un'aror-
sble legislation.
One OF the maIims Of the school of po.
''i"al economists which has had supreme
lr'luencs in this country for many years, l.
- the producer and the consumer ought
hc brought as closely together as possible
\nw, while II is tIue that great saving Is
elected whenever this can be effected under
tbs operation Of natural laws II is not true
when 1t is the result Of compulsory legisln-
tion by which those laws are interfered
with.
The consequences of the teachings of
these political economists have been disas-
tr0us by encouraging over production. II
is well known that every little village and
town throughout the country has aspircd to
become manufacturing place, while the
press Of every city has preached in season
aud ont Of season the importance of making
that particular locality great metropolis
of manufactures. Under the influence OF
tho artificial stimulus thus given TO manu-
featuring all the towns and cities OF the
habitants drawn 10 them than tho natural
and healthy development Of the country re-
auircd The recent troubles have shown
very conclusively that we now have more
manufacturing establishments and more
hands employed in them than there is any
demand for, and hence ruinous competition
and reduction Of wages.
One Of the hest practical remedies for this
condition Of things would be to give more
attention to developing the agriculture OF
the nation. We have hitherto been revers.
ing the order Of nature TO some extent. We
have been developing manufactures by arbi,
trary means instead of allowing them to
grow, so as to meet the natural demands
caused by the Improvements Of agriculture
as should always be the case. Another i'm
portant consideration is that 1t IL impossible
10 stimulate and encourage agriculture toe
much; for It being the real source Of all ma.
tional wealth, the more II flourishes III,
more prosperous will both manufactures and
commercs become. II the former Is prop
eriy developed and protected, the latteI
win take care OF themselves without IN,
nursing or protection, for what they woult
need most under such circumstances woulC
bs to be let alone.
Agriculture, then, should he made al
object Of supreme Importance by thi
nation, instead Of being neglected by II, ~
u has been hitherto. II wo make our agTi