Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1877-08-31
HALL THHi aovHRnMRNT EN-
COURAGE THE FARMER

,HALL rHHE aovnRnM1Nr EN-
COURAGE THE FARMER
Dakota being . district Of country where
nature has lsvished in great abundance
he resources for pre-eminent agricultural
development, while at the same time the
ickle dame has withheld with stintei hand
he opportunities for manufacturing, her
people will cordially approve the sentiments
contained in the following article which Ne
lake from q leading eastern paper:
While manufactures we're in their infancy
in this country the importance Of fostering
Them very properly occupied the attention
of our most eminent statesmen. That pro-
tectve policy with which the n lme OF Henry
Clay was 20 long identified, although never
fully sdaptsd in his lifetime, was ultimately !
by the force Of circumstance engrafted upon
the legislation Of the country, and has had
the effect Of marvelously developing that
Of our industry as is evinced by
the value and variety Of the manufactured
articles now annually produced by the peo-
pie Of this nation.
Without raising any question as to the
wisdom and soundness Of the doctrine sup.
ported BY the advocates Of q high protec-
tive tariff, We do not hesitate TO assert that
our manufactures have been developed more
rapidly than the necessities of the country
have required. How far our system Of ar
tificial announcement of manufactures by
means OF Indirect bounties is responsible
TOR the over production from which the
country Is now suffering, We will not stop
TO inquire, for we refer to the fact rather
than Its causes for the purpose of showing
that while manufactures have been unduly
pampered, agriculture. an industry of not
less importance, has been not only neglect.
ed. but actually oppressed by u%nfavorable
legislation.
One Of the msxims of the school of DO
litical economists which his had supreme
Influence in this country for many years, is
but the producer and the consumer ought
10 DC brought as closely together rs posi-.
ble. Nov, while 1t is true that q great So.
wing Is effected whenever this can be effect.
ell under the operation OF natural laws, it is
not true when it is the result of co,npulso.
nv legislation by which those laws are in.
terfered with.
The consequences ofthe teachings o these
political economists have been disastrous by
encouraging owe production. II is we'll
known that every little village and town
throughout the country has aspired to be-
come 2 manufacturing place, while the press
OF every city has preached in season and out
ofseason the importance Of making that par
ticuiar locality a great metropolis of manu-
factnree. Under the influence of the artif-
ciai stimuli thus given to manufacturing
all the towns and cities of the country have
had a larger number of inhabitants drawn
to them than the natural and. healthy de.
veiopement of the country required. The
recent troubles have shown very co~nclusiysly
ma we now have more manufacturing e..
tabllshments and more hands employed in
them than there ia any demand for, and
hence rninons competition and reduction q
wages.
One Of the hest practical remedies for this
condition Of things would be to give more
attention to developing the Horticultural o1
the nation. We have hitherto been reyers.
ing the order of nature to some extent. We
have been developing manufactures BY arbi.
trary means instead Of allovine them te
grow. so as to meet the natural demand,
caueed by the improvements of agriculture
as should always be the case. Another i'm
portant consideration is that it is lmposai
Bile 10 stimulate and encourage agriculture
too much for it being the real source Of all
national wealth, the more it fiourishes the
more prosperous will both mapufactarrs
and commerce become. II the former Is
properly developed and protected, the latter
will take care Of themselves without any
nursing or protection, for what they would
need most under such circumstance would
be "a. be let alone.
Agriculture, then, should be made an Oh.
1ect Of supreme importance BY this nation,
instead Of being neglected by it, as II
has been hitherto. If we make our apri.
culture prosperous W need not fear bu,
That oil other interests will share In tina,
prosperity. The vast extent of our terri
tory and all its extraordinary productive
ness as compared with other regions OF the
globe will always render our agriculture 8
more important interest than either com.
merce or manufactures, or both combined
The advantages and attractions of rural lifa
should be largely dwelt upon 40 that m,
young men may be taught to love il ra,he,
b the dangerous allurements of cities
Above all. the national government should
recognize the dignity and vital importance
Of agriculture by more liberal %approDria.
tions for the department which has specia
charge Of its interests. and BY elcyatinR m,
commlssionenbip 70 the dignity Of = cahi
net Osficer.